List of macronutrients

This list is a categorization of the most common food components based on their macronutrients. Macronutrients can refer to the chemical elements that humans consume in the largest quantities (See Nutrient)

Macronutrients that provide energy

There are four primary macronutrients: carbohydrate, protein, fat, alcohol.[1] Macronutrients are defined as a class of chemical compounds which humans consume in the largest quantities (must be above a threshold amount) and which provide humans with the bulk of energy. While water does make up a large proportion of the total mass ingested as part of a normal diet, it does not provide any nutritional value. Alcohol is a calorically dense compound that can provide large amounts of bioavailable energy although it is not a necessary dietary component.

Carbohydrates

Protein

Amino acids

Fat

Saturated fats

Monounsaturated fats

Polyunsaturated fats

Essential fatty acids

These 2 essential fatty acids are the starting point for other important omega-acids (e.g. DHA, EPA)

Non-macronutrients

Water

Water is perhaps the most important substance in our lives. It provides the medium in which all metabolic processes proceed. As such it is necessary for the absorption of macronutrients, but it provides no nutritional value in and of itself.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://journals.cambridge.org/download.php?file=%2FPHN%2FPHN8_7a%2FS1368980005001266a.pdf
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, April 05, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.