Nutrition Tip: What are macros?
You may have heard about macros in the context of counting your macros, checking if a food fits your macros, or asking another person ‘What are your macros? But like many, you may be wondering what macros really are.
“Macros” is short for macronutrients, which are the three major categories of nutrients we need to consume for our energy needs: carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
It is from macronutrients that we derive 100% of our energy needed for life. While these alone don’t meet all of our nutritional needs (for instance, we also need to consume water, vitamins and minerals), these are the only things that contribute to our energy consumption! Or in other words, carbohydrates, proteins and fats are responsible for the amount of kilojoules/calories we consume.
Going one step further, this means that the macros we consume play an integral role in our energy balance and body composition. Depending on how one’s macros add up, you can either lose, maintain or gain weight. Further, the type and quality of the nutrient are key things to consider.
In the health and fitness world, the macro that hogs the spotlight is protein. Consuming adequate amounts of high quality proteins will largely affect one’s recovery and outcomes from exercise. This is important if you’re trying to improve strength or build a toned or muscular physique!
Everyone has different needs and goals. It’s highly important to seek nutritional advice from a fully qualified dietician or nutritionist, as no other profession has undergone the necessary study and training to prescribe safe and effective nutritional protocols (be that a personal trainer, or even a doctor!)
Macros is an umbrella term referring to carbohydrates, proteins, fats (and sometimes ethanol!) Next time you glance at a nutrition information panel on the back of a food packet, you will be able to ‘check the macros’.
Disclaimer
PCYC Queensland may periodically share exercise demonstrations, suggested workouts, or nutritional tips on social media. While we encourage challenging yourself to complete workouts, not all exercises are suitable for everyone. These workouts, fitness and nutritional information are provided as a guide only and are not subject to your individual health or activity needs. Please ensure you only perform exercises that are within your current physical activity/exercise level of ability. Before you commence or if you have any concerns regarding any exercise, please consult a qualified Fitness Trainer, or your health professional to ensure you can participate safely.