Special Nutritional Requirements During Adolescence Period

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Adolescence is the rapidly growing period of human life. That’s why nutritional requirements for an adolescent may differ from those of an adult. Teenage boys and girls require special nutrition to grow properly during this period. Especially you have to take special care of those teen members of your family who are involved in highly active activities like athletics. Here are some tips for you.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children aged 5-17 years should take part in at least 60 minutes of moderate activity a day. Physical activity has several benefits. It can not only develop social skills but also strengthen the muscle and bones of an adolescent.  It also may have a positive effect on the blood pressure of the human body. For this reason, regular physical exercise is very important to build bone and muscle during the adolescent period. But only regular physical exercise is not sufficient for adolescents. Adolescents also require proper nutrition to maintain optimal growth and development of their body.

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Adolescents are moving through a period of rapid growth. Proper nutrition plays a major role during this maturation process of the body. When adolescents are more engaged in physical activities, they may require more nutrition to meet their growing needs of the body.

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Therefore, total energy intake for an adolescent is very important for proper growth and maturation. Without an adequate energy intake, they may not continue regular physical activity. When they intake insufficient energy their body uses protein from lean muscle mass. As a result, they may face problems with linear growth. If the inadequate intake of energy and nutrients continues for a long time, they may experience bone health problems in the latter part of their life.

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Therefore, adolescents have to intake a sufficient amount of protein, carbohydrates, fats, and minerals. They also need to consume adequate amounts of liquids as they have a higher risk of dehydration compared to adults.