Macro vs. Micro Nutrients Nutrients can be divided into two categories: macronutrients, and micronutrients.
Macronutrients are those nutrients that the body needs in large amounts. Macronutrients include carbohydrates 🍞 , proteins 🥩 and fats 🧈 , while micronutrients include vitamins and minerals and are no less important than macronutrients. They’re just needed in smaller amounts. They include vitamins, such as C, D and K, and minerals such as iron, magnesium and calcium. While micronutrients don’t give us energy, they’re critical for the many chemical reactions that occur in our bodies, including extracting energy from food and creating new cells. 🧬
The best way to get all the micronutrients you need is from eating a diverse diet rather than taking supplements. Vitamins and minerals found in food are easier for the body to absorb than those in a pill. Food will also provide the added benefit of other nutrients within it. If you eat a banana 🍌 , you’re not only getting potassium and vitamin C, but also fiber. Plus, the vitamins and minerals in a banana are readily available for the body to digest.
