Health: Nutritional Needs of Adolescents

• boys and girls need the same amount of nutrients
• These nutritional needs increase sharply during adolescence
• calories - This is the measurements used to express the energy delivered by food. The body demands more calories during early adolescence than any other time of life
• boys require an average of 2,800 calories per day, while girls require an average of 2,200 calories per day
• The body's energy sources are found in nutrients such as protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
• Protein - Of the three nutrients, protein makes up of 50% of our body weight, but adolescents get twice as much protein they need in chicken, pork, beef, fish, eggs, cheese, tofu, and soy products.
• carbohydrates - These nutrients are usualy found in starches and sugar. They get converted into the body's main fuel; the simple sugar , glucose. Complex carbs provide sustained energy.
• dietary fat - Energy is supplied to the body by fat. Fat also helps in the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, K, and other fat-soluble vitamins. Fat should only comprise 30% of a person's diet.
• A waxy substance called cholesterol is found in fatty foods. This substance can block an artery and cause it to harden later on. Such condition might lead to heart attack or stroke.
• The nutritional needs of an adolescent is Calories, Protein, and Vitamins and Minerals.
• Adolescent diet should contain sufficient amounts of all essential vitamins and minerals. However, adolescents tend to fall short of their daily quotas of calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin D most often. In order to control and prevent such deficiencies, proper nutrition must be given focus and utmost importance.