Nutrition Through Life

What Nutrition Through Life covers

Nutrition Through Life is examined in Unit AS 1, Principles of Nutrition — examined, compulsory. It covers pre-conception and pregnancy nutrition, lactation and infant milk feeding, weaning and pre-school children, school-age children and teenagers, nutrition for adult men and women, older adults and the frail elderly and dietary Reference Values and diet evaluation.

The 7 subtopics

Each one has its own page. CCEA AS Nutrition and Food Science students sit this topic in the first year.

• Pre-conception and pregnancy nutritionHealthy weight and folic acid before conception, energy, protein, iron, calcium and vitamin D in pregnancy, oily fish and foods to avoid, caffeine, and Healthy Start vitamins.Open →
• Lactation and infant milk feedingNutrient needs in breastfeeding, colostrum and the benefits of breast milk, exclusive breastfeeding, first and follow-on formula, safe formula preparation and vitamin D for babies.Open →
• Weaning and pre-school childrenWhen and how to start weaning, first foods and textures, foods to avoid under 12 months, energy-dense diets, milks and supplements, iron, salt limits, tooth decay and fussy eating.Open →
• School-age children and teenagersEnergy, calcium, iron and protein needs in adolescence, breakfast, common diet problems, vegetarian teenagers, active teenagers, vitamin D and free sugars for children.Open →
• Nutrition for adult men and womenAdult energy and protein needs, daily dietary targets and the Eatwell Guide, iron for women with heavy periods, the menopause, fibre, saturated fat, vegan diets and supplements.Open →
• Older adults and the frail elderlyNutrient-dense diets, vitamin D, calcium and vitamin B12, sarcopenia, constipation, malnutrition and the MUST tool, chewing and swallowing difficulties, fluids and medicines.Open →
• Dietary Reference Values and diet evaluationEAR, RNI, LRNI and safe intakes, why DRVs apply to groups, how to interpret an individual's intake, worked evaluations of iron, calcium and vitamin C intakes, and DRVs for fat and carbohydrate.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Nutrition Through Life further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• EAR vs RNI

  EAR: the amount that meets the needs of about half of a group. RNI: the amount that meets the needs of 97.5% of a group.

• LRNI vs Safe intake

  LRNI: the amount that meets the needs of only 2.5% of a group. Safe intake: an amount judged enough for almost everyone where evidence is too limited for other values.

• First infant formula vs Follow-on formula

  First infant formula: a whey-based breast milk substitute suitable from birth. Follow-on formula: a milk product for babies over six months that is not needed if the earlier product is used.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   Why is a healthy body weight important before conception?

   Model answer

   A BMI in the healthy range of 18.5 to 24.9 improves the chance of conceiving. Underweight can stop ovulation, while a BMI of 30 or over reduces fertility and raises the risk of complications.

2. 2

   What folic acid supplement is advised for women planning a pregnancy, and for how long?

   Model answer

   Women should take a 400 microgram folic acid supplement every day before conception. The supplement should continue until the twelfth week of pregnancy.

3. 3

   Why must folic acid be taken before conception rather than only once a pregnancy is confirmed?

   Model answer

   The neural tube closes within about four weeks of conception, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. Folate must already be adequate by then to prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

4. 4

   Which women are advised to take a higher dose of folic acid?

   Model answer

   A higher dose of 5 mg a day, on prescription, is advised for women at higher risk of a neural tube defect. The higher-risk group includes women with diabetes, a BMI of 30 or over, or a previously affected pregnancy.

5. 5

   How can a man's diet before conception affect fertility?

   Model answer

   Zinc and selenium are needed for healthy sperm production. A balanced diet and a healthy weight improve sperm quality.

6. 6

   Why should women planning a pregnancy build up their iron stores?

   Model answer

   Iron stores are drawn on heavily to expand the mother's blood volume and to supply the baby. A woman who starts pregnancy with low stores is more likely to become anaemic.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Nutrition Through Life revision questions

Is Nutrition Through Life examined at AS in CCEA Nutrition and Food Science?

Yes. It sits in AS 1, which you take in the first year, so it is on the AS paper as well as counting towards the full A level.

What does Nutrition Through Life cover in CCEA AS-Level Nutrition and Food Science?

7 subtopics: pre-conception and pregnancy nutrition, lactation and infant milk feeding, weaning and pre-school children, school-age children and teenagers, nutrition for adult men and women, older adults and the frail elderly and dietary reference values and diet evaluation. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Nutrition Through Life organised?

By the CCEA 3310 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.