#35: The macronutrient myth-busters: Why carbs, fats, and proteins all matter

Dr. Nickhil Jakatdar has been working at the cutting edge of preventive health and longevity over the last 10 years with the 3 D’s – data, doctors, and dietitians – to go from being diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 41, to now having all his blood markers and body measurements in the green and his epigenetic biological age at 41 while his chronological age is 51. However, saturated fats do play an important role in hormone production and brain health, and so having some amount of saturated fats in one’s diet is important. While glucose remains the body’s preferred source of energy for the reasons described in the previous section, fats are the body’s second favorite energy source. While the conversion of excess glucose into triglycerides is one source of fat accumulation, fats from our foods are already in the form of triglycerides during the digestion process, thereby making it easier to store as body fat compared to carbohydrates or protein, which have to go through additional metabolic processes before being converted to fat. Energy source : While carbohydrates and fats are the body’s preferred energy sources, protein can be broken down for energy when necessary, especially during periods of fasting or intense exercise.