Nutrition Information

Factors that Affect the Nutritional Requirements of an Individual.


The factors that affect the nutritional requirements of an individual are the quality and quantity of the food they eat, the efficiency of their digestive system in absorbing and utilizing eaten food and biochemical availability.

The quality of food that we eat can vary depending on the soil and growing conditions of that food. Soil that has been overworked and chemicals added and also drugs and antibiotics that have been given to livestock and crops to aid growth are all factors that affect nutrition in our food and can affect our own body's biochemistry. Nutritional quality of our food can be affected by the manufacturing process, storage and preparation of our food.

The quantity of food that we eat also influences our nutritional status. In developing countries malnutrition is a huge problem but in developed countries under nutrition can occur due to dependency on heavy refined processed foods.

The efficiency of our digestive system affects our nutritional status. Bad condition of our intestines will reduce the absorption of digested foods into our blood stream. Metabolic faults, sensitivity to certain food and the presence of substances like tea and coffee can affect the absorption rate of certain nutrients.

Biochemical availability is the optimum range of intake of a person essential nutritional requirement. This nutritional requirement is influenced by age, growth, sex, pregnancy and breastfeeding, illness, psychological and emotional stress, activity level and other factors like smoking and drinking.

Nutritional requirements change as a person gets older, because the elderly use a lot of medication their absorption, excretion and utilization of nutrients can be affected. Growing children have different nutritional needs to that of adults. For example, a growing infant requires a higher intake of essential fatty acids than that of an adult. In the same way there are different nutrition requirements for young and old there are also very different requirements between the sexes. For example, a woman's nutritional requirements can vary throughout her menstrual cycle, also a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding has different nutritional requirement to that of one who is not. Nutritional requirement vary depending on whether someone is healthy or ill. As diseases are unique so are the nutritional requirements needed whilst that person is ill. The same applies to psychological and emotional stress. When people are affected by stress their appetite is affected, this results in less intake of food which in turn results in less nutrients being absorbed.

A person activity level will affect their nutritional requirement. An athlete will need a different nutritional requirement to that of an office worker. Exercise improves metabolic efficiency in some people and increases nutrient requirement.

People may find that certain nutritional requirements are increase within their family. Genetics can play a part in an extra need for certain nutrients. Other factors such as using recreational drugs, smoking and drinking can affect nutrient requirements. Even beverages like Tea and Coffee can affect nutrient requirements; they both inhibit the absorption of Iron and Zinc.

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Bespoke consultations for a healthier natural life

website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com Get a free initial nutritional therapy diagnosis now...


MORE RESOURCES:

FAO Says Investing in Agriculture and Nutrition Supports Battle ...
Voice of America - 3 hours ago
On this World AIDS Day, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization is calling for greater investment in agriculture and nutritional policies. ...


Total Nutrition Technology Launches Customized Nutrition ...
Carolina Newswire (press release), NC - 4 hours ago
CHARLOTTE — Total Nutrition Technology, which specializes in weight loss, health management and enhanced sports performance, has just launched its own ...


Got milk, got health debate
Chicago Tribune, United States - 15 hours ago
The focus on milk follows other recent efforts to improve school nutrition, including banning soda, limiting trans fats in lunches, purging junk food from ...


Updates On Nutrition And HIV/AIDS: Getting The Most From Your Diet
Mmegi Online, Botswana - 1 hour ago
These are the signs of the times indeed folks, but hey politics is not my area of expertise, so I shall stick to nutrition, diet and health. ...


Senior Nutrition Dec. 1-5
Oneida Dispatch, NY - 20 hours ago
VERNON — The following are the Oneida County Office for the Aging nutrition program menus for the coming week. For more information call the Office for the ...
SNACK Dec. 1-5 Oneida Dispatch
all 2 news articles


School nutrition
Times-West Virginian, WV - 9 hours ago
County schools are following stringent meal-plan guidelines to ensure school children are receiving adequate nutrition. Good nutrition is imperative to good ...


Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
AAP News (subscription) - 1 hour ago
Changes to the program, now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), include an increase in the minimum benefit and standard deduction, ...


Good nutrition key in fast bone healing
Arkansas Democrat Gazette, AR - 7 hours ago
Nutrition. Much of the “glue” that mends broken bones is found in food. These nutrients are especially important to bone healing Protein such as collagen ...


What you don't know about nutrition can pile on the pounds
Chicago Daily Herald, IL - 13 hours ago
To help you keep off extra pounds during the holidays, let's debunk common nutrition myths: 1. Eating before bedtime is fattening. ...


Elderly Nutrition
Sioux City Journal, IA - Nov 30, 2008
Persons 60 years of age and older and their spouses may participate in the elderly nutrition program in Siouxland. In Sioux City, meals are served ...

Nutrition - Google News

home | site map
© 2006