Discussion 7

Nutritional Recommendations Across the Lifespan

       Nutrition is crucial to good health and well-being throughout the life cycle.  Even prior to birth, nutritional habits can form the foundation upon which an individual’s health is built (Brown, 2011).  Although nutritional needs change throughout life stages, there are many sources of information that can provide individuals the information they need to ensure proper nutrition for themselves, and their children - now and into the future.  Although a lifetime is essentially a continuum of which we cannot divide into “distinct stages” there are general markers throughout a life in which special nutrition is needed (Langley-Evans, 2009).  This article will briefly discuss the recommendations for nutrition in these stages of life.

Stages of Life that Require Special Nutrition:

1.     Pre-pregnancy

2.     Pregnancy & Lactation

3.     Infancy

4.     Childhood

5.     Adolescence

6.     Adulthood

Pre-pregnancy:

       Women who plan to get pregnant need to take active measures to ensure they are receiving proper levels of nutrition that will help their bodies prepare for development of a fetus (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).  Prior to pregnancy, weight is also immensely important for women.  Underweight, overweight and obese women are at greater risk of giving birth to a baby with a low birth weight (Langley-Evans, 2009).  Thus, it is important for women planning a pregnancy to reach a normal healthy weight before getting pregnant.  Nutritionists generally recommend that pre-pregnancy is a time to ensure good health, particularly through nutrition and physical exercise (Langley-Evans, 2009). 
 

Pregnancy:

       Throughout pregnancy, women have increased nutritional requirements that are crucial to the survival, development and health of a child.  According to Langley-Evans (2009) “the demand for nutrients to sustain function begins from the moment of conception” (p. 10).  Pregnant women have a variety of nutritional needs their bodies require.  They need to gain adequate weight throughout the pregnancy to ensure a healthy birthweight of their child (Langley-Evans, 2009).  Sizer and Whitney (2012) state that, “infant birthweight is the most potent single indicator of an infant’s future health” (p. 491).  Women also require a variety of nutrients that help develop a healthy placenta, which is responsible for performing the most crucial tasks during gestation (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). 

    Although the study of nutrition throughout pregnancy is still being developed, modern nutritionists recommend that women need:

• Increased amounts of calories – from the first trimester to the third, peaking at up to 450 calories a day (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).

• Higher intake of carbohydrates, up to 175 grams a day during pregnancy and up to 210 during lactation (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).

• An additional 25 grams of protein per day from the second trimester, through birth and lactation (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).

• Higher amounts of many types of vitamins and minerals crucial to gestation such as linoleic and linolenic acids, vitamins A, B6, B12, and C, as well as calcium, iron, zinc and iodine (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).

Infancy:

       For the first six months of life, infants can receive ideal nutrition through breastfeeding (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).  Foods can be introduced after six months, and can be combined with breastfeeding up to the first year for continuous nutrition (Langley-Evans, 2009).  In addition to providing ideal nutrition, breastfeeding also provides a host of health benefits including better development physically and mentally, and a better immunity (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).  Because babies grow rapidly, they need sufficient nutrition to support their development.  Infants need greater amounts of calories in particular, and also a variety of essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, and E, as well as folate, niacin, large amounts of iodine, and others (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). 

 

Childhood:

Throughout childhood children are continuously growing and developing physically and mentally (Brown, 2011).  Food habits are also very influential during childhood years (Brown, 2011).  Thus, it is crucial that parents help children meet their nutritional needs, and encourage healthy eating habits early on.  Nutritional needs for children vary according to activity levels, weight and growth, but in general children have caloric needs ranging between 1,500 to 2,000 calories a day (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).  They also need roughly 19 grams of protein for optimal growth as well as good amounts of carbohydrates and fibers up to adult requirements (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).  Adequate amounts of water – roughly 1.7 liters a day – are also essential (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).

Adolescence:

Early adulthood is one of the most nutritionally demanding stages of life, particularly because of major growth spurts (Brown, 2011). Failure to get the right nutrition during this essential stage can result in a variety of health issues.  Like pregnancy nutrition, scientists are still developing knowledge on nutritional needs of young adults, but overall they recommend higher amounts of vitamins and minerals, and calorie, fat, protein, carbohydrate and water intake of that recommended for adults (Sizer & Whitney, 2012).  Vitamin and mineral deficiencies are common among adolescents so it is recommended that supplements are taken to ensure ideal intake of crucial nutrients (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). 

Adulthood:

Adulthood is associated with stable levels in physiology (Brown, 2011).  Thus, nutritional needs are relatively stable and easier to maintain.  Adult nutrition is the most widely studied and understood form of nutrition.  Yet, it is important to note that not all adults’ nutritional needs are the same.  Physical activity levels, physiology and genetics make adults unique in their nutritional needs.  Daily recommendations for nutrition however, provide a general basis on which adults should base their diets.  Adults should consume under 2,400 calories a day, drink at least 2.5 liters of water, eat 130 grams of carbohydrates, get roughly 50 grams of protein, and should limit their fat intake to less that 25% of their total calorie intake (Sizer & Whitney, 2012). 

A lifetime of nourishment begins even before a life is brought into this world.  While we require special nutrition during certain times of our lives, it is important to perceive a lifespan as a continual process in which proper nutrition always plays a key role.  Scientific knowledge on specific nutritional needs during the lifetime continues to grow.  There is much knowledge (and benefits) to be gained in learning about special nutritional needs and how to actively achieve ideal nutrition.  If you are thinking about having a baby, or already have children, I suggest reading several books dedicated specifically to nutrition throughout a lifespan.  I recommend both of the lifespan books used as references in this article. 

References

Brown, J. E. (2011). Nutrition through the life cycle. (4^th ed). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
       Cengage Learning.

Langley-Evans, S. (2009). Nutrition: A Lifespan Approach. Singapore: Wiley Blackwell.

Sizer, F. S., & Whitney, E. N. (2012). Nutrition: Concepts and controversies (12^th ed).
       Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.