Focus on Portion Sizes for Your Macronutrient Intake

You may not know what macronutrients are, but you eat them every day. Balancing your intake of carbs, protein and fat can allow you to lose weight while retaining metabolically active muscle mass. It is important to remember that more is not always better. While there are times when a higher intake of a macro could have additional benefits, there is always a point of diminishing returns and that could potentially cause negative side effect. Stay focused and you will quickly learn how to eye ball serving sizes and portions for each macro.

• PROTEIN - Protein is especially important as you age. It ties to development of lean muscle mass and satiety in terms of controlling your appetite. Protein deficiency can contribute to muscle wasting, joint discomfort, weight gain, or weight-loss resistance. Protein deficiency can contribute to lack of energy, loss of concentration, weakness, mood swings and difficulty sleeping.
• FAT - Not all fat has the same nutritional value, which is why it is important for you to prioritize your fat sources. As long as you select a healthy source of fat, you can add it to your menu plan without feeling guilty. Healthy fat is essential for absorption of key minerals and vitamins, and adds flavor to food and boosts the satiety of the meal.
• CARBS - Although it is true that carbohydrates are a main source of energy and are vital for physical activity, there are two different sources of carbs (simple and complex). Women generally are more efficient at burning fat and less efficient at burning glycogen stores in muscle tissue. This means the female body may function better operating on lower carbohydrate intake than a man's body can.

The ultimate goal of your macro menu plan is to keep your body properly nourished while providing the fuel for daily activities. Since they supply you with the energy your body needs to produce enzymes, release hormones, nourish tissues and carryout processes for growth and development, macros and micronutrients are essential for keeping your body healthy. So, make sure you select macronutrient foods that are also micronutrient dense to have an optimal impact on your well-being.