Nutritional Requirements

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlines the daily nutritional requirements. For the average 2000 calorie per day diet, they recommend no more than 65 g of total fat, 300 mg of cholesterol and 2400 mg of sodium. They also recommend a diet of at least 50 g of protein, 25 g of dietary fiber and 300 g of carbohydrates.

The FDA also lists daily minimum amounts of vitamins. They suggest 5000IU of Vitamin A, 60 mg of Vitamin C, 400IU of Vitamin D, 30IU of Vitamin E as well as 80mcg of Vitamin K. It is also recommended that the following are consumed: 2mg vitamin B6, 1.5mg thiamine, 20mg niacin, 300mcg biotin, 1.7mg riboflavin, 2mg vitamin B6, 400mcg folate, 6mcg vitamin B12, and lastly, 10 mg pantothenic acid.

Minerals are also recommended by the FDA. The following mineral requirements are outlined by the FDA: 1000mg of calcium, 18mg of iron, 150mg of iodine, 3,000mg of potassium, 400mg of magnesium, 3,400mg of chloride, 70mcg of selenium, 120mg of chromium, 15mg of zinc, 2mg of copper, as well as 2mg of manganese.

Dietary nutritional requirements emphasize three major goals: to balance calories along with physical activity to manage body weight, to consume the proper foods in the appropriate amounts such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy, and to consume less foods that are higher in sodium, fat, cholesterol, and sugars.