Can You Discuss The Various Nutrient Needs In Children And Adolescents?

As a person grows older his/her nutrient needs change. Lack in anyone of the major nutrients can lead to a lot of problems. Some of the important nutrients and their need to the body are discussed below.
Calcium is required for bone growth and its needs double during the peak teen years. The bone strength laid done at this time can determine the risk of osteoporosis in the middle age.
Girls are very figure conscious and they want to be thin just when puberty is making them curvier. Their iron requirement roughly doubles at puberty as the extra needs for growth coincide with the loss of iron during menstruation. Most of the girls are iron deficient. This affects their energy level, resistance to infection and in some cases academic performance. Some girls in order to loss weight become vegetarians and this can lead to eating disorders such as anorexia.
Zinc deficiency reduces taste and appetite. The level of sugar consumed by older children is higher and this increases their chances of getting tooth decay. This also leads to a malnutrition diet.
To avoid such deficiency in children it's important to introduce them to a wide range of foods, especially fresh vegetables and fruits.