Nutrient Knowledge > Macronutrients
Macronutrients are the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The human body needs many grams of each macronutrient each day. Macronutrients get digested (broken down), assimilated, and used by the cells in our bodies.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates, our bodies' main source of energy, are molecules made up of sugars. Your body breaks down carbohydrates to make glucose, a simple sugar that is used as energy by cells throughout the body. Starch and dietary fiber are complex carbohydrates. Simple carbohydrates include sugars that are found naturally in food as well as sugars that are added to food.
Fats
Fats are a type of lipid. Fats are molecules that store energy. Organisms use carbohydrates for energy, but they can also break down fats for energy. Fats store nearly twice as much energy as proteins and carbohydrates. In our bodies, fats are essential for health. They store and transport vitamins, help keep skin healthy, protect organs, and make hormones. Some fats, such as polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, are healthier than others, such as trans-fats and saturated fats.
Proteins
Proteins are molecules made up of subunits called amino acids. The proteins in food we eat are broken down into amino acids that are then used by the cells in our bodies. Proteins are a part of every cell in our body and are important in almost all life processes. Proteins come from many different sources. Complete protein sources are foods that have all 20 amino acids needed by the human body. Incomplete protein sources are foods that have only some of the amino acids. If a person does not eat enough protein, that person can be protein deficient, which can lead to mental retardation or kwashiorkor. A person with kwashiorkor is often tired and inactive, can suffer from diarrhea and failure to grow and may have flaky skin and edema - or swelling - of the belly and legs.
If a person eats too little protein and too little energy (Calories) from carbohydrates and fats, that person can develop marasmus, which means to waste away. This condition happens in places with famine and in people with anorexia. The person will look gaunt, with muscle wasting and very little body fat.
Mouse over each bowl to see which foods are rich in which macronutrients.
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