The Importance Of Counting Macros In A Keto Diet

Upon hopping into the ketogenic lifestyle, you’ve probably been advised to count or keep track of your macros for an effective diet, but do you know what it means and why counting macros is essential to reach your fitness goal in the fastest, safest way possible?

In a nutshell, macros stand for “macronutrients” which make up the essential building blocks (fat, protein and carbohydrates) that are broken down from the food you take and for your body to absorb. Knowing the concept of macros is essential in your ketogenic diet so you can balance the right amount of fats, carbs and proteins that you take from your food, and induce/maintain ketosis.

To simplify this concept, we’ve listed down each macronutrient and how it helps your body throughout your ketogenic diet.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are known as carbs are sugar molecules that contribute four (4) calories per gram to your diet. They come in forms of rice, starchy vegetables, potatoes, pasta, beans, fruits and dairy products.

Limiting your carbohydrate intake is important in order to successfully reach ketosis.

Protein

Proteins are made up of large, complex molecules known as amino acids that help the structure, function, and regulation of our body’s growth, immune function, tissue repair and almost all of our bodily processes. Like carbohydrates, it contains four (4) calories per gram.

Meat, eggs, fish, poultry, cheese, and tofu are examples of food that are high in protein.

Fat

Fat serves as the protagonist of the ketogenic diet. In fact, did you know that fat is a concentrated source of energy? Each gram of fat provides nine (9) calories, unlike protein and carbs which only contribute four (4) calories each.

An adequate amount of fat is necessary for our body’s growth and development, energy, and even for absorbing fat-soluble vitamins such as Vit A, D, E and K. Every cell of our body is surrounded by a membrane of fat for protection and it plays a role in our hair and skin health, and even the production of hormones, thus giving fat a vital role in our bodily functions.

Examples of fats are oils, nuts, avocado, butter, fish and meat

Now that you have a gist of what each macronutrient is, you can now keep track of them from the meals you take, keeping in mind the ideal macronutrient balance that you should consume daily if you are in a ketogenic diet:

Fat – 75%
Protein – 25%
Carbohydrates – 5%

Knowing your macro count can help you plan and choose the right meals for you to achieve your body goal as fast as possible. We at Keto Hub are ready to assist you always in guiding you to succeed on your keto journey.

Watch this space for more tips and simple breakdowns on how to live the ketogenic lifestyle and if you need more info, feel free to contact us and our team will be ready to help you out.