IIFYM (If it Fits Your Macros). More Bro Science BS!

IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros) is a dietary philosophy that believes all foods provide exactly the same nutritional and physiological effect so long as they contain the same macronutrient (protein, carb and fat) totals. The motivation of this concept, unsurprisingly, is to justify the exchange of nutritious natural foods with heavily processed junk.

The philosophical extension of IIFYM is that micronutrients have absolutely no nutritional worth at all; and carcinogens, toxins and anti-nutrients are also biochemically and physiologically immaterial. According to IIFYM, all that matters is the macronutrients.

As anyone with an modicum of intelligence will realise, eating 3 silk blouses and a tree branch everyday is not going to lead to the same health and training outcomes as eating 3 chicken breasts with rice; even though the silk blouse and tree branch contain the same amount of protein and carbs! That is an extreme example. But it is an example that still fits the philosophy of IIFYM and highlights the stupidity of it.

But IIFYM is even more ignorant than suggesting silk blouses are nutritious. To say that macronutrients are the only relevant measure of nutrition is to say that vitamins, minerals, amino acids, EFA's and all other micronutrients have no nutritional value. The extension of this is that vitamin and mineral deficiencies (or toxicities) do not exist and vitamin, mineral, amino acid, fatty acid, herbal and other supplements are 100% void of health or performance benefits, under all circumstances.

Food allergies and intolerances are also figments of the imagination according to IIFYM. In the IIFYM world gluten and lactose are just protein and carbohydrate like any other. So eat rice with chicken or bread with chocolate ice cream (or some silk blouse with some tree branch); according to IIFYM its all nutritionally the same when the macros are the same. And I'm sure thats great comfort to everybody following IIFYM who spends their days bloated, lethargic, fat and water retentive.

But the philosophical ramifications of of IIFYM arrogance and ignorance do not end there. IIFYM essentially says every scientist to ever do research on any non-macronutrient was wasting their time and wrong if they found a physiological effect. Basically, IIFYM advocates are just much smarter than the Worlds smartest, most accomplished and respected Biochemists and Nutrition Scientists.

It gets worse! Seeing as MSG and estrogenic pesticides or lignans in food have no effect on body composition or health (according to IIFYM), then clearly oral pharmaceutical versions of similar compounds don't either? Surely the only consideration we need to consider is the carbohydrate from the fillers in the tablets themselves? So a cup of rice or 100 Lasix tablets (a potent diuretic) both have the same macronutrient value and therefore the same effect on my body? Right? Why not? They both fit my macros.

I admit, IIFYM advocates don't specifically argue that drugs and supplements don't work, that food allergies don't exist or that silk blouses are a valid source of dietary protein. But their philosophy does! And often its necessary to consider the most extreme extensions of a philosophy to uncover the glaring flaws underpinning it. Hopefully this blog helps people who intrinsically knew IIFYM was absurdly flawed but couldnt articulate why?

IIFYM is philosophically bankrupt! The fact that some IIFYM-ers eat junk and don't wind up looking and performing like total junk does not mean their philosophy is valid. Don't be duped!


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