Micronutrients And Macronutrients In Our Food

People should consequent the food pyramid and eat a wide range of food and also from a range of food groups, together with carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and adequate amounts of water, in order to stay fit, healthy, and also to furnish their bodies with the primary nutrients.

Basically, there are two types of nutrients -- micronutrients (including vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals) and macronutrients (including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, amino acids and water).

The Food Pyramid

The micronutrients are needed in relatively small amounts in comparison to the macronutrients. While they are very foremost for the wholesome functioning and increase of the body, micronutrients do not contain any energy but macronutrients do lead a primary amount of energy to the body when digested. The body simplifies nutrients through digestion in order to utilize them. Macronutrients are digested to publish energy but only when there are adequate micronutrients to facilitate publish of these nutrients for breakdown. Therefore, both micronutrients as well as macro nutrients are foremost for the body.

Not all the micronutrients and macronutrients present in our diet are completely absorbed by our body. Although the body uses carbohydrates as its main source of energy, it also uses up proteins and fats at times of carbohydrate unavailability. This is the presume why the normal thumb rule has been framed which says that 50 percent of the body's energy requirements must be sourced from carbohydrates, 35 percent from fats and 15 percent from proteins. However, the fact remains that of the energy containing macronutrients, fats furnish the most energy by weight to the body. This is because while one gram of carbohydrates and proteins furnish just 4 calories, the same quantity of fat (one gram of fat) provides 9 grams of calories to the body.

Micronutrients And Macronutrients In Our Food