early / middle adulthood

• growth and development stops, so adults should focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle - they are encouraged to follow the eatwell guide and keep the body disease-free
• men usually require more calories than women because they have more lean muscle (muscles require lots of energy to function properly) and are generally taller and larger
• iron is especially important for adult women who lose it through periods
• calcium and vitamin d are important for all adults to reduce the chance of bone disease in later life - women can quickly lose bone strength after the menopause in their 40s or 50s too, so these nutrients are needed to keep the skeleton strong
• during pregnancy, women should adapt their diet to help the baby
• pregnant women should:

  • eat about 200 more calories per day towards the end of pregnancy to support the babys growth. they should be careful not to overeat as it can cause excessive weight gain
  • consume more folic acid - it helps to reduce the risk of birth defects such as spina bifida