Post No 5. What are macro and micro nutrients?

Source of infographic https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/5-reasons-to-eat-more-color

Macronutrients are the elements of our diet, what we eat every day that we need in larger quantities e.g. carbohydrate, protein and fats and we would eat grammes of them every day. 

Micronutrients are those parts of our diet that we eat in much smaller quantities but they are really important for our health and wellbeing. When we say smaller quantities we mean milligrammes (thousandth of a gramme) or microgrammes (millionth of a gramme) every day. These micronutrients are categorised as vitamins and minerals and our bodies cannot make them excepting vitamin D, which we make when our skin comes into contact with sunlight [1]. 

Micronutrients support our nervous system, reduce tiredness, help us to carry oxygen around our body, support our bones, skin, teeth. If we eat a diet that is restricted in micronutrients this will affect our health. Check out source [1] for much more details with each vitamin or mineral. There have been lots of ‘eat in colour’ campaigns, promoting eating more fruit and vegetables, and 5-A-Day campaigns encouraging everyone to eat 400g (5 x 80g) of fruit and vegetables ever day. Check out the reasons for eating in colour [2] and think about it next time you are in the supermarket - how much fresh, tasty, colourful food is in your basket?

1. https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthy-sustainable-diets/vitamins-and-minerals/ 
2. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/5-reasons-to-eat-more-color