Depending on what diet is trending each of this macros are made to be either good or bad. I was taught, and as most of us know, that all are crucial and necessary for us to thrive. Let me emphasize this, ALL MACROS ARE necessary & GOOD FOR YOU. 

Yes, there are certain foods that are more nutrient dense than others for each macro, however, that’s in every category. I will never forget one of my professors telling me that her moms generation really believed eating fat was bad for their health, so much so, she would strain the oil from the peanut butter (ew, lol). That’s one of the extreme measures people would and continue to take when it comes to their diet. With everything becoming fat free, and no studies to support that low fat diets helped with weight loss or heart health. During this time physicians, the federal government and the food the industry were promoting the low-fat diet, the obesity epidemic began which lead many experts to question and push less for low-fat diets (Berge & F, 2008). I point this out, because I don’t think its fair to say any nutrient, specifically a macro nutrient, is bad. 

It is more important to look at the breakdown of the macro to truly see the quality of its nutrients. This is when we look at nutrient labels and take into account how much dietary fiber (type of carb), sugar (carb), how much protein, and which types of fats are present (trans, saturated, mono/polyunsaturated). Depending on your current health certain factors will be more important than others, but we must first start with awareness. 

Too much of anything can be bad. That why I like to focus on balance – especially when it comes to macros. No, you do not need to eat the same amount of each. A general rule is 40-50% carbs, 30% protein and 20-30% fat (Turner, 2022). Now, back to this idea of balance. Making sure you have a carb, protein and fat source with each meal and snack you’re creating balance. This combination will make sure you get all your macros through the day and keep you feeling fuller for longer. We love that! 

I’m not here to tell you to count your macros ( I don’t think that necessary) or how to eat. I simply want to give you the information I learned so you can make the best choices for yourself. There is no one size fits all way to eat or diet. Take the time to find what works for you and if you’re struggling with that, then I suggest to keep a food journal for a week and track how you feel as well. That way you can look back to see what foods or eating habits did or did not work for you. 

Citations:

Berge, L., & F, A. (2008). How the Ideology of Low Fat Conquered America. Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, 63(2), 139–177. https://doi.org/10.1093/jhmas/jrn001‌

Turner, R. (2022, Spring). Know Your Macros—Why Macronutrients Are Key to Healthy Eating. Cedars-Sinai. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/what-are-macronutrients.html‌