Nutrition is a significant factor in growth development and overall functioning. Good nutrition provides energy and the nutrients essential to physical and cognitive development. If nutritional
Eating sufficient amounts of calcium-rich food ensures the growth of strong bones early in life and protects bone density later.
The nutritional needs of people vary throughout their life. This is due to different rates of growth and development. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has produced dietary guidelines for children and adolescents, teenagers, adults and older Australians. They have also produced separate dietary guidelines for Indigenous Australians which reflects their particular needs. Dietary needs start in utero with the development of the foetus. The health of the mother impacts greatly on the foetus and intake, for example of alcohol is considered harmful. The NHMRC guidelines stress the importance of early nutrition as this can impact on later life, and encourages breastfeeding for babies. ‘In 2001 the world health Assembly endorsed recommendations for 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and continued breastfeeding to 2 years and beyond’. This is due to increasing evidence of the important role of early nutritional choices on later life. Breastfeeding has shown to be protective against a range of infectious and chronic diseases. It is recommended that solids can be introduced to infants from around 6 months of age. Children need a diet high in nutritional value that meets the needs of their rapid Health and nutrition problems often start in childhood due to . growth. The nutrients most likely to be low in toddler’s diets are calcium and iron.
In certain circumstances food can and should be used as an alternative or in combination with medicine to. There are many studies that suggest that eating well may prevent or minimise the risk of many serious medical conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Some disorders can be managed purely through diet control. Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder that can result in mental retardation and other neurological problems if treatment is not started within the first few weeks of life. The disease is caused by the absence of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, which normally converts the amino acid phenylalanine to another amino acid, tyrosine, resulting in a build-up of phenylalanine and a low level of tyrosine. This causes a variety of problems, including cognitive decline, learning disabilities, behaviour or neurological problems, and skin disorders. When a very strict diet is begun early and maintained, effected children can expect normal development and a normal life span. Newborn screening for PKU began in the mid-1960s and is now carried out in many other countries.
Treatment for this disorder consists of a phenylalanine restricted diet. For the most severe cases of phenylketonuria, a diet which eliminates all very high protein foods since all protein contains phenylalanine. The diet for PKU consists of foods that contain only enough protein to provide the amount of phenylalanine necessary for growth and development. Foods allowed are primarily vegetables, fruits, and some cereals and grains. A synthetic formula containing all the amino acids except phenylalanine provides the remaining protein and calories for individuals with PKU.
(uses food as medicine and substitute food – medicine as food)
Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health working paper No. 4 Dec. 2008 Julie P. Smith
‘Voldemort’ and health professional knowledge of breastfeeding.
