50 Facts of the Biochemistry of Obesity
http://www.mckinley.illinois.edu/handouts/macronutrients.htm
- Macronutrients provide calories and energy to the body
- These are needed for growth and metabolism
- “Macro” means large
- Macronutrients are needed in large amounts
- Carbohydrates are a macronutrient needed in large amounts
- Protein, carbohydrates, and fat are all macronutrients
- They are not the only things we need for survival
- Carbohydrates and protein are worth 4 calories per gram and fat are 9 calories per gram
- Alcohol is worth 7 calories per grams but is not a macronutrient because it is not essential for survival.
- Even though we need lots of water, water is a micronutrient
- Obesity is the most important health problem faced
- In adults, obesity is more common than under-nutrition.
- 1.5 billion adults are too fat
- 100 million school children are overweight
- Obesity causes a shorter life span
- Obesity is the excess weight that is stored as fat
- Obesity is caused by energy imbalance
- Identifying obesity is done by using BMI
- BMI= Body Mass Index
- Obesity can cause depression and low self-esteem
- If you consume more calories than you burn, you gain weight
- Foods that help with the weight also help prevent diseases
- Low-fat diets are used to maintain weight
- There are so many foods that are now fat free
- However, obesity has increased even with the fat-free food
- Low fat diets do not help your health
- High protein meals help in weight loss
- People feel fuller eating a food that is rich in protein rather than one rich in carbohydrates
- It takes longer to metabolize and store protein
- Sugary drinks affect weight gain
- Proteins come from the Greek word proteios which means first
- Amino acids are the building blocks of protein
- Protein is needed for growth
- Adults need a minimum of 60 grams of protein per day
- There are two different types of carbohydrates, simple and complex
- Fats protect the internal organs
- Fats also helps form hormones
- The three main macronutrients do not have the same chemical composition
- If not taking in adequate measures, they can cause disorders
- Excess fat can also be stored in the blood vessels and organs
- You are what you eat
- Quality of food impacts your health
- Processed foods have more macronutrients than natural foods
- Just because something is natural it doesn’t mean it’s 100 %healthy
- Chemicals and pesticides
- Focus on eating healthfully
- Raised animals like grass-fed cows and free range chickens will ensure that the meat you feed your family was ethically raised
- Healthfully-raised have fewer antibiotics or hormones
- A common complication of unbalanced intake of macronutrients is diabetes
- Fruit juices are not better than sodas
- Foods aren’t just packed with macronutrients, there are also micronutrients
- Skipping breakfast increases weight gain