Bridging the Gap Between Macros and Micros
Raleigh Raw is one of the unique establishments that focuses on both MICRO and MACRO nutrients. What started off as primarily a micronutrient-heavy company quickly evolved into a company that can appreciate the benefits of both camps of nutrients. As we develop our education and awareness around nutrition, our company evolves to match it, and we want to share this evolution with you. In this post, we want to break down the value each camp holds, and why both are now a foundation in the creation of our products here at Raleigh Raw.
For starters, what are micronutrients?
To make it easy, think whole, plant-based foods. Micronutrients include all those vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, antioxidants, and other goodness naturally provided to us in foods from Mother Earth. It’s safe to say we want just about as many of these guys as we can get - preferably from natural, whole food sources.
Macronutrients, on the other hand, can be described as the 3 “big” nutrients that we consume (found in larger quantities, hence the word MACRO).
These three nutrients are protein, carbs, and fats. They are not exclusive to whole or plant-based foods, and are not always found in tandem with micronutrients. The important thing to remember with macronutrients is that we don’t necessarily want an unlimited supply of these in our diet, but a BALANCE between them. At each meal, you should aim to have a solid balance of carbs, fats, and proteins to keep energy and blood sugar levels stable and reliable. We’ve linked reliable sources at the bottom of the blog to help you determine your body’s specific needs.
*Fun Fact: Alcohol is considered the fourth macronutrient, but for the nature of this post we won’t get into that one.
As a company, we have always prioritized micronutrients. As we evolve, we aim to create items that reflect our understanding of the importance of both. The introduction of our Macro Bowls was our initiative to bridge the gap between the MACRO and the MICRO. We wanted a balance of healthy carbs, fats, and proteins in addition to a hefty dose of micronutrients in every item. This is also why you won’t find very many processed foods in Raleigh Raw, but instead whole food sources filled with micronutrients and combined to create nutritionally balanced meals.
We’ve seen a big division between these two groups of nutrients - a large majority advocating for one while neglecting the other. However, they are two sides of the same coin, and it’s only when you have both sides of a coin that the money is of value, right? ;)
Here’s a breakdown of some of the significant functions of both camps of nutrients:
***As you can see, both groups contain their own important functions in the human body, as well as come together to fully optimize biology and physiology.
As shown above, when we hone in too much on one aspect of nutrition, we miss out on the benefits of the other. If we only drink juice (while healthy and packed with micronutrients), we miss out on growth of new muscle tissue and our blood sugar levels can become quite unstable. At the same time, if we were to only focus on hitting our macros (think - a bunch of protein bars or chicken and rice for every meal), we neglect our body’s need for antioxidants, polyphenols, and other life-giving nutrients.
If it’s not obvious already, both are important. You may go through phases where you prioritize one more than the other, but in the end, you need both to optimize your performance and longevity. You need adequate levels of protein to build new muscle tissue (muscle is commonly known as the “organ of longevity”). Subsequently, you also need adequate levels of Vitamin A, E, K, B12, and so on, for cellular repair and regeneration, and a wide array of physiological processes occurring inside of us every day.
Here’s how we choose to combine the Macro + the Micro at Raleigh Raw:
The Blueberry Bee Pollen Smoothie + Collagen
325 calories / 64 carb / 4 fat / 13 protein
The Rainbow Macro Bowl with Cauliflower Rice + Seared Salmon & Purple Sweet Potato
478 calories / 45 carb / 21 fat / 33 protein
The Hustle Poké Bowl with Rice & Greens + Tuna
404 calories / 58 carb / 6 fat / 26 protein
All of the above = tons of vitamins, antioxidants, and polyphenols!
Resources for you:
Find the macronutrient breakdown of your next Raleigh Raw meal here.
Find out your body’s specific macronutrient needs here.
What are antioxidants?
What are polyphenols?
All about the essential vitamins and minerals.
Coming soon: A Raleigh Raw Glossary where we take you through the benefits of each ingredient used here at RR, including the macro and micronutrients found in each!