Dietary ration and nutritional needs

What you will learn

• Define the dietary ration, nutrients, and recommended intake reference values.
• Calculate and interpret energy needs, food and nutrient density, glycemic index, and glycemic load.
• Describe the roles, sources, and intakes of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, fiber, water, minerals, and vitamins.
• Adapt dietary balance to pregnancy, breastfeeding, childhood, sport, and older age.

Course outline

1. Orientation: from food to the dietary ration

   The dietary ration covers the body's daily needs for energy, water, matter, and regulation.

   12 min

2. Quantitative needs and food density

   Energy needs compensate expenditure; their balance and food density determine weight change and ration quality.

   15 min

3. Carbohydrates, glycemic index, and glycemic load

   The quality and amount of carbohydrate, its preparation, and accompanying foods modify a portion's glycemic response.

   16 min

4. Fiber, prebiotics, and the microbiota

   Fiber escapes digestion, modulates transit, and supplies substrate for the intestinal microbiota.

   10 min

5. Lipids and fatty acids

   Lipids are essential energy stores and structural components; their quality depends on fatty-acid type and distribution.

   14 min

6. Proteins: quality, complementarity, and nitrogen balance

   Proteins build and renew tissues; their quality depends on amino acids and their use can be followed through nitrogen balance.

   15 min

7. Water, minerals, and trace elements

   Water and minerals maintain osmolality, bone, neuromuscular transmission, and many enzymatic reactions.

   16 min

8. Vitamins: families, intakes, and functions

   Fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins support vision, metabolism, blood formation, membranes, bone, and coagulation.

   13 min

9. Dietary balance: amount, quality, and rhythm

   A balanced diet diversifies food groups, distributes macronutrients, and organizes meals without deficiency or excess.

   11 min

10. Special nutritional needs

    Pregnancy, breastfeeding, growth, sport, and aging modify energy, protein, micronutrient, and water needs.

    14 min

11. Synthesis: composing the ration

    A complete ration supplies energy, building materials, water, minerals, and vitamins through complementary food groups.

    8 min