Macronutrients

Protein

What is protein?

There are 20 chemicals called amino acids, which join together in different ways to make thousands of different proteins.

Where do they come from?

11 of these amino acids are made by your body and are called 'non-essential' amino acids.

The other 9 'essential' amino acids you have to get by eating the right foods.

What does protein do? – Why are they important to Athletes-

It is a very important nutrient because it builds up your muscles, organs and glands. It helps repair and replace them too, so that your body can keep on working.

Where do you get it?

If you eat meat, chicken, fish, eggs, nuts, dairy products and legumes, then you've got it!

Protein from animal foods has all the essential amino acids you need. Plant foods have each got some of them.

FUN FACT: Eat some protein when you’re sick because it helps fight against diseases

Carbohydrates

What do carbohydrates do?

* They give energy to all the cells in your body.

* They produce glucose.

* Glucose gives you quick energy, but your body cells can't use heaps of it all at once so it saves some in your liver and muscles, as glycogen.

ANALOGY: It's a bit like having two tanks of petrol, the one your car is using and a reserve tank in case you run out of fuel. So, if your body runs out of glucose it switches to the reserve tank, glycogen. Once there is enough glycogen stored in your liver and muscles the rest turns into fat. 

FAT

What is fat?

In your body, it is the way you store energy - for later.

There are three types of fat that we eat.

* Saturated fatty acids - from animal foods, dairy foods and some oils that come from plants.

* Unsaturated fatty acids - from plants, fish and most plant oils.

* Mono unsaturated fatty acids - from some plant products such as olive oil and canola oil.

What does fat do? 

Some good things about fat.

* Acts as the body's reserve tank of energy

* Protects our organs - like a cushion

* Helps...