What are macronutrients?

Macronutrients are the nutritive components of food that the body needs for energy and to maintain its structures and systems. Fats, protein, and carbohydrates are all macronutrients. Fibre is a macronutrient as well - it's a special type of carbohydrate that the body can't digest.

Macronutrients contain calories. Calorie is the term used to quantify the energy stored in food. Fat, protein, and carbohydrates all have a caloric value per gram.

Fats are used by the body to protect organs, maintain cell membranes, and promote growth and development. Fat is also an important part of any diet as some nutrients are fat soluble.

Protein is used by the body for cell repair and growth (including muscle growth).

Carbohydrates are an energy source for the body.

Fibre is also a macronutrient (and important to optimal body health). It's indigestible to humans, and as such has no caloric value (we can't extract energy from fibre, but our gut flora can!).

On the equ program it's important to meet all your targets each day, but if you have to choose between calories and macronutrients, choose calories. Try and hit the macronutrient targets next time.

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals. They are also essential to optimal health. The best way to ensure micronutrient requirements are met is by consuming a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods.