Your Nutritional and Vitamin Supplement Information Resource

posted by Ronald on Jul 21

Carbohydrates and fats are macronutrients, and macronutrients are specific types of nutrients that provide either energy or calories to the body. Nutrients are substances that are required to promote growth, healthy metabolism and other vital functions of the body. Macro means large, and macronutrients are nutrients that are required in relatively large amounts in order to promote growth. Each macronutrient provides calories, but the amount of calories provided by each of these nutrients varies. Carbohydrates and proteins both provide 4 calories per gram, and fat provides 9 calories per gram. In addition to carbohydrates, fats and proteins, there is only one other substance that provides calories, which is alcohol. Alcohol provides 7 calories for every gram, but alcohol is not treated as a macronutrient because we do not require it for survival.

Carbohydrates are the one macronutrient that we need in the largest amounts, and between 45 and 64 percent of our calories should come from carbohydrates. The reason why we need this many carbohydrates in our diet is because these carbohydrates are the main source of fuel for our bodies, and are easily used for energy by the body.

Another vital type of carbohydrates that our bodies need is Fiber, which refers to specific carbohydrates which are not digested by the body. Instead, these carbohydrates pass straight through the intestines, which can help to move waste out through our bodies more effectively.

Fats are found in meat, nuts, poultry, milk products, margarine and butter, lard, oil, fish, salad dressings and grain products. There are three primary types of fats: saturated fats, unsaturated fats, and Trans fats. Saturated fats are most commonly found in foods like cream, butter, lard and meat. Trans fats are found in baked goods, fried foods, snack foods and margarines. These trans fats have been shown to significantly increase your risk of heart disease and other health issues.

The main differences between fat and carbohydrates lie in what purposes they serve in the body. Carbohydrates provide most of the energy that our bodies need, but fats provide more concentrated bursts of energy. Fats help our bodies digest and absorb the nutrients that we take in, including a number of vital vitamins that our bodies need to survive. Carbohydrates on the other hand promote healthy growth in many of the organs in our bodies, including our kidneys, brain, our muscles, our heart and our central nervous system.

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What is the difference between fats and carbohydrates (carbs)?

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