03/26/2010 - Articles
UK population short on vitamins, minerals
By: Susan Aldridge, medical journalist, PhD
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Vitamins and minerals are an essential part of a healthy diet and missing out could mean long-term consequences for health. So it is concerning that the latest UK National Diet and Nutrition survey shows that children and adults alike are not getting as much of the minerals iron, magnesium, potassium and selenium as they should do. The survey covered 500 adults and 500 children aged 4 to 18 years and compared their diets, through a four day diet diary, with UK dietary recommendations.
One fifth of women failed to get to the Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI) for iron and one in ten adults were below the LRNI for magnesium which is important for bone health and heart muscle. Selenium, levels of which were being reported for the first time, was below the LRNI for both children and adults. Women had 72% of the LRNI on average and men 74% - this means that about half of women and a fifth of men were below the minimum intake level.
Meanwhile, vitamin intakes have not improved over the last decade, except for vitamin C and vitamin A. Intakes of vitamin B and vitamin D are about the same or have fallen. Around two thirds of adults miss out on minerals and vitamins because they are failing to eat the recommended five portions a day of fruits and vegetables.
The UK population is also missing out on omega-3 fatty acids which are important for brain and heart health. To get enough from your diet, you’d need to eat about 140 grams of oily fish a week. The Survey shows that Britons eat, on average, only eight grams of oily fish a week. Clearly, there is much to be done to improve the national diet in the UK if the population is to keep healthy.
Source:
Bates B, Lennox A and Swan G National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008/2009 National Diet Nutrition Survey: headline results from year 1
Created on: 03/26/2010
Reviewed on: 03/26/2010
Reviewed on: 03/26/2010
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The evidence for the benefits from vitamin D is nothing short of astonishing and keeps coming in. From helping to ward off cancer to possibly curing the common cold to preventing influenza and other positive findings, the sunshine vitamin has a bright future indeed. When you throw in that because of poor diet and a modern lifestyle which decreases exposure to sunshine average vitamin D levels are likely lower than in the past, it is not a stretch to speculate that very many of the diseases of modern society may be directly related to or partially influenced by a deficiency of this lion of a vitamin. There is a little bit of an intro to the topic here,
http://healthjournalclub.blogspot.com/2009/11/introduction-to-vitamin-d-part-i.html
and here
http://healthjournalclub.blogspot.com/2009/12/dr-cannell-interview-on-vitamin-d.html
if anyone is interested. Also the web abounds with resources on the topic. Oh yes don't forget help with heart diseaes, obesity, asthma and bone health
So get out and enjoy the sun on your face this Spring. Won't even cost your a dime.