Nutrition
is important in all stages of life, from pregnancy to childhood and adolescence
to adulthood. It is important to understand the nutritional requirements and
needs for each of these stages. Pregnancy is perhaps the most important stage
of the lifecycle. According to, (Kushkituah, 2014),
“Approximately 3.6 million deaths of newborns from
birth to 28 days old occur due to poor nutrition.” Pregnant women need
50% more protein and carbs than they normally do and also need to increase
their fiber intake. Pregnant women also need to take iron supplements, as it is
almost impossible to provide the body with the required amount of iron when
pregnant just through diet. In addition certain vitamins need to be increased,
this is why pregnant women take prenatal vitamins. Lastly a woman needs more
energy as her pregnancy progresses; this is why it is important to increase
their calorie intake to maintain the appropriate amount of energy.
After the baby is born it is important to
understand the needs of an infant. Breast milk has all of the nutrients that
the infant needs, which is actually much more than an adult. An infant needs a
massive amount of vitamins and much more than adults do. Infants need more vitamin A and C than an
adult and 7 times more vitamin D as well as many other increases in vitamins. Infants
also need an increased amount of energy, protein, vitamin E, folate, niacin,
riboflavin, thiamin, B12, calcium, phosphorus, and zinc.
When the infant becomes a child their nutrition
needs change. Now the child is eating whole foods they require a good balance
of fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and milk. Depending on their physical
activity, age, and gender their calorie needs vary. It is important, however,
to ensure that a child maintains a well balanced diet to ensure the proper
growth and development they need at this crucial stage of life.
After childhood adolescences start to go through
big changes in their body. They go through perhaps the biggest growth spurt of
their lives and their hormones start to change. This is a very important time
of development, basically to ensure a more confortable change in their bodies.
Energy seems to be one of the biggest issues during teen years. Because more
energy is needed the nutrition recommendations are that teens should have an
increase in foods that provide energy. Furthermore they need an increase in
calories, almost double the calories they needed as a child. They should also
have more calcium and iron.
Lastly there is adulthood. Adults do not require
as much vitamins and nutrients that they required as a child, however it is very
important to the health and well being of an adult. Adults still need to
consume a well balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, protein, water, fats, and
carbohydrates. Women and men have different nutrition needs. Both need to
consume foods with the needed vitamins and minerals to maintain strong bones
and tissues however their amount needs vary. The RDA charts give us the
recommendation needs for each individual depending on their sex, age, weight,
and height.
Kushkituah, Y. (2014). Raising nutritional awareness during
pregnancy. International Journal Of
Childbirth Education, (3), 33.
Sizer, F. & Whitney, E.
(2013). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies (13th ed.).
Mason, OH: Cengage Learning.
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