Description
Step 1: Select a common disease/disorder that can be alleviated by appropriate micro nutrient consumption; it can be one experienced, currently being experienced, or in desire of being avoided.
Note: unacceptable examples include deficiencies named after the micronutrient and obesity (if the obesity is caused by a “hormone imbalance”, state the name of hormone disorder); these are nutrient imbalances. Eating disorders are also unacceptable, do not select an eating disorder.
Step 2: Focus on one micro nutrient. Provide the micro nutrient’s RDA based on personal needs (if you are a female, do not use a male’s RDA, for example), and upper limit (if an upper limit for the micro nutrient selected has not been established, explicitly state this) .
Step 3: Provide a food log, analyze how much of the particular micro nutrient selected is being consumed, and compare the actual intake versus the micro nutrient’s established RDA to determine if the actual intake is adequate, inadequate or excessive based on the established upper limit.
The food log is to address one day’s intake of food, but once again, focus only on the micro nutrient selected; do not include macro nutrients as done in the previous NAAs, or other micro nutrients.
Note: Some nutrition labels do not provide the actual quantity and units of the micro nutrient on the label, but instead provide a percentage. Students would have to work backwards, utilizing the percentage given and multiplying it by the RDA to obtain the actual quantity.
Example:
Vitamin X (currently not a recognized vitamin, do not research it): 10% per serving
Servings eaten: 2
RDA: 500 mg
Vitamin X amount consumed: 0.1 * 2 * 500 = 100 mg
Also note, if the math utilized above does not make sense, it is highly advised that the student seek a math tutor to refresh/teach the fundamental math utilized above.
Step 4: Close with a statement noting the difference between the RDA versus actual personal intake, and what personal changes can be made to improve on in taking the micro nutrient if a deficiency is discovered.