Fats Carbs And Proteins: Healthy Eating A Guide To The New Nutrition

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Fats, carbs, and proteins

It used to be so simple. Fats were the villains, and carbohydrates were the heroes. More protein was good. But there's news about carbohydrates, fats, and proteins — the three food groups known as macronutrients. Ongoing research has shifted the emphasis away from white carbohydrates onto whole grains, good fats, and healthy sources of protein.

Macronutrients are the basic categories of nutrients that humans need. They provide the body with energy, and they enable the body to carry out many normal biological functions. A healthy diet consists of a mix of foods from each of these categories, although not in equal amounts.

Whole grains contribute to heart health.

In 2002, a panel of U.S. and Canadian scientists backed by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine issued dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for macronutrients based on new research on diet and health (see "How much of each?"). The DRIs set forth the amounts of macronutrients you should eat daily to maintain a healthy weight and to prevent serious diseases such as heart disease, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes. The panel also determined DRIs for fiber, a form of indigestible carbohydrate that serves several functions in the body, and updated long-standing guidelines on vitamins and minerals.

Last updated:	January 23, 2007