Select a common disease/disorder experienced, currently being experienced, or in desire of being avoided, that can be alleviated by appropriate micronutrient consumption.
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.
Analyze how much of the particular micronutient selected (select only 1 micronutrient) is being consumed on the student’s personal current diet (this requires logging; provide a food log) and compare the actual intake versus the micronutrient’s established RDA to determine if the actual intake is adequate, inadequate or excessive based on the established upper limit. If no upper limit exists, state it.
The food log is to address one day’s intake of food, but focus only on the micronutrient selected; do not include macronutrients as done in the previous NAAs.
Note that most nutrition labels do not provide the actual quantity and units of the micronutrient 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.
Close with a statement noting the difference between the RDA versus actual personal intake, and what personal changes can be made to improve on intaking the micronutrient if a deficiency is discovered.