Question

Help with Human Nutrition assignment chapter 14 Child, Teen, and older adults

1.   Discuss 2 reasons why young children may not be getting enough iron in their diets

2. List any two essential nutrients that are of special concern to the elderly population and what can be done to ensure that elderly individuals get enough of these nutrients

3. Give any two reasons why young school-age children today may have lower vitamin D levels than children 30-40 years ago

Answer 1

Answer:

1. Two reasons young children may not be getting enough iron in their diets are:

a. lack of green leafy vegetables in diet.

b. Eating unhealthy food devoid of or lacking sufficient amount of nutrients.

2) Two essential nutrients that are of special concern to elderly population and what can be done to ensure that elderly individuals get enough of these nutrients:

a. Vitamin b12: low vitamin b12 concentration in elder population is a serious concern as low b12 levels can cause serious neurological problems, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive impairment, balance disturbances and a greater risk of heart disease. To ensure that elderly individuals get enough of these nutrients is to provide them diet which are rich in b12. Another way is to take appropriate dose of supplements fortified with b12 to meet the daily b12 nutrient requirements.

b. Vitamin D: elderly population is at a higher risk of developing vitamin D deficiency because of limited sources of vitamin D in diet and less exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D is critical since its deficiency is linked to chronic neurological conditions. One way to ensure that elderly population get enough of these nutrients is to provide them food rich in vitamin-D (fatty fishes, fortified milk etc.) and another way is to take vitamin D supplements regularly and get sufficient sunlight exposure.

3. Two reasons young school-age children today may have lower vitamin D levels than children 30-40 years ago.

1. Decreased exposure to sun and limited outdoor physical activity - majority of time is spent indoors.

2. Limited sources of vitamin D in diet and increased intake of unhealthy junk food.

3. Use of sun screens also reduces the body capability to produce vitamin D