A Life Time of Nutrition

Got Nutrient?

New life begins inside a women's womb.  It is vital that she receive the proper amount of nutrients for the safety of her baby and of herself.  The nutrition a women takes in before pregnancy because it will eventually determine whether the uterus will be able to support the growth of a healthy placenta during the first month of pregnancy.  Woman require an additional 340 calories per day during the second trimester.  During the third trimester a woman should take in an additional 450 calories each day.   

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Infants

An infants birth weight doubles by around 5 months of age.  Infants grow at such a fast rate that it is vital that he/she receive the proper nutrition.  The demand for large amounts of nutrients is high.  This includes energy nutrients and vitamins.  Infants require around 100 calories per kilogram of body weight every day.  Infants take in formula or breast milk that normally provides enough water to replace fluid losses, however, if the temperature is extremely high an infant will need supplemental water (Sizer & Whitney, 2014).  

Childhood

1 year old children, on average, needs about 800 calories a day.  Protein intake differs from child to child.  It typically is determined by his/her body weight.  Carbohydrates and fiber are a must in a child's diet.  Glucose is used by the brain and since a child's brain is relatively large the intake level is high.  Saturated fats and sugars should be avoided  as much as possible.  Parents need to be strict and not crave into their infants when all they want to eat is chocolate.  I know this personally as my 2 year old constantly does this and I am then forced to say no.  I try giving sweets to my daughter as an incentive for doing good like picking up her toys when she is done playing with them.     

Adolescence

During adolescence young adults are in search of their identity.  They are highly influenced by their parents, friends, and the media.  As they become more social and more involved in school activities  they are more prone to eat food that they can take on the go.  It is important to install healthy eating habits at an early stage to help prevent the over indulgence of empty calories and saturated fat filled foods.  The more active the young adult is the more calories they will need to maintain their weight.     

Adulthood

Our text states that around 70 to 80 percent of the average person’s life expectance depends on an individual’s health related behaviors while 20 to 30 percent is determined by genes (Sizer & Whitney, 2014).  Even though we cannot control our individual genetics and the possibility of diseases (i.e., diabetes, cancer) we can help promote longevity by being properly nourished via well balanced meals.  Being properly nourished will help keep an adult’s immune system strong as it is needed to help fight off sickness and diseases.  Malnutrition will impair immune function, delay wound healing, slow recovery time from surgeries, and increase hospitalizations (Sizer & Whitney, 2014).   

Reference

Sizer, F. & Whitney, E. (2014).  Nutrition: Concepts and controversies (13th ed.).  Mason, OH: Cengage Learning