Nutrition in the First Two Years of a Childs Life

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Taylor Banks 2012 February 12 Exam 1 Nutrition in the First Two Years of a Child's Life During the initial and most crucial months of growth and development in a baby's life, nutrition and diet should be a major concern to parents. Food provides the energy and nutrients that babies need to be healthy. Food has nutrients needed in it that makes it healthy. Nutrients and growth factors regulate brain development during fetal and early postnatal life. Nutrition is very important in a infants life because if they don’t receive enough iron and fat it may cause the child’s brain to develop slower causing them to have slower language, lower I.Q.’s and poor performance in school. Because a baby typically receives all nutrients from a single food source or a limited number of sources, it is imperative that the right kinds of nutrients at the right levels be present in that source or sources. A proper balance of protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins, and minerals is essential. Too much or too little of any one nutrient in a baby's diet should be avoided. An infant's nutritional needs are unique. They are very different from an adult's and even from those of older children. Iron deficiencies are also linked to learning and behavior problems along with impaired motor skills. The effects of most nutrient shortages depend on the extent of the shortage, and in some cases, the brain’s need for a particular nutrient changes throughout its development. Early shortages can reduce cell production and later shortages can affect cell size and complexity. Iron isn’t the only important thing babies need. Zinc, Calcium, Omega 3, and Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E are also very important. Zinc fuels the production of infection-fighting white blood cells and ensures the body’s cells grow and repair themselves properly. Calcium is essential for developing strong bones, and vitamin D helps

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