Bøger af Karol Prosser

Infancy is the time of rapid growth after the fetal period. This stage of life requires optimized nutrition in order to achieve proper growth and organ development. The amount of nutrition needed to support and maintain adequate growth and optimal health, while maintaining homeostasis with other nutrients is determined by the individual requirements of infants. Nutritional needs differ during infancy and growth patterns are directly related to optimal nutrition. In the first six months, breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants. Human milk may have particular advantages for premature infants due to the interrelationships between host defense, nutritional support and gastrointestinal development. Carbohydrates and protein, folate, calcium, zinc, fat and iron are a few of the nutrients that infants require to grow and stay healthy. This book unravels the recent studies on the role of nutrition in newborn and infant health. It consists of contributions made by international experts. The extensive content of this book provides the readers with a thorough understanding of the subject.

Infant nutrition refers to the study of the nutritional requirements of infants. A diet that lacks in vital minerals, calories, fluids or vitamins is deemed insufficient. Breast milk offers the best nutrition for the crucial early months of growth as compared to infant formula. It has numerous benefits for neonates and infants, including improved immunity, growth and development. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, anemia and obesity. Solid foods are often provided to infants after four to six months from their birth. Proper infant nutrition requires the provision of vital nutrients that promote development, appropriate growth, function, and resistance to disorders and infections. An expectant mother can ensure optimal nutrition by choosing whether to bottle-feed or breastfeed the infant after birth. The topics covered in this book offer the readers new insights on infant nutrition. It is a vital tool for all researching and studying this field. This book is a resource guide for experts as well as students.