Healthy Fats are Essential for a Balanced Menu Plan

Your body is complicated and many bodily processes have some degree of variance. Each macronutrient (carbs, fat and protein) plays a unique role in keeping you healthy and supporting your well-being. Since your body cannot produce them, protein and fat are truly essential macronutrients. As for carbohydrates, your body uses protein and fat to create a source of glucose when you are carb-deficit. If there is a major imbalance in the consumption of macronutrients, your body may not be getting enough of that macro for healthy hormone production.

• PROTEIN - Proteins do a lot of work regulating functions throughout your body and are the building blocks responsible for growth and maintenance of your skin, hair, eyes, nails, organs and muscle tissue. Since your body cannot store protein, it is important to spread your consumption of proteins over breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
• FAT - Essential fats are a necessary component of any healthy menu plan. Although carbohydrates provide the fastest source of energy, fat is the most efficient source of energy the body has at its disposal. With sufficient fat deposits, your body can burn stored fat for years before running out, if need be.
• CARBS - Carbohydrates do not make you fat or keep you from losing weight as long as you are consuming them within the context of how much energy your body needs on a given day. Both men and women, who feel fatigued and weak after a routine workout, should consider adjusting their balance of macronutrient intake as well as supplement any micronutrient disparities.

The total intake of each macronutrient needed varies greatly from one person to the next. Avoid placing too much focus on optimizing ratios and make sure you eat a balanced combination of real foods that will contribute to your overall health and wellness. Most weight-loss experts agree that counting calories or tracking macros mathematically is not necessary, as long as you focus on eating unprocessed foods and follow a balanced menu plan. For a personalized menu plan designed to support your body, contact the Metabolic Research Center.