Nutritive Requirements Of The Growing Organism

"The upper limit of the size of an animal is determined by heredity. The stature to which an animal may actually attain, within this definitely fixed limit, is directly related to the way in which it is nourished during its growing period" (Waters).

While feeding experiments upon growing animals and the influence of growth upon food requirements have been discussed to some extent in previous chapters, the great importance of adequate nutrition during the growing period demands special consideration. Recent investigations upon nutrition in growth are also of added interest in that the study of "growth-promoting, properties" of food materials has broadened our conceptions of food values and of nutritive requirements in general.

It is a familiar fact that the growing organism needs more energy, protein, and inorganic foodstuffs in proportion to weight than does one which is full-grown. But even a liberal diet made up of purified proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and salts does not suffice to support normal growth and complete development.