Contents:
- Medical Video: Micronutrition Pt 1 - Vitamins and Minerals
- The main difference from macro nutrients with micronutrients
- Macro nutrients as the main ingredient, and micronutrients as ingredients
- Both nutrients have different functions
- Have different sources
- Lack of both nutrients can cause different health problems
- Not only lack of nutrients, excess macro and micro nutrients can also be a serious problem
- Then, which is better: macro nutrients or macro nutrients?
Medical Video: Micronutrition Pt 1 - Vitamins and Minerals
Your main goal to consume a food or drink is to get the nutrients contained in it. Basically, there are two types of nutrients that the body needs, namely macro nutrients and micronutrients. What is the difference between macro and micro nutrients? Which is more needed by the body? Or, which nutrients are better consumed more? Here are the differences from macro and micro nutrients.
The main difference from macro nutrients with micronutrients
When viewed from the definition, macro nutrients are nutrients that are needed by the body in larger quantities. Conversely, micronutrients are nutrients that are needed in small amounts in the body. Not only from the number of needs, there are still some differences that make macro and micro nutrients different but both are needed by the body, such as functions, different food sources, and how it works in the body.
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Macro nutrients as the main ingredient, and micronutrients as ingredients
Macro nutrient substances are chemicals that are needed in growth, development, and to carry out normal bodily functions. Macronutrients or macro nutrients play a major role in forming the body's energy and all metabolic processes. While micronutrients are also useful for maintaining bodily functions and growth, they tend to play a role in preventing disease. In terms of producing energy or metabolic processes, micronutrients act as a cofactor, binder, and become a tool for the process, unlike macro nutrients which are the main ingredients of energy production.
Both nutrients have different functions
The usefulness of these two nutrients is actually the same, which is to keep the body's functions running normally and prevent various disorders and diseases from coming. But what is different is how it works to maintain the body's functions. Almost all the uses of macro nutrients are located in the production of energy in the body. Macro nutrient substances are the basic ingredients used by the body to produce energy. This energy, will be used to carry out activities outside the body, as well as the biological processes of the body that require energy.
In general, the function of macro nutrients is:
- Build muscle
- Build and repair damaged tissue
- Become the main energy source (carbohydrate) and energy reserves (fat)
- Regulates and keeps body temperature normal
- Maintain the number of cells in the body
- Play a role in the immune system and fertilization
- Play a role in making hormones and enzymes
While micronutrients have a function to synthesize enzymes and hormones, and play a role in maintaining all the organs and senses of the body to function properly, such as vitamin A that maintains eye health, vitamin E maintains healthy skin, and so on.
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Have different sources
Which includes macro nutrients are protein, carbohydrates, fat, fiber, and water. While the types of micronutrients are more numerous and varied compared to macro nutrients, such as antioxidants, various kinds of vitamins and minerals. For food sources macro nutrients can be found in various kinds of staple foods, animal and vegetable protein sources. While micronutrients are more often found in various types of vegetables, fruits, and milk.
Lack of both nutrients can cause different health problems
If your diet is not good and right, it is not impossible that you can experience various disorders caused by a lack of macro and micro nutrients. Lack of macro nutrients can cause a person to experience kwashiorkor, marasmus, and lack of energy and protein. This of course causes the overall function of the body to be disrupted.
While lack of micronutrients, can cause disorders such as:
- Vitamin A deficiency, causes vision problems
- Iron deficiency, becomes anemia
- Lack of iodine, can cause goiter
- Thiamin deficiency causes beriberi
Not only lack of nutrients, excess macro and micro nutrients can also be a serious problem
Because macro nutrients are needed in large quantities, the excess macro nutrients are more common than micronutrients. Problems that will occur if someone experiences excess macro nutrients are obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart attack, and various other metabolic diseases. Meanwhile, excess micronutrients can cause a person to experience poisoning.
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Then, which is better: macro nutrients or macro nutrients?
If asked about which number is needed more, of course macro nutrients. But still these two types of nutrients are very important for survival. Not only the amount that needs to be considered to meet nutritional needs in the body, but the quality of foods containing a nutrient must be considered.
