EAT YOUR MICROS!

Ensuring a well balanced diet involves understanding the roles of both macronutrients and micronutrients. Let's delve into these essential nutrients and their importance in maintaining overall health and wellbeing.

Macronutrients

Macronutrients are vital for providing energy and supporting growth and development. They include:

• Carbohydrates: Serve as the primary energy source and are found in foods such as bread, pasta, rice, and fruits.

• Proteins: Essential for tissue repair, muscle maintenance, and overall growth, proteins are abundant in meats, poultry, fish, beans, and nuts.

• Fats: Important for energy production and supporting cell growth, fats are sourced from oils, butter, nuts, and seeds.

Micronutrients

Micronutrients play a crucial role in various physiological processes and are required in smaller quantities.

Vitamins

•  Vitamin A: Supports vision, skin health, and immune function, found in foods like sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach and liver.

• Vitamin C: Acts as an antioxidant, guarding against free radical damage, found in citrus fruits, berries, kiwi and broccoli.

• Vitamin D: Essential for bone health and immune function, present in fatty fish, egg yolk and fortified foods.

• Vitamin E: Another antioxidant vital for skin and immune health, sourced from nuts, seeds and vegetable oils.

• Vitamin K: Necessary for blood clotting and bone health, abundant in leafy greens, cabbage and liver.

Minerals

•  Iron: Critical for heamoglobin production and oxygen transport, found in red meat, poultry, fish, beans and fortified cereals.

• Calcium: Vital for bone strength, muscle, and nerve function, sourced from dairy products, leafy greens and fortified foods.

• Zinc: Essential for immune function, wound healing, and cell growth, found in meat, poultry, fish and beans.

Both macronutrients and micronutrients play roles in maintaining optimal health. A diverse and balanced diet incorporating a wide array of nutrient dense foods ensures the body's requirements for these essential nutrients are met. Supplementation is always another option to make sure you are consuming what is necessary.

You can have that biscuit, just make sure your balanced overall!