Nutritional requirements for special groups.
Nutrition needs varies between individuals. Special groups can be categorised into four groups namely pregnant and lactating women, children, aged(elderly), and people living with HIV/AIDS. Due to their difference in body functioning, physiological changes and ability to fight against diseases these groups vary in their nutritional requirements.
1. Pregnant and lactating women.
A woman's nutritional status during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not only critical for her health but also for that future generation. As a result of some physiological changes that women experience during pregnancy such as weight gain, hormonal changes and cardiac and hematological alterations, nutritional requirements for pregnant women differs from those non-pregnant women. In order to prepare the body for delivery and breastfeeding and to ensure normal developme
nt of the foetus/baby pregnant and lactating women require balanced diet, micronutrients such as vitamins i.e folic acid, thiamine, cobalamin, biotin and niacin and minerals such as iron, iodine, magnesium, selenium and phosphorus and Omega -3- fatty acids.
2. Children.
Children should be carefully fed so as to maintain good and encouraged growth and meet their energy needs. Young children are extremely active but eat little with time. They should receive a lot of high energy foods such as carbohydrates inform of whole grain cereals, full fat, dairy or soy milk, vegetable oil, fruits and vegetables. Plenty of water should be given to all children. Milk can be used as a contribution to morning and evening tea. Snacks should be appealing and nutritious.
3. Elderly.
Elderly nutrition is important as having a balanced and nutritious diet protect seniors against life-threatening diseases such as cancer, cardiac diseases, and diabetes. Elders should consume all the important nutrients for the body functioning including protein, carbohydrates, fats and oils, vitamins and roughage. Elders should consume enough protein since low protein intake among elderly leads to muscle loss and osteoporosis. Dietary protein stimulates muscle protein synthesis, improve bone mineral density and reduce fracture risk and improve total body calcium. Minerals such as calcium can be obtained from dairy products, dried beans, fortified juices, tofu and spinach. Vitamin B complex such as thiamine for energy production, biotin for energy catalysis, cobalamin for blood making and pyridoxal for protein synthesis.
4. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).
In general the basis of health diet is the same for everyone including people with HIV. They should eat the right amount of food and utilize nutrients for maintenance of body health and weight. Since this group is more vulnerable to diseases both communicable and non communicable such as diabetes and tuberculosis they should consume enough fruits and vegetables together with other sources of vitamins and reduce saturated fats and sodium (salt) and added sugars. Due to possible impaired immunity people with HIV/AIDS should follow extra precautions to avoid getting food borne infections.
Conclusively, due to the fact that each nutrient plays a specific role in the body people should eat balanced and nutritious diet with all the requirements nutrients for proper body functioning and healthy generation.