To improve a carb protein fat ratio, an individual should first determine his daily caloric needs. Knowing how many calories are needed to maintain or lose weight is important since the carb protein fat ratio will need to be calculated from this figure. A healthy carb protein fat ratio for most adults is typically 20 percent protein, 30 percent fat, and 50 percent carbohydrates.
There are many online tools that can help determine the proper amount of calories to consume. Factors such as gender, age, current weight, desired weight, and physical activity level all determine the amount of calories that are appropriate for each person. If an individual desires to lose weight, improving the carb protein fat ratio alone will not do the trick. A combination of increased physical activity and calorie reduction is often needed.
Once the appropriate amount of calories has been determined, the second step is to multiply the recommended carb protein fat ratio by that amount. For example, an individual who consumes 2,000 calories a day would need approximately 400 of those calories to come from protein, 600 from fat, and 1,000 from carbohydrates. The third step in making improvements would be to determine what types of food sources would fit into the carbohydrates, protein, and fat categories.
Some of the obvious sources of carbohydrates are whole grains, pastas, breads, and sweets. Many fruits and vegetables also fall into the carbohydrates category, although they are typically considered to be complex carbohydrates rather than simple sugars. There are some fruits that tend to be higher in simple, starchy sugars than others, such as the banana.
Certain food sources, such as meats, sometimes fall into both the protein and fat categories. Lean protein sources, including salmon, tuna fish, and chicken are great dietary choices to help satisfy a good carb protein fat ratio. Vegetarian sources of protein include soy and beans. Dairy sources of protein include milk, cheese, yogurt, and eggs.
Although it is somewhat tedious and difficult to keep track of exact ratios, some simple meal preparation and planning strategies can be used to improve the ratio between carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Try eating from a variety of food groups at each meal and eliminate high-fat, high sodium, high sugar, and processed foods. Replace as much white pasta and breads with whole grain alternatives instead. In addition, try consuming the majority of carbohydrates during breakfast and lunch and add in protein, fruits and vegetables later in the day.