Recently I was challenged by a professional nutritionist when I stated that "Fruit, like veggies, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds--contain not only carbohydrates--they also contain protein and fat."
For my own review, I went back to
nutritiondata.com to make sure that I was right. Let's take a look at the macronutrients in two very different kinds of fruit.
Blueberries. A serving size of 68 grams contains 39 calories: 35.2 of them from carbs, 1.9 from fat and 1.7 from protein. As a bonus, you also get 2 grams of fiber
Avocado (yes, it is a fruit). A serving size of 1 ounce contains 45 calories: 8.6 from carbs, a whopping 34.4 from fat and 1.9 from protein. And, you get that bonus of 2 grams of fiber.
As far as I know (correct me if I am wrong), but it appears that ALL fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds have at least "some" of of all three macronutrients.
Plus, they ALL have all-important fiber and phyto-nutrients and NONE of them have cholesterol or "any" of the favorite food of cancer--animal protein. Animal-based foods have zero fiber and zero phyto-nutrients.
The Bottom Line. All we have to do is eat a variety of whole plants every day and nature will take care of giving us this approximate ideal breakdown:
- 80% complex carbohydrates
- 10% protein
- 10% fat
Mother Nature made it easy for us, and all other creatures, to eat a healthy diet. But we seem to be the only species of creatures that doesn't "get it."
