Nutritional guidelines are developed by government agencies and healthcare professionals for general health or specific needs such as weight loss or medical conditions. They provide advice on daily servings of food groups, nutrients, and caloric intake. Personalized guidelines can be developed by doctors or dietitians.
There are many different types of nutritional guidelines that help guide what types of foods people should eat on a daily basis. General nutritional guidelines for general health are usually developed by a government agency; These provide a general idea of the variety of foods a healthy person should eat on a daily basis. Other guidelines are developed for people with specific needs, such as those who are trying to lose weight and monitor their caloric intake, or those with specific medical conditions such as diabetes that require strict diet modifications. A doctor or dietitian can provide personalized guidelines for these purposes, tailored to a specific individual.
Nutritional guidelines issued by the general government are produced in different areas of the world. These provide general advice for the number of servings from different food groups that people should eat each day. For example, these guidelines may include recommendations for more servings of fruits and vegetables, while fewer servings of meats, dairy, and fats. This gives people a quick way to gauge if they are eating a relatively healthy diet or if they need to make some changes to stay within the guidelines. These types of guidelines are also often used to develop meal plans for students in schools.
Other, more specific nutritional guidelines may be provided for recommended daily amounts of certain nutrients, such as carbohydrates and protein, or certain daily vitamins. A general recommended caloric intake can also be provided. These numbers are generally more specific to the people who will be consuming the food; For example, a young person who exercises at a high intensity every day may need much higher levels of protein and carbohydrates than an older person who leads a more sedentary lifestyle. Someone trying to lose weight may also need to limit calorie intake.
In some cases, nutritional guidelines can be developed on an individual basis, such as for someone trying to manage a certain medical condition through nutritional therapy. For example, someone with high cholesterol may be instructed to eat a diet low in saturated fat, while a diabetic may need to cut out sugar altogether. There are sample meal plans and nutritional guidelines available online for people with special needs like these, or a doctor or registered dietitian can help you develop the best meal plan for each individual patient to meet her health goals.
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