Diet calculation

 Diet calculation

The following factors may be considered:

1. Diet for a normal person- A person weighing 70 Kilograms and with an energy requirement of 3,000 C should have the following diet-

Protein=70 gm (or to provide for a margin of safety-100 gm). This will yield 100x4.1=410 Calories. Fats should be in same amount as proteins, i.e. 100 gm. This will yield 100 x 9.3=930 Calories. Total of these two is 1,340 Calories. The remaining, i.e., 3,000-1,340=1,660 Calories should come from 1,660/4=415 gm of carbohydrates.

Thus the person concerned will have 100 gm of proteins, 100 gm of fats and 415 gm of carbohydrates. It is usually presumed that 1 gm of carbohydrate yields 4.0 Calories, 1 gm of protein 4.1 Calories and 1 gm of fat 9.3 Calories, and thus necessary adjustments can be made in the calculation of calorific requirement in the diet.

II. Diet for an adult in nitrogen equilibrium- A person normally excretes 12 gm of nitrogen per day. His or her total calorific requirement is 3,000 Calories. The protein requirement will be 12x6.25=75 gm. This is his/her actual protein requirement. This will yield 75x4.1=about 308 Calories. Fats will be approximately same quantity, i.e. 75 gm. This will yield 75 x 9.3=about 698 Calories. These two make up 1,006 Calories. The remaining 3,000-1,006=1,994 Calories should be supplied by 1,994/4=about 500 gm of carbohydrates.

It has been observed that an average adult can maintain the nitrogen equilibrium by taking as low as 35-45 gm of protein daily.

III. Diet of school student. For school student (age 10-15) the calorific requirement is same as that of an adult. The protein requirement is high and is about 2.5 gm per Kilogram of body weight per day. Rest of the calculations should be done as per the above method.

IV. Diet of an infant. For infants before six months, the total calorific supply should be aimed to be between 700-1,000 Calories. It should receive small amounts of polysaccharide. Whole of his diet should preferably be given in the form of milk till the fourth month, and after that it can be supplemented with some form of semi-solid food. The protein requirement should not be less than 4 gm per Kilogram of body weight per day.

Fat content of this milk diet is in excess than the accepted standard for adults. This is very helpful in infants whose B.M.R. is very high because it supplies enough energy in comparatively small volume.

V. Diet for the aged

The calorific requirement should be reduced as the age advances according to the following chart-

·        3.0 % reduction between age 30 and 50 years

·        7.5 % reduction between age 50 and 70 years

·        10.0 % reduction between age 70 and 80 years.

VI. Diet for pregnant or lactating mothers

Additional allowance over the normal requirements should be given. During pregnancy 500 extra Calorie and 20 gm extra protein should be supplied in diet. During lactation 1,000 Calories and 40 g protein and extra amount of iron, calcium and different vitamins should be provided.

VII. Vegetarian diet

Protein should be provided through milk, beans and pulses. Other description is same as above.

VIII. Vegan diet- in vegan diet all animal products are avoided so to compensate the lack of proteins and vitamin B₁₂ supplements must be added in diet.