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1 year ago

Dear SELVA LAKSHMI ANBAZHAGAN, Thank you for the question

Adolescence or teen age is acritical period of our lives in which our body undergoes rapid changes, growth and development. It is very essential to consume a healthy balanced diet with adequate amount of protein and other nutrients such as calcium, iron, vitamin D etc., which will help support growth, development, pubertal changes and strong bones.

An adolescent girl should take enough calcium rich foods in her diet to support the increase of bone density and maintain healthy strong bones. Some of the calcium sources include milk, cheese, paneer, Ragi, curd, yougurt.

Reference weight and height for a 19-year-old female is 53.8kg and 161.1cm respectively

In any weight management programme, it is very essential to consume a healthy diversified balanced diet with few dietary modifications and regular physical activity. For weight gain it is essential to focus on your daily balanced diet with high calorie, high protein and regular meals.

With any weight gain diet, changes take time to reflect as your body requires sufficient time to adapt to the changes in order to show results.


A high calorie and high protein diet is recommended for weight gain. Daily protein requirement should ideally be followed as 46g per day. Some of the sources of high protein include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds etc.
Here are few guidelines that can be considered
- Having a Healthy Diversified Balanced Diet that includes all the food groups in the right quantity which thereby provides you with all the essential macro and micro nutrients that your body requires daily for proper functioning. Include energy dense foods, keeping in mind the daily needs.
- Maintain a positive energy balance where the calorie intake should be more than the energy expenditure.
- Include energy dense foods, keeping in mind the daily needs. Some of the energy dense foods include Whole wheat, Multigrain, millets, dairy products, nuts, olocasia leaves, banana, raisins, pulses/lentils etc.
- Do not skip meals. Eat small frequent meals.
- Three major meals a day with healthy nutritious snacks in between is preferred.
- Try to increase the serving size and portion size gradually and systematically
- Include healthy fats from nuts and seeds.
- Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to maintain hydration
- Indulging in physical activity can help in increasing the appetite and give a feeling of hunger.
- Try to follow a good sleep regimen in terms of both quantity and quality.

There are various factors that contribute to Skin and hair health which include daily diet, genetics, hormones, inflammation due to food or drug sensitivity, stress and environmental influences.

Here are a few tips for healthy hair
- Protein deficiency can result in hair changes that include hair thinning and hair loss. Some of the sources of high protein include pulses, lentils, milk, paneer, soybean, eggs, lean meat, nuts & seeds etc.
- Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency and is a well-known cause of hair loss, The richest sources of heme iron in the diet are lean meat and seafood and non-heme sources include nuts, beans, dark green leafy vegetables, and fortified grain, milk, whole grains, legumes and dry fruits etc.
- Zinc is a mineral that plays important roles in immune function, protein synthesis, cellular division. It’s necessary for hair follicle function and helps protect against hair follicle shrinkage. It also helps promote hair follicle recovery Plant products such as – whole grains, legumes such as chickpeas, groundnuts, lentils, Nuts & seeds like cashews, pumpkin seeds, almonds etc. Animal products such as- meat, seafoods (fish, prawns, crab, chicken, eggs, milk and milk products.
- Omega -3 & omega-6 fatty acid may help promote hair growth by enhancing follicle proliferation Some of the most common sources of omega 6 are Fish, nuts and seeds such as walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc

Healthy skin reflects overall good health that requires, Dietary modifications, regular physical activity, stress management and adequate sleep along with proper hydration.

Here are a few tips for skin health
- Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to decrease sebum production and follicular occlusion & reduces inflammatory acne lesions. Some of the most common sources of omega 3 are Fish, nuts & seeds etc.
-Micronutrients like Vitamin A, E & C help to build and maintain healthy skin. The best dietary sources include Orange-yellow fruits and vegetables, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits like berries, oranges, lemons, kiwi, nuts and seeds etc.
-Vitamin B6 and Zinc Found in meat, fish, poultry, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds may help in reducing acne by regulating hormones implicated in the development of acne.
-Drink adequate amount of water to maintain hydration.
For a customised and personalised meal plan for specific conditions, please contact your Health care professional.
Hope we have answered your query.
Wishing you a great day ahead

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