macronutrients

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the three major classes of energy-providing nutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — that the body requires in relatively large quantities to support growth, metabolism, and physiological function; each macronutrient provides a specific energy yield per gram (carbohydrates 4 kcal, proteins 4 kcal, fats 9 kcal) and serves distinct functional roles beyond energy provision, including structural (protein), hormonal and absorptive (fat), and glycogen storage (carbohydrate) functions; optimal macronutrient ratios are debated and vary by health goal, activity level, and individual metabolic factors