Macronutrients

There are three primary chemical macronutrients that humans consume for energy and growth.  These are proteins, fats and carbohydrates.  Proteins are made up of 20 amino acids and participate in almost every process within the cells.  Seafood, chicken and beans are excellent sources of protein.  Fats can be classified as saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, trans fats and essential fatty acids.  Not all fats are created equal.  Sat fats and trans fats in the form of butter and candy bars, are considered to be "bad" while the rest are "good" such as found in nuts and tofu.  Finally are the carbohydrates.  Carbohydrates are made up of starches and sugars.  Fruits and vegetables are considered to be the best sources of carbohydrates.