40% carbs.
High fiber, fresh foods are the goal here. As much as possible, avoid empty carbs….cookies, chips etc. Things that really have no nutrient value.
30% protein.
A serving size of protein (as big of a deck of cards) at each meal should be good.
30% fat.
This often surprises people, but it really isn’t a large quantity. It’s just that fats are denser in calories, and of course, some of these fat calories will be in the carbs are proteins. Avoid trans fats and stick to your better fats found in things like nuts, olive oil and avocadoes.
If someone is insulin sensitive yet is doing a ton of cardio they still need ample amounts of carbohydrates. Insulin sensitivity usually means a diet that has more dietary fat will help but if that person is very active and doing tons of cardio then their need for carbohydrates as a fuel source will be much much higher.
The percentages will vary also but below are some general thoughts.
Lets break down the body types a bit.
Endomorph - More pair shaped and carry a majority of fat around their stomach and through their midline. They should not eliminate carbohydrates but should reduce them slightly, keep moderate levels of protein and increase healthy fats.
Mesomorph - The natural muscular person that can usually gain muscle and lose fat easily. The type of bodytype that almost everything works for. This bodytype will be able to usually handle good amounts of calories, proteins, carbs and fats. Moderate amounts of protein and healthy fats are recommended and more carbs than an endomorph.
Ectomorph - The naturally skinny, long and lean with long limbs is the description of the body type here. This body type generally has a hard time adding weight and can handle a very large percentage of carbs.
There is also blends of body types. You have meso-endo morphs as an example that add muscle easily but also add fat. You also have ecto-meso morphs which add muscle but are longer and leaner and have a hard time adding weight. You also have just full blown people that just fall in the categories listed.
Activity will determine the most. Sedentary people that do not workout do not need as much protein as someone who heavily weight trains. People in the gym who just lift weights and do not do large amount of cardio will not need as much carbs.
As with everything there are baselines to follow but needs to be adjusted based on the individual and a number of factors.
While there are some differing opinions out there regarding percentage of calories from carbohydrate, protein and fat, the big health organizations are pretty in sync on this issue, probably because they're looking at the same available research. If you consider the American Heart Association, US Department of Agriculture, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, they're all in the same ballpark: 40-65% of calories from carbohydrate, 20-35% fat and 10-30% protein. The suggested percentages that are more drastic and stray farther from these accepted norms often lack scientific evidence to back them up.
The Glyci-Med style of eating is incorporating a Mediterranean diet while also eating for glycemic balance; the ratio is two parts protein and fat to one part carb. Watch naturopathic doctor Natasha Turner, ND, explain the benefits of this diet.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.