Nutrition Paper

Nutrition and its Role in the Development of Infants

Good nutrition is important to health, functioning, and quality of life. Nutrition is the relationship of foods to the health of the human body. Proper nutrition is where you receive enough foods and supplements for the body to function at its best possible capacity. It is important to remember that no single nutrient or activity can maintain the most effective health and well being, although it has been proven that some nutrients are more important than others. All of the nutrients are necessary in different amounts along with exercise, they are important to maintain proper health. There are six main types of nutrients used to maintain body health. They are; carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. They all must be in balance for the body to function properly. The importance of nutrition during infancy, childhood, and adolescence is vital. The role nutrition plays in the development of an infant is vital to the well being and normal growth of a child. Researchers believe that nutritional factors influence low-birth-weight and problems associated with illness’ and the mortality rate of infants. A major question is what role does nutrition plays in the care and management of low-birth-weight infants? One way to reduce the chances of having a baby who may be born preterm or at a lower than normal birth weight is to take good care of yourself during your pregnancy. Proper prenatal care, which includes regularly scheduled visits to your doctor and proper nutrition, will give your baby a better chance for a healthy start to life. Infants and toddlers must maintain adequate levels of caloric and protein intake. Clinical studies have consistently demonstrated that infants who are fed earlier and are advanced according to a feeding plan have less chance of infection. Breast milk is considered to be the best choice for feeding.” Human milk may be supplemented by adding liquid...