Macronutrients, also known as macros for short, are the three primary sources of calories. Even if you are new to the term macronutrients you will undoubtedly be aware of the macros by their individual names: protein, carbohydrates and fats.
Knowing the number of calories provided by each macronutrient allows you to effectively meet your daily calorie needs. To determine how much of each macronutrient you need in your diet you first need to understand the roles they play in your body once they’ve been eaten.
Protein
Protein is very important and is used to break down and rebuild the cells in your body. This process is called protein synthesis and is vital for growth and maintenance of your body.
When you eat protein, it’s broken down into amino acids by your digestive system in order to be used.
In total, there are 20 amino acids, 9 of these amino acids are called essential, which means your body cannot produce enough of them and you must get them from food sources. The remaining 11 are called non-essential as the body can produce them in high enough quantities that it’s not essential that you get them in your diet.
Overall, protein plays an important role in building, repairing and regenerating your body’s tissues and cells. It helps in the preservation of muscle mass, immune function and aids in the production of essential hormones and enzymes.
Fat
Fat in the diet allows you to absorb fat-soluble vitamins, provide essential fatty acids and in some circumstances, provide a source of energy.
When eaten, fat is broken down into fatty acids to be used by the body and depending on total calorie intake fat is commonly stored for future use, which can lead to the accumulation of body fat and weight gain.
Fat is vital for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, maintenance of cell membranes and hormone production. It can also be used as energy by the body and as insulation to help maintain a normal core body temperature.
Carbohydrate
Carbohydrate can be metabolised by the body very quickly and is your preferred source of energy.
When you eat carbohydrates, they get broken down into glucose to provide energy to your body. Any glucose not used is converted into glycogen and stored in your muscles and liver for future use.
Your liver can store approximately 100g of glycogen which is used to maintain blood glucose levels between meals. Whereas, your muscles can typically store 400 – 500g of glycogen which is used to provide movement.
Carbohydrates aids in the proper function of your heart, brain, kidneys and muscles. It is also important for intestinal health and digestion.
What’s More Important, Calories or Macros?
There’s no arguing that calories and macros are heavily intertwined but a good way to think of the difference is like this.
Calories are the main factor in weight change i.e. will you lose or gain weight?
Macros as the main factor in body composition i.e. will you lose fat or muscle or gain fat or muscle?
As for what’s more important, it really depends on your goal.