Macro Coach Certification Macro Coach Macronutrient Science 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many calories per gram does protein provide?
- 4 calories (Correct answer)
- 7 calories
- 9 calories
- 2 calories
Correct answer: 4 calories
Protein provides 4 calories per gram, the same as carbohydrates. This is a foundational value in macronutrient calorie accounting used by macro coaches.
Question 2: Which macronutrient is the body's preferred immediate source of energy during high-intensity exercise?
- Dietary fat
- Protein
- Carbohydrates (Correct answer)
- Fiber
Correct answer: Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is rapidly available for ATP production during high-intensity efforts. Fat oxidation is too slow to meet peak energy demands.
Question 3: What term describes the thermic effect of food (TEF) percentage range typically attributed to protein?
- 0–3%
- 5–10%
- 20–30% (Correct answer)
- 40–50%
Correct answer: 20–30%
Protein has a thermic effect of approximately 20–30%, meaning the body expends significantly more energy digesting protein than carbohydrates (5–10%) or fat (0–3%).
Question 4: In a standard macro-tracking approach, which value is used to calculate total daily carbohydrate calories?
- 7 kcal per gram
- 4 kcal per gram (Correct answer)
- 9 kcal per gram
- 3 kcal per gram
Correct answer: 4 kcal per gram
Carbohydrates are assigned 4 kcal per gram in standard nutritional calculations. Multiplying total carbohydrate grams by 4 gives the caloric contribution from carbs.
Question 5: Which type of fatty acid is typically solid at room temperature and found primarily in animal products?
- Monounsaturated fatty acid
- Polyunsaturated fatty acid
- Saturated fatty acid (Correct answer)
- Trans-unsaturated fatty acid
Correct answer: Saturated fatty acid
Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds in their carbon chains, making them structurally stable and solid at room temperature. They are predominantly found in animal-based foods like butter, meat, and dairy.
Question 6: What is the primary function of essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6?
- Providing quick glucose for the brain
- Serving as structural components of cell membranes and precursors to signaling molecules (Correct answer)
- Acting as the main nitrogen source for muscle protein synthesis
- Elevating insulin secretion post-meal
Correct answer: Serving as structural components of cell membranes and precursors to signaling molecules
Essential fatty acids are critical structural components of phospholipid cell membranes and serve as precursors to eicosanoids and other signaling molecules that regulate inflammation, immune response, and other physiological processes.
How many calories per gram does protein provide?