Understanding Carbohydrates
The last of the macronutrients to turn our attention to are carbohydrates. The main function of carbohydrates is to provide energy, and the majority of cells in the body will use carbohydrates and fats for this purpose. Only using protein when carbohydrates are limited for this purpose. Indigestible carbohydrates, known as fibre, are also critical for aiding gut function and health. The government guidelines regarding nutrition recommend that the majority of our diet should be from carbohydrates, around 50-60%. However, I would take this figure with a pinch of salt - pun intended. While the total amount of carbohydrate intake will vary among person to person, an individual’s goals and the quality of carbohydrates should take precedence. As I’ve spoken about in other posts, when calculating macronutrient targets for clients, I always base the initial figure on on protein intake (between 2 and 2.8g per kg of lean mass in most cases), then factor in the fat intake, while the remainde...