Macronutrient Ratios

We’ll start by discussing what a macronutrient ratio (MR) is, because this term comes up a lot in food discussions and provides a snapshot of the contents of your typical food intake.

Some people want to fine-tune their MRs, for example, in order to add lean mass (a bit more protein and calories in general), lose some extra fat (tightly connected to the previous goal), or subtract some carbs because they’re not doing the “Race Across America” bike race anymore. The ratio falls into the “good to know” category; check on it once and you’re good to go, unless you have to radically change your dietary components.

After discussing MRs, we’ll move on to descriptions of each of the three macronutrients and what happens during digestion (because the carbs, fats, and protein that go into your mouth are reformulated—mostly ripped apart—by the time they hit your bloodstream and body cells).