Macro and Micro Nutrients

("Diet Database," n.d.)  

I often heard people use the term micro- and macronutrient while and explaining different diet plans, but I never really understood what they meant.  I knew that carbohydrates, protein, and fat were the main nutrients, but my question has always been which belonged where, and or are there other nutrients that I am not aware?  Understanding the importance of healthy eating will help understand how and why each essential macro- and micronutrient is critical to proper body function.  In addition, it is important to understand how to balance the consumption of nutrients.  


("Diet Database," n.d.)  

(Sizer & Whitney, 2013)

Consuming too much of a nutrient endangers health, just as consuming too little does (Sizer & Whitney, 2013, p. 34).  The body requires six kinds of nutrients.  The macronutrients consist of four of the six nutrients, water, carbohydrates, protein, and fats.  Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the energy-yielding nutrients for the body.  The other two nutrients, micronutrients, are vitamins and minerals and they provide no energy to the body (Sizer & Whitney, 2013).  They assist in digesting food, moving muscles, disposing of
wastes, growing new tissues, healing wounds, nd all other processes necessary to maintain life (Sizer & Whitney, 2013, p. 8).




("Diet Database," n.d.)

 

According to the AMDR, to provide the body with adequate energy and nutrients while minimizing chronic diseases risk, the committee recommends that people should consume 45 to 65 percent of daily calorie intake from carbohydrates; 20 to 35 percent of daily calorie intake from fat; and 10 to 15 percent of daily calorie intake from protein (Sizer & Whitney, 2013). 

Micronutrients and macronutrients are essential to proper body function for many reasons.  Adequate consumption of nutrients are important to provide the body the required amounts of energy and nutrients necessary for the body to function properly and reduce risk of developing a chronic disease.  Too much, or too little can cause severe health concerns. 

Reference

Macronutrients and Micronutrients. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://dietdatabase.com/macronutrients-and-micronutrients/

Sizer, F. S., & Whitney, E. (2013). Nutrition concepts & controversies (13th ed.). [Vitalsource Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from http://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781285785981/pages/269964551