Question

a) Identify two special health conditions where nutrition recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines may not apply.

b) Revise the Dietary Guidelines recommendations to include the special dietary needs required by children and preadolescents with the specific condition.

c) Identify specific nutrients where the recommended dietary amounts for typical children are unable to be obtained from foods for children with the specific condition.

d) Would you need to recommend a vitamin or mineral supplement? Why or why not?

Answer 1

a) 1. Athletes - Nutritional recommendations from the dietary guidelines may not apply, they need to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet and active lifestyle.

2. Nutritional deficiencies - The person condition may change based on the body concentrations, habits, and environment and the requirements may differ.

b) Childhood obesity is the greatest problem in the U.S. Obesity prevention recommendations for children and adolescents should be focused on the dietary guidelines. Additionally, increased physical activity and culture based parent and child interaction is necessary. Additional requirements of iron and calcium and special nutrients are to be recommended for age-specific growth and disease conditions.

c) Children with nutritional deficiencies need additional supplement along with the diet. Children with the health condition such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease which affect the food absorption needed special supplements of vitamins and minerals.

d). No. Generally, I won't recommend the dietary supplements unless it is necessary for some specific conditions. Most of the supplements cause side effects because they are not prepared naturally. FDA is not strict over the safety measures of the dietary supplement before marketing. Most of the nutrients are naturally available in the food. Supplements also interact with the medications and other products and produce side effects unnecessarily.