It's time to start focusing on macronutrients if you're aiming to lose weight

Tuesday, April 12, 2016 by: Sarah Landers
Tags: macronutrients, weight loss, nutrient ratios

---

(NaturalNews) If you are not a huge fan of counting the calories that you eat on a daily basis, then the hottest new diet might be perfect for you. Experts are now claiming that maintaining a healthy weight is not about the calories you eat – it's about the macronutrients you put into your body, according to the Daily Mail.

There are three macronutrients that should be in your diet – carbohydrates, fats and proteins. Looking more closely at the proportions of these macronutrients that you consume on a daily basis will help you maintain a healthy weight – you should be aiming for 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat and 30% protein, according to the Daily Mail. If the balance between these macronutrients isn't quite right, you'll find yourself tipping the scales at an undesirable weight.

More about macronutrients

Paying attention to these three macronutrients is the best way to get the results you are looking for – whether you are hoping to build lean muscle, tone up your body or lose fat. And although it might sound more complicated than standard calorie counting, the results are considered to be easier to achieve and maintain.

Macronutrients give our bodies the energy they need, and according to RebootedBody.com, constitute the calories that you eat on a daily basis. To put that into perspective, every gram of fat gives your body nine calories' worth of energy, whereas every gram of protein or carbohydrate is the same as four calories.

But you must remember that your body isn't a calculator. You can still plug the calories into your fitness app – which is a great way to keep an eye on what you're putting into your body – but your body itself cares more about the ratio between those macronutrients than the number of calories you consume.

There are many possible macronutrient ratios, but according to Bodybuilding.com, there are three key variations that cover most body goals:

• When trying to build muscle: 40–60% carbohydrate, 25–35% protein and 15–25% fat
  
• For maintaining the same body weight: 30–50% carbohydrate, 25–35% protein and 25–35% fat
  
• When looking to lose fat: 10–30% carbohydrate, 40–50% protein and 30–40% fat
  

Different ratios will work better for different people, as reported by Rebooted Body. For a more personalized and bespoke diet plan, you'll want to work out your ideal ratio using a macronutrient calculator – and for the best results you'll need to combine the macronutrient approach with regular exercise.

Your ultimate goal should be to gain an understanding of how your body relates to and interacts with food – and work towards a macronutrient ratio that works best for you and your goals. But remember – the quality of the food you're eating will also play a big part in the results that you will see.

Important foods for busting fat

The rise of the "superfoods" is something that any health-conscious person will have noticed over the last few months. While the term itself is often used as a marketing ploy, the scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of these foods is very real.

Superfoods such as blueberries, apples and grapefruit have anti-cancer properties, are full of fiber and also contain high concentrations of antioxidants. But superfoods have also been found to help get rid of fat. Turmeric, for example, has been shown to help balance blood glucose and normalize metabolism – helping you to beat the fat.

According to Health, black beans are a great superfood for weight loss – with 15 grams of protein in just one cup of beans. These are a great food to factor into your diet – especially when thinking about your macronutrient ratios. Meanwhile, oats are a healthy form of carbohydrate that is also very high in fiber – so they will help leave you feeling fuller for longer.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

RebootedBody.com

Health.com

BodyBuilding.com

Science.NaturalNews.com