Nutrient Requirements for Women (ICMR, 2020)

Nutrient	Non-Pregnant Woman	Pregnant Woman	Lactating Woman
Energy (kcal/day)	~1900–2000 kcal	+350 kcal (≈2250–2350 kcal)	+600 kcal (≈2500–2600 kcal)
Carbohydrates (g/day)	270–300 g (≈55–60% of total energy)	330–350 g	380–400 g
Protein (g/day)	50–55 g	+15–20 g (≈65–70 g)	+25 g (≈75–80 g)
Fat (g/day)	25–30% of total energy (~50–60 g)	55–60 g	60–65 g
Calcium (mg/day)	600 mg	1200 mg	1200 mg
Iron (mg/day)	21 mg	35 mg	21 mg
Folic Acid (µg/day)	100 µg	400 µg	300 µg

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✅ Key Points:

• Pregnancy: Needs +350 kcal energy & +15–20 g protein.
• Lactation (first 6 months): Needs +600 kcal energy & +25 g protein.
• Carbohydrates increase gradually to meet extra energy demand.
• Iron, calcium, and folic acid requirements are almost double in pregnancy & lactation.