Understanding Macronutrients and Their Benefits

Learn why macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are essential for your energy and health, and how to incorporate them into your diet.

3 MIN READ — 03/17/2025

Macronutrients give us the energy we need to get through the day, help us build muscle, and ensure our hormones stay in balance. But did you know that an incorrect distribution of these nutrients can affect your performance? Discover how to integrate macronutrients effectively into your daily life and boost your health.

What Are Macronutrients?

Optimal body function depends on several factors, including the availability of essential macro- and micronutrients. Macronutrients are the basic building blocks found in many foods—specifically carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These are essential for providing energy, keeping us active, and supporting overall performance.

While carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are the primary macronutrients, water is often considered a fourth, though it doesn’t provide energy. Still, water is crucial for nearly every metabolic process in the body, making proper hydration just as vital as consuming enough of the other three macronutrients for health and wellbeing.

The Difference Between Macro- and Micronutrients

Macronutrients and micronutrients serve different purposes, as their names suggest. "Macro" means large, indicating that we need significant quantities of macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. In contrast, "micro" refers to the smaller amounts of micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, needed to maintain health.

Macronutrients provide energy, while micronutrients ensure the body's balance, known as homeostasis. Micronutrients like vitamins and minerals function as cofactors, electrolytes, or antioxidants for a variety of essential bodily processes.

Macronutrients and Their Functions Explained

Macronutrients are critical for energy production, muscle building, and hormone regulation.

Energy Source

All three macronutrients serve as energy sources, but they differ in how they’re used. Carbohydrates are the body's primary fuel source, which is why foods like bread, rice, and pasta are rich in energy. Fats provide a more concentrated form of energy, with about twice the calories per gram compared to carbohydrates and proteins. Proteins typically serve as a backup energy source when carbohydrates and fats are insufficient.

Muscle Building

Proteins are key for muscle growth, providing the amino acids necessary for the formation and repair of muscle fibres. Carbohydrates also contribute by replenishing glycogen stores, while fats supply the energy needed to sustain muscle growth and maintain hormone levels, such as testosterone. Without sufficient macronutrients, building muscle is impossible.

Hormone Regulation

Macronutrients play a critical role in hormone production and regulation. Fats, for instance, are essential for synthesising hormones, while certain amino acids from proteins serve as building blocks for hormone production. Carbohydrates stimulate insulin secretion, influencing blood sugar levels and their regulation.

Practical Tips for Distributing Macronutrients

Given the importance of macronutrients, here are some practical tips for incorporating them into your diet and ensuring an optimal daily distribution:

  • Plan Balanced Meals: The best way to avoid under- or overconsumption is by planning balanced meals. Aim for a healthy mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. For example, adults should get around 50% of their energy intake from carbohydrates.
  • Evenly Distribute Proteins: Try to include a protein source with every meal, such as fish, eggs, or legumes. The recommended daily intake for adults is about 1.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight.
  • Keep a Food Diary: Track your daily intake of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats in a food journal. This is especially useful if you’re working towards specific weight or fitness goals.
  • Choose Complex Carbohydrates: Long-chain or complex carbohydrates take longer to break down, providing a more sustained release of energy. Examples of these carbohydrates include nuts, potatoes, brown rice, and legumes.

At a Glance

  • 01.

    Macronutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats are essential energy sources that the body needs in large amounts. They support key functions such as energy production, muscle growth, and hormone regulation.

  • 02.

    While macronutrients provide energy, micronutrients like vitamins and minerals help maintain the body's balance and metabolic processes.

  • 03.

    A balanced diet that includes proteins distributed evenly throughout meals and prioritises complex carbohydrates can help you meet your daily macronutrient needs for optimal health.

Article Sources

Food supplements are not a substitute for a balanced and varied diet and a healthy lifestyle. Do not exceed the indicated daily intake. Keep out of reach of children. Please inform and consult your doctor before consuming this product. Not suitable for children and adolescents under 18 years, pregnant or breastfeeding women. Refrain from taking other food supplements containing zinc. Persons taking anticoagulant medication should seek medical advice before consuming vitamin K-containing supplements.

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º Food Supplement. In combination with a healthy diet and exercise.

ª Survey on the awareness of multi-nutrient powders with 211 consumers aged 18 to 49 in Germany, 09/24.

↡ Survey of 527 AG1 customers after 12+ days of use, 2024. The survey was conducted on a previous version of AG1’s continually evolving formulation. The survey results can be transferred to the current version of the formula due to no or scientifically negligible changes in supporting nutrients. Vitamins C, B6, B12, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, and folate help reduce tiredness and fatigue. Pantothenic acid supports mental performance. Calcium supports normal digestive enzyme function, while biotin maintains normal mucous membranes, such as the gut lining.

Immune System

1: With vitamins A, C, B6 and B12 as well as folate, zinc, copper and selenium, AG1 contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Vitamin C contributes to maintain the normal function of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise.

Energy; Metabolism

2: Vitamins C, B6, B12, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid and magnesium contribute to normal energy-yielding metabolism and to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. With vitamins C, B6, B12, as well as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, calcium, phosphorus, copper and manganese, AG1 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Magnesium contributes to electrolyte balance. Biotin, zinc and chromium contribute to normal macronutrient metabolism.

Cell Protection

3: With vitamins E and C as well as riboflavin, zinc, copper and selenium, AG1 contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress. Phosphorus contributes to normal function of cell membranes. Folate, Vitamin B6 and B12 contribute to normal homocysteine metabolism.

Mental Performance; Psychological Function; Nervous System

4: With pantothenic acid, AG1 contributes to normal mental performance. Zinc contributes to normal cognitive function. With vitamins C, B6, B12, B1, B3 and B7 AG1 contributes to normal psychological function and to normal functioning of the nervous system. Calcium contributes to normal neurotransmission.

Skin, Hair & Nails

5: With vitamins A, as well as riboflavin, niacin, biotin and zinc, AG1 contributes to the maintenance of normal skin. Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Vitamin B7, zinc and selenium contribute to the maintenance of normal hair. Zinc and selenium contribute to the maintenance of normal nails.

Hormonal System

6: With vitamin B6, AG1 contributes to the regulation of hormonal activity. Zinc contributes to the maintenance of normal testosterone levels in the blood. Selenium contributes to the normal thyroid function. With chromium, AG1 contributes to the maintenance of normal blood glucose levels.

Digestion

7: Calcium contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes. Biotin AG1 contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes (e.g. intestinal mucosa).

Muscles

8: With calcium and magnesium, AG1 contributes to normal muscle function.