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Nutrients composition table
explained |
A nutrient composition table (see above) is a table that shows the
nutrient content of food in a diet plan. The goal of such a table is to show
wheter a
diet is balanced from a nutritional point of view or not.
The table is divided in five main columns
The name of the nutrients are reported in the first column, while the
second one lists the unit used specifically for each nutrient. The third
column shows the total quantity of that nutrient.
Each food in the plan gives a contribution in term of nutrients.
Therefore, the sum of the contributions from each food is indicated by
the total quantity.
The fourth column is a graph divided in 3 areas.
The first area (Low) on
the left side is called deficiency area. If a nutrient falls in this
area,
it means that the quantity supplied by the diet-plan is not able to
satisfy our daily requirement for that particular nutrient, therefore,
action must be taken. The best way to solve this problem is by adjusting
the food composition of the diet, otherwise supplementation must be
considered. |
When nutrient quantity falls in the middle area (Good), it is considered
adequate for our bodies, so no action should be considered.
Finally, the third area (High) is the area of excess. If a nutrient falls in
this area and we follow that plan for a long enough period of
time, toxicity problems could arise in the cases of certain
nutrients. In this situation, the diet must be readjusted to reduce the
excessive intake of that nutrient.
The graph should be seen just as a quick reference and a proper
assessment must be made nutrient by nutrients.
Finally, on the extreme right edge of the table we have 3 columns; the
minimum, the target, and maximum. Ideal values in a diet should fall between in order to guarantee that
the quantity supplied is adequate to our needs.
Some times the upper level (maximum) is not indicated because from a
scientific point of view it is not known at what level that particular
nutrient starts to be toxic.
For good health, a nutrient quantity should fall between the minimum and
the maximum.
If the maximum is not indicated, a quantity of nutrient just
slightly above the minimum is normally sufficient to prevent deficiency
problems.
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The target is normally reported just to indicate the middle point.
Normally the target should be l exactly in the centre, but
occasionally, it could be located closer to the maximum or to the
minimum when it is preferable to have a nutrient intake closer
to one of the two edges. While the minimum and the maximum indicate the
limit to prevent problems, ideally the target should indicate the
quantity for optimal health. Unfortunately, these values are not known.
We should learn to find them by ourselves by observing how a diet is
affecting our health and well-being.
The minimum and the maximum value for each nutrient is normally specific
for age group and gender. Therefore, the diet plan should indicate for
which sex and age-group those limits have been set. An indication like
female 31-50 years specifies the sex and the age range the limits refer
to.
Because everyone of us is different those limits should be
seen simply as a reference. For example, a small person will require fewer
nutrients than a tall one even if they belong to the same sex/age group.
People with particular pathologies may require
higher or lower quantities
of certain nutrients than the average person. |