Introduction: Lifecycle and Nutritional Needs
- Lifecycle is a range of developmental changes that an organism undergoes in the process of growth (Ciarleglio et al., 2003).
- The concept of nutritional needs incorporates the minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats and carbohydrates that a human being needs.
- At different stages of a lifecycle, a human being may have different nutrition needs.
- Because of the metabolic specifics, the changes in location and lifestyle, adults have specific nutritional needs that differ considerably from the ones of children and elderly people
As a result, male ration includes more calories than the female one.
Life cycle of a human being is a multi-stage process that depends on a number of environmental and genetic factors. As a result, people’s nutritional needs vary depending on their age and gender. Defining the basic elements that a grown-up person needs will help shape modern people’s diet.
Adults’ Nutritional Needs: A Complete List
It should also be kept in mind that men and women have different nutritional needs due to the specifics of male and female bodies. The following predetermines the differences in nutrition patterns:
- Age;
- Pregnancy (for women);
- Deficiency of specific elements (e.g., calcium, iron, etc.)
- Male Nutritional Needs:
- 28-34 g of fiber per day;
- Higher calorie requirements;
- Lower nutrients requirements;
- 8 mg iron per day;
- Female Nutritional Needs:
- 22-28 g of fiber per day;
- Lower calorie requirements;
- Higher nutrient requirements (esp. during pregnancy and lactation);
- 18 mg iron per day.
As a rule, female nutritional needs are considerably lower than the ones of a man unless a woman is pregnant. Men also tend to have a considerably higher calorie requirement. However, the latter is also considered to depend on the activities that the person in question performs. In addition, women need twice as much iron per day as men.
Nutritional Needs and the Means to Satisfy Them
Nutritional Need
There are a number of different nutrients and vitamins that men and women need to sustain their health. The basic ones, however, include:
- Vitamin B12;
- Folate/Folic Acid;
- Calcium;
Sources of the Minerals/Vitamins/Elements
- The aforementioned vitamins and elements can be found in the following food:
- Vitamin B12: Clams, oysters, and other seafood;
- Folate/Folic Acid: spinach;
- Calcium: dairy.
Apart from knowing the exact vitamins and minerals that a person needs, one also has to be able to locate these elements. It is worth mentioning, though, that even when one of the sources is unavailable, the required mineral/vitamin can be found in other sources. For example, Vitamin B12 is found not only in oysters, but in most seafood.
Adults, Children and Elderly People: Nutritional Needs Comparison
- Infant:
- Vitamin A;
- Vitamin C;
- Vitamin D;
- Vitamin K;
- Vitamin B1;
- Riboflavin – Vitamin B2;
- Niacin;
- Folate;
- Pantothenic acid;
- Calcium;
- Iron;
- Adults:
- Calcium;
- Iron;
- Vitamin A;
- Vitamin E;
- Water soluble vitamins;
- Vitamin B1;
- Riboflavin – Vitamin B2;
- Niacin – Vitamin B3;
- Vitamin B5;
- Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine (B6);
- Vitamin B7 – Biotin;
- Folic Acid – Vitamin B9;
- Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin) (Adults requirements are different, n. d.).
- Pre-school:
- Protein;
- Hemoglobin;
- Phosphorus;
- Vitamin D;
- Vitamin A;
- Vitamin E;
- Vitamin K;
- Iron;
- Folate;
- School:
- Calcium;
- Vitamin D;
- Folate;
- Protein;
- Vitamin A;
- Vitamin E;
- Vitamin C.
As it has been stressed above, people of different age groups have different nutrition requirements. Comparing and contrasting the requirements of different age groups will help understanding the specifics of a human body on different stages of its development. As the table shows, the nutritional requirements of adults seem to be the most diverse ones.
Reference List
Adults requirements are different (n. d). Web.
Ciarleglio, L. J. et al. (2003). Genesis counseling throughout the life cycle. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 112(9), 1280- 1286.
Murphy, P. (2011). Nutritional needs of male and female adults. Live Strong. Web.