Nutrition and Children, Research Paper Example

Introduction

The knowledge of nutrition and children is important for the sake of the future care of the family. The process of bringing up children begins with pregnancy and the success of giving birth to the children who are healthy depends on the nature of nutrition of the mother. This is the basis of leading a good life latter in the course of raising a family. There is a close connection between health and nutrition. Before getting a child, the health of a pregnant woman is a condition that is exceedingly important, for this situation will have a direct effect to an unborn child either positively or negatively.

The Importance of Adequate Nutrition During a Child’s Developmental Years

The importance attached to the issues of nutrition during the infancy of an individual are of critical importance. There is a high level of the requirements of diverse nutrients as well as energy in the infants as well as the young children. This is caused by the high rates of growth as well as developments that are inherent in the infants together with the young children. The initial stages of growth as well as development in the primary years of the children, there is a situation of vulnerability to the health effects that are negative associated with undernutrition. There is also a situation of overlapping of the child’s poor health and the condition of undernutrition (Ruth & Carolynn, 2003).

The existing relationship between undernutrition to the issues of morbidity is associated with some degree of complexity due to the resultant illnesses that usually occur in the situation of undernutrition. This consequently leads to escalating levels of susceptibility to diseases that are infectious. The children whose lives are based in the regions that are poor with respect to the availability of resources are usually trapped in cycles that are vicious related to poor nutrition in addition to the infectious diseases. The best example for the purpose of the illustration of this issue is the consideration of the undernourished children in relation to their high levels of susceptibility to the cases of diseases such as malaria as a result of the impairment in the proper functioning of the system of immunity. According to Mildred, “The impact of undernutrition on the burden of malaria morbidity is demonstrated by estimates made for the World Health Organization (WHO) Comparative Risk Assessment project” (Mildred, 1990). Based on the estimates, it has been documented that in tune of fifty per cent of the total deaths that are caused by malaria in the children under the age of five years are as a result of undernutrition whose definition is “low body weight for age” (Mildred, 1990).

Child’s Development Bonds Nutrition

There is a need for the consideration of exclusive breastfeeding of the child for a period that is not less than six months which should be closely followed by introducing complementary foods that are appropriate with a continuation of breastfeeding at the same time. This is as per the recommendations that have been made by the World Health Organization as being the cornerstone of the nutrition of the infants. There is however a problem associated with the availability of the information with regard to the quantities of the human milk that should be consumed together with the time at which the rest of the foods are introduced for consumption by the infant and especially in the case of the developing countries. The absence of the information is associated to a greater part by the difficulties that are associated with the measurements of the intake of the human milk (Sylvia, 2008).

What Happens When Certain Macromolecules Are Lacking in the Diet

There is a great danger that is associated with insufficiency of the macronutrients in the diets meant for the pregnant mothers as well as the infants. In most of the situations micronutrients deficiencies are also prevalent in individuals which is a situation usually referred to as the ‘hidden hunger”. This situation is specifically common in the context of the developing countries and more so in the early life of a person. At the time of the infancy of the individual the consequences arising from these deficiencies are related to things such as the unfavorable effects on the psychomotor as well as poor mental development as a result of the deficiency of iron. There may also arise some instances of blindness On less severe terms but in most common of the situations, the deficiency of vitamin A is resultant to high levels of morbidity accompanied by poor growth in as far as the children are concerned. There is also a possibility of the causing the limitation of the growth of the children due to the status of suboptimal zinc accompanied by an increase in morbidity. This therefore has the implication of the important health consequences during the early life of a child and the nutrients are very essential for the purpose of normal growth as well as development (Sylvia, 2008).

Nutrition for Pregnant Women

There is a great importance that is usually attached to the issues of nutrition at the time of pregnancy. The food that is taken by the pregnant women have got important implications on the on their status of pregnancy together with the development of the fetus together with the health of the child and that one of the mother alike. The food meant for the consumption by the pregnant mothers should be in a position to fully satisfy the nutritional requirements of the baby. It is therefore important to put in to considerations what foods the pregnant mothers should take and which ones they are supposed to abandon or avoid. This is based on the extent of their understanding of the best foods that is suitable for the purpose of their health as well as the health of their babies (Ruth & Carolynn, 2003).

The nutrition of the pregnant mothers has a direct impact on the progress of the pregnancy together with the normal development of the fetus. There are also important implications on the long-term condition of health of the mother as well as that of the child. The first half duration of the mother’s pregnancy is associated with a requirement for the quality of the food that is consumed. During the second half, the issue of quantity becomes an important consideration in as far as the diet of the pregnant mother is concerned for the purpose of ensuring that the growth of the fetus is in order. There is a need for the establishment of the best nutritional habits during the beginning of the second half of the pregnancy and more important before conception if there is a possibility (Ruth & Carolynn, 2003).

The body of a pregnant mother has greater nutrients demands for the purpose of ensuring the development of the fetus in addition to the growth, the health as well as the functioning of placenta, the uterus as well as the amniotic fluid. There is a recommendation for an increase of about 150 calories of the food that is meant for consumption during the initial stages of pregnancy. This is extended up to a point where the level of the extra calories is in the range of 250 on a daily basis towards the end of the pregnancy (Peggy, 2009).  The realization of this is based on the adoption of the “double-shot” of one glass of milk on a daily basis during the first trimester together with adding a fruit or a bread slice at the end of the six months of the pregnancy. The gain in weight is a normal occurrence and it is anticipated that the mother should increase the body weight within the range of 9-12kg which is equivalent to 20-26lbs (Peggy, 2009).   The issues of natural variations among different individuals should however be put in to consideration. The range may be higher in the situation of the women who are overweight while the women who are thinner are expected to gain more of the weight.

There is a need for a perfect care together with nutrition in pregnant women for the sake of the developing fetus. This calls for nutritional habits that are healthy for these women accompanied by the intake of nutrients in the most proper manner. Their needs for the nutrients are usually higher relative to the rest and diverse items should be incorporated in the diets. This is usually in terms of calories, carbohydrates, proteins as well as vitamins that are in line with the recommendations of the physician. Due to the difficulties of accessing these requirements especially in the developing countries, there is a need for the intervention of the government through the establishment of health programs that are aimed at assisting the women to go through their pregnancies in a safe way. This can lead to the promotion of a healthy nation. There is a need for availability of special provisions by the government that are nutritionally meant for the pregnant women in the poor regions. In majority of pitiable area’s women are not in a position of eating nutritionally because their economic conditions are poor. They are therefore in need of the support of the government.

References

Mildred, K., (1990). Nutrition in public health. NY: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Peggy, S., (2009). Nutrition and Diet Therapy NY: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

Ruth, A. & Carolynn, E., (2003). Nutrition & diet therapy NJ: Cengage Learning.

Sylvia, E., (2008).  Nutrition and diagnosis-related. Washington: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.