Reply To: Materia Medica of Foods
Hi Jessica, no need to apologize!
There is a general nutrient DRI by age in your textbook appendix (all of the following can be found in your appendix – I have starred the ones relevant to your question):
• Nutrient-dense foods
• Nutrient functions
• Nutrient profiles*
• Percentage of essential nutrients
• DRI by age*
• Protein functions
• Dairy comparison
• Lists of phytate-, purine-, goitrogen-, and oxalate-containing foods
• Food intolerance & allergy
• Ways to eat nuts & seeds
So, as an example, to find your DRI (daily recommended intake) of B12 for a 32-year-old male:
• Go to table DRI by age: Adult
• Find vitamin B12 in the far left column.
• In the top row, find male, age 31–50.
• Find the intersection of the column and the row.
Answer: 2.4 mcg/day
When you are reading a specific monograph in your guidebook, you will see a pie chart to the bottom left of a breakdown of the macronutrients protein, carbohydrates by percentage of that particular food. This percentage breakdown will not change based on how much you are eating of the particular food. So, whether you’re eating a piece of watermelon, or the entire watermelon, the percentage breakdown of macronutrients remains the same.
However, if you decide to eat two cans of sardines instead of one can, of course you will be getting double the amount of protein in grams.
I hope this makes sense. Please read through your whole appendix at the back of your textbook to get familiar with specific nutrient profiles/DRI’s. You will find a general recommendation for macronutrients by age.
Let me know if you’re still confused.
Warmth,
Riley