In nutrition, diet is the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism. Dietary habits are the habitual decisions an individual or culture makes when choosing what foods to eat. The word diet often implies the use of specific intake of nutrition for health or weight management reasons (with the two often being related). Proper nutrition requires ingestion and absorption of vitamins, minerals, and food energy in the  form of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Dietary habits and choices play a significant role in  the quality of life, health and longevity. It can define cultures and play a role in religion.

Dietary intake For Infants,Children,Youngsters, Adults and in Pregnancy.

Remember, it is just the average amount that people should try.

Naturally, newborns and infants have little control over what they eat, and their parents are  responsible for selecting and providing any source of nourishment they receive

Dietary Intake For Infants

Dietry intake for Children & Adults

Normal Dietary Intake In Pregnancy

Women who follow a healthy diet before pregnancy may only need to make some basic  changes and those who  do not follow  should start making healthy changes before becoming pregnant to give birth to a healthy, thriving baby.

Sometimes requires Vitamin or Mineral supplements especially Iron, Calcium, Folate and for some women Vitamin D.  Generally, sodium should be restricted to avoid developing high blood pressure .

DIET IN HOMEOPATHY

Various interactions and experiments on the patient pool have lead us to the conclusion that it  is not necessary to remove every article of medicinal nature from the patients diet. Only those  items should be restricted to which the patient’s body is not accustomed. If a person is using  a particular item for continued period of time, we generally do not restrict it but if the use is  occasional or of recent origin it’s advisable to avoid it. We restrict certain dietary substances if  there is a direct bearing with the disease condition- like restricting oxalate rich food in cases of  Renal calculi and Gout, cold and sour things in cases of recurring cold, Bronchitis and Asthma etc. There are no hard and fast rules but our dietary suggestions may vary from person to person.  At the start of treatment a dietary chart is provided to the patient for the betterment of their  health.

The older Indian concept and to a much larger extent Ayurveda classifies food into 3 basic categories:

SATVA or LIGHT FOOD: such as fresh vegetables, rice, milk, butter, honey, fruits, nuts when eaten  in right quantity will balance all three doshas, bring mental harmony and evoke conscious  awareness.

RAJAS or RICH FOOD: such as garlic, coffee, and wine, fried food, too spicy or too hot will stimulate  fantasy, jealousy, and ego. Although these emotions may appear as negative aspects, some of  these emotions are needed to lead a normal life. Rajasic food should be included in the diet with modesty.

TAMAS or DULL/SLUGGISH: food list contain frozen food, certain root vegetables, peanut, left- over and meats that may need more energy to digest. Such food may enhance emotions like  ignorance, greed and laziness. This food category must be included in the diet with caution.

NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF ADOLESCENTS

Phenomenal growth occurs in adolescencewhich demands more energy and nutrients.
Nutrition and Physical growth are integrally related.
Deficiency in teens leads to delayed sexual maturation, arrest or slow linear growth.
During puberty the girl’s nutrition need increases sharply.
During the peak velocity of growth the nutritional requirement doubles as there is a spurt in linear growth.
Deficiency in adults leads to diet related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and osteoporosis.

BALANCED DIET SHOULD CONTAIN THE FOLLOWING.

• CARBOHYDRATE
• PROTEINS
• FAT
• VITAMINS AND MINERALS
• TRACE ELEMENTS
• OPTIMUM WATER
• SUFFICIENT FIBER
• SALT

CARBOHYDRATE

REQUIREMENT-It is  required for Energy. 130 grams so as to supply 2000 to 2500 k.cl of energy.

SOURCE– Cereals, roots and fruits.
DIGESTION– Starts in the mouth. Proper mastication is essential. Alkaline digestion-Ptyalin

DEFICIENCY– Delayed puberty and growth retardation

PROTEIN

REQUIREMENT-Required to maintain the existing lean body mass and accrual of additional lean body mass during the adolescent growth spurt. 40 to 45 grams per day or 1 gram per kilo gram body weight.
SOURCE – 1. Animal sources- milk, meat, eggs etc. 2. Vegetable sources- legumes and nuts.
DIGESTION – Starts in the stomach –Acid Pepton digestion.
Acid digestion in stomach and alkaline digestion in the small intestine .
DEFICIENCY – Inadequate linear Growth, delay in sexual maturation &reduced accumulation of lean body mass

FAT

REQUIREMENT –Required for normal growth, energy and development of body.
2.10 to 12 grams of fat is the daily requirement.3. 10 % of the energy requirement is met by fat.
SOURCE – Oils and animal fat.
DIGESTION – Starts in mouth but mainly in small intestine. Excessive intake of carbohydrate will be converted to fat and deposited in the body.
DEFICIENCY – Deficiency of one or more of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. And it affects Skin, Cognition & Vision.

VITAMINS

Two types –  WATER SOLUBLE AND FAT SOLUBLE
(a) WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Vitamin B1 –  Thiamin – Helps with the energy production in the body
Source- Whole grains, liver, dried beans, nuts and seeds.

Vitamin B2 – Riboflavin – Helps the body to use other B vitamins.
Source- Soya beans, meat & poultry, liver and eggs, Mushrooms, milk, cheese, yogurt, whole grains.
Vitamin B3 –  Niacin – Helps the body to use carbohydrate, protein and fat to make energy. Helps the enzymes to work properly in the body.
Source- Mushrooms, peanut, butter meat, fish, poultry and whole grains.
Biotin –  Allows your body to use carbohydrate, protein and fat from the food Milk, yogurt, peanuts, almonds, egg sliver, soya protein.
Vitamin B6 – Pyridoxine – Helps your body to make and use protein and glycogen which is the stored energy in your muscles and liver.
Helps to form hemoglobin which carries oxygen in the blood.

Vitamin B12 –  Cobalamin Cynocobalamin Methylcobalamin
Works with the vitamin folic acid to make DNA.
Helps to make healthy blood cells and keeps nervs working properly. .
Deficiency will lead to anemia.
Folic acid- Folacin -Folate
Helps to produce and maintain DNA and cells. Helps to make red blood cells and prevents anemia. Prevents birth defects like Spina bifida and Down Syndrome. Folic acid intake is essential before becoming pregnant to prevent congenital defects.
Source – Cooked spinach, green peas, sprouts, orange, liver, dried beans, soya bean and sun flower seeds.

Vitamin C -Ascorbic acid
Prevents cell damage & gum bleeding. Reduce the risk of certain cancers, Heart disease. Helps to heal cuts and wounds. Keeps immune system healthy. Protection from infections. Helps for better absorption of iron from foods.
Part 5 Citrus fruits oranges, grape fruit, mangoes, papaya, tomato, gooseberry and raw dark vegetables.
(b) FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS (Vitamin A, D, E & K)
Vitamin A

Helps vision in the day and at night. Protects from infections by keeping skin and other body parts healthy. Promotes normal growth and development.
Sorce – liver, fish, milk, cheese, mangoes and Papayas.

Carotinedois
Alpha Carotenoids, Beta Carotene, Beta crypto Xanthin Actually carotinoids are not vitamins but some types can turn in to vitmine A in the body. Act as anti oxidents which protects your body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. Source – spinach, carrots, pink grape and tomato

Sun shine vitamin D
Helps to absorb calcium and phosphorus from food. Helps to deposit calcium and phosphorus in bones and teeth. Keeps your immune system healthy to protect you from infections. Source – Milk, fish, eggs, organ meat and fish liver oil.

Vitamin E (Beauty Vitamin)
Helps to improves skin health. Act as an anti oxidant and protects cells from damages; so improves Men’s and Women’s Fertility. Maintain a healthy immune system and other body process. Prevents muscle cramps.
Source – Vegetable oils, leafy green vegetables, wheat germs, sunflower seeds, peanut butter and nuts.

Vitamin K
Makes proteins that cause out blood to clot when you are bleeding.
Involved in making body proteins for your blood and bones.
Source – soya beans, dark green leafy vegetables as spinah

MINERALS

• Calcium

For healthy bones and teeth.
Daily requirement is 1300 mg.
45% bone development happens during adolescence.
9o% of bone mass by the time of 17 years.

Essential for reduction of the life time risk of fractures and osteoporosis.
Adequate calcium intake during adolescence is a “window of opportunity for optimal bone development and future health”.
Source- Milk, cheese, yogurt ,milk products and small fish with bones. Avoid soft drinks.

• Iron

Daily requirement is 8 to 18 mg per day.
Vital for transporting oxygen in the blood stream and preventing anemia. The onset of menstruation imposes additional iron need for girls.
Source- Meat, fish, poultry, dates, grapes, banana, red-spinach, dark colored vegetables.
• Zinc

Daily requirement is 8 to 12mg zinc is associated with more than 100 specific enzymes and is vital for protein formation and gene expression.Helps growth and sexual maturation.
Source- Red meat, shell fish and whole grains.

TRACE ELEMENTS

Chromium, copper, fluoride, iodine, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus and selenium are the important trace elements.
These trace elements are required only in tiny amounts but are essential

WATER

Minimum intake of 1 to 2 liters of water is essential. Optimum water intake is essential for keeping good general health., depending on the climatic conditions and physical exertion. Deficient water intake will result in renal calculus, urinary tract infection, back ache and dry skin.

FIBRE

Reduces serum cholesterol, moderates blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of obesity.
Inadequate fiber intake will result in constipation which in turn causes piles, certain cancers, coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes.

CHOLESTROL

Daily requirement of cholesterol is 320 mg daily.
Cholesterol is essential for up keep of normal health.
Normal cholesterol serum level is 150 to 200 mg.
LDL and VLDL are bad cholesterols.
HDL is the good cholesterol.Source – Almost all Plant oils contain HDL except few.

SALT (sodium chloride).

Daily requirement is 2.4 gms. low intake will result in low BP etc.
High intake will result in high BP and kidney damage