Nutritional Requirements throughout the Life Cycle. We need essential amino acids, carbohydrate, essential fatty acids, and 28 vitamins and minerals to sustain life and health. However, nutritional needs vary from one life stage to another.
The patient should be taught to choose foods that add needed nutrients. Adolescents are willing to make changes; however, they still have the need to be similar to their peers. Most women with uncomplicated pregnancies can use the nurse as their primary source for nutritional information.
While completing the physical assessment of the pregnant client, the nurse can evaluate the client's nutritional status by observing a number of physical signs. Which sign would indicate that the client has unmet nutritional needs?
In elderly persons, some nutrient needs (e.g., vitamin D) increase, while others (e.g., energy and iron) are reduced. The National Academy of Sciences has published recommendations for Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) that are specific for the various stages of life. [1]
Nutritional Requirements throughout the Life Cycle. We need essential amino acids, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, and an array of vitamins and minerals to sustain life and health. However, nutritional needs vary from one life stage to another. During intrauterine development, infancy, and childhood, for example, ...
The major nutritional problems encountered in developed countries are excess macronutrient intake (especially saturated fat, protein, and sugar) and insufficient intake of the fiber and micronutrients provided by vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
Pregnant women also require increased amounts of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, selenium, copper, chromium, manganese, and molybdenum. [1] . Prenatal vitamin-mineral formulas are suggested to increase the likelihood that these nutrient needs will be met.
Second, a renewed emphasis on vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes can help prevent weight problems and chronic illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, among others.
The role of nutrition in fertility has been the subject of a limited body of research focusing particularly on the role of antioxidants, other micronutrients, and alcohol. However, while nutritional and lifestyle factors may affect fertility directly, they also influence risk for several diseases that impair fertility, including polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids (See relevant chapters).
The primary factor to consider in making a weight gain recommendation is the appropriateness of the prepregnancy weight for the woman's height. A commonly used method of evaluating the appropriateness of weight for height is the BMI. Although weight gain does indicate risk for IUGR, this does not apply to this patient.
The consumption of foods low in nutritional value or of nonfood substances (e.g., dirt, laundry starch) is called pica. When counseling a client about getting enough iron in her diet, the maternity nurse should tell her that: a. Milk, coffee, and tea aid iron absorption if consumed at the same time as iron. b.
Clients should be instructed to take iron supplements at bedtime. Iron supplements are best absorbed if they are taken when the stomach is empty. Bran, tea, coffee, milk, and eggs may reduce absorption. Iron can be taken at bedtime if abdominal discomfort occurs when it is taken between meals.