Confused about what the units are in the breakdown of food.

denimmaterial

Can anyone explain what units are used in the breakdown of carbs, protein, fat, sugar etc. I've tried all ways to find how these numbers relate to the total number of calories shown. They are not calories or percentages. Anyone know what these numbers actually show?

Faithful_Chosen

I... am not entirely sure what you mean. Are you talking about (for example) the recommendations? Those are in grams.

Katleskin

I was under the impression that they are in grams.

20yearsyounger

1g carbs ~ 4 calories, 1g fat ~ 9 calories, 1g protein ~ 4 calories. Add it all up you get total calories.

seska422

If you are using the MFP default setting, the number of grams for each macro is based on the percentage of calories.

For a 2000 calorie goal:
50% carbs = 1000 calories divided by 4 calories/gram = 250g goal for carbs
30% fat = 600 calories divided by 9 calories/gram = 67g goal for fat
20% protein = 400 calories divided by 4 calories/gram = 100g goal for protein

The MFP sugar goal is 15% of total calories, so for a 2000 calorie goal that would be 300 calories of sugar which would be 75 grams.

CyberTone

20yearsyounger wrote: »

1g carbs ~ 4 calories, 1g fat ~ 9 calories, 1g protein ~ 4 calories. Add it all up you get total calories.

^^ This. Plus 1g alcohol ~ 7 calories.

MKEgal

Here's a table which explains the healthy macro ranges, from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition:
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/88/1/1/T1.expansion.html

carbs, 45 - 65% of calories (4 cal per gram)
fat, 20 - 35% of calories (9 cal per gram)
protein, 10 - 35% of calories (4 cal per gram)

So for someone with a calorie goal of 2000 per day, that would be
carbs, 900 - 1300 cal, 225 - 325 g
fat, 400 - 700 cal, 44 - 78 g
protein, 200 - 700 cal, 50 - 175 g
(adjust for your own needs, to see where you feel best)

denimmaterial

Thank you everyone for clarifying that. Now very clear about it.