Q1.
Are nutritional requirements the same for everyone? Do you and your grandparents need the same type or the same amount of nutrients?
Answer
No. The kinds of nutrients needed are the same for everybody, but the amounts are not. Requirements vary according to age, gender, physical activity, health status, lifestyle, and so on.
| Person | What they need more of | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A growing child (you) | Protein, calcium, iron, energy | The body is still growing — new bones, muscles and blood are being built |
| Grandparents | Calcium, Vitamin D, roughage; less oil and sugar | Bones weaken with age, digestion slows down, and less physical work needs less energy |
| A farmer or a sportsperson | Much more energy food and protein; plenty of water | Heavy physical activity burns a lot of energy and builds muscle |
| An office worker | Moderate energy, more vegetables and fruit | Sitting work uses far less energy; extra food is stored as fat |
| A patient recovering from illness | Protein, vitamins, fluids | The body has to repair itself |
The rule behind all this: food supplies energy and building material. Whoever spends more or is still building needs more; whoever spends less needs less. Eating far more than one needs leads to obesity, and eating far less leads to weakness and deficiency.
Tip: The quality of the diet must be the same for everyone — every plate needs all the nutrients. It is only the quantity that changes from person to person.