Nutritional needs through life The key stages in

Transcript:Nutritional needs through life The key stages in:
Nutritional needs through life The key stages in life include: pregnancy; toddlers; childhood; adolescence; adulthood; older adulthood. Energy and nutrient requirements change through life and depend on many factors, such as: age; sex; body size; level of activity; genes. Key stages in life Pregnancy A varied diet, providing adequate amounts of energy and nutrients, is essential before and during pregnancy. The mother’s diet can influence the health of the baby. Having a healthy body weight is important. Being underweight can make it more difficult to become pregnant and make it more likely for the baby to have a low birth weight, leading to a greater risk of ill health. Being overweight increases the risk of complications, such as high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy. For more information visit Healthy eating during pregnancy - British Nutrition Foundation. Conception and early pregnancy – folate/folic acid Folic acid is the synthetic form of the B vitamin, folate (vitamin B9). It is needed for rapid cell division and growth in the foetus that takes place during pregnancy. Folate has been shown to reduce the chance of neural tube defects (NTD), such as spina bifida, in the unborn baby. Foods that are good sources of folate include green leafy vegetables, oranges, bananas, bread and fortified breakfast cereals. Conception and early pregnancy – folate/folic acid Women who are trying to become pregnant, or who are pregnant, are recommended to take a 400 microgram (μg) supplement of folic acid every day. Women who are at a higher risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) may need to take higher doses as prescribed by their doctors. They should start while they're trying to get pregnant until at least the 12th week of pregnancy. This is because it is difficult to achieve the extra folate needed through diet alone. During pregnancy During pregnancy, some extra nutrients are needed (mainly in the last three months) to: help the development of the uterus, placenta and other tissues; meet the needs of the growing foetus; lay down stores of nutrients and energy (as fat) for the growth of the foetus and in the mother for lactation. During pregnancy During the first 6 months of pregnancy, most women do not need to eat more than normal. The body becomes more efficient at absorbing and using nutrients from food. The dietary reference value for energy intake during pregnancy in the UK is an extra