Macronutrients Versus Micronutrient

Why should you care?

Macronutrients Versus Micronutrients

The Whole30 is based on consuming an abundance of micronutrients, so this week I am sharing an article I wrote a few years ago explaining how they support a healthy body.

Food Categories

We classified food into two categories, Micronutrient or Macronutrient. Micronutrients consist of fruits and green leafy and bright-colored vegetables.  Macronutrients consist of fat, simple carbohydrates like sugar, bread, white flour foods, and meats.

Normal growth and development

The human body requires an abundance of micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals to be healthy. A micronutrient is a chemical element or substance required for average growth and development in trace amounts. 

Nutrient-dense

Foods loaded with micronutrients are called nutrient-dense. Most nutrient-dense foods are organic green leafy vegetables, fruits, and bright-colored veggies. Eat these foods abundantly because they are medicine, promote health, and are to be eaten abundantly. 

Why are micronutrients so essential? 

Now let me tell you why it is essential to load your system with micronutrients. Your brain controls your dietary drive or appetite. You have a complicated system of nerves lining the digestive tract that carefully monitors the calorie and nutrient density of every mouth full of food you eat and sends the information to the hypothalamus in the brain, which controls your appetite.

The hypothalamus is a part of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, important aspects of parenting and attachment behaviors, thirst, fatigue, sleep, and circadian rhythms.

Stretch Receptors

We have stretch receptors in the stomach to signal to the brain when your nutritional needs are satisfied or not satisfied. Their job is to detect the number of nutrients in the food you eat. If you are not filled with nutrients and fiber, the brain will send out signals which increase the appetite causing you to eat more food or overeat. 

We eat the wrong foods

The problem is when we get the signal to eat instead of eating the micronutrients our body craves, we fill the urge by eating more macronutrient foods. And our brain continues to send signals telling you to eat more resulting in overeating.

You see, when you eat sufficient amounts of nutrients and fiber you become biochemically filled (nutrients) and mechanically filled (fiber) the urge to eat is turned down and cravings disappear. Herein lies the formula for controlling addictive behavior and the ability to heal. 

My experience

I have found that when I drink a nutritious green smoothie or eat a large staple salad for breakfast my body is satisfied and I don’t experience cravings because these food selections are loaded with micronutrients.   

However if I start my day eating the American Standard Diet, macronutrient foods such as eggs, bacon, toast, bagel, and cream cheese or a donut I feel satisfied for the moment but because the micronutrient requirement has not been satisfied I find myself craving food all day. The key factor that determines if you will be a food addict, unhealthy or overweight is your failure to eat enough high-quality fiber and micronutrient-loaded foods. Remember the goal is to flood the body with micronutrients.

The more you know, the more you know, you need to know!

Unfortunately, 62 percent of foods eaten in America are macronutrients which are fats, simple carbohydrates, and meats. The key to kicking food addiction, and health issues are to eat an abundance of Micronutrients.