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Micronutrient Deficiencies in America

Bigtex

Bigtex

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Aug 14, 2012
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We spent a huge amount of time talking about calories and macro nutrients but how about the micros? They are equally important and it seems that most of America is deficient. In fact, A 2011 study (below) published in the Journal of Nutrition found that without fortified foods, 100% of Americans would fail to meet the estimated average requirement for vitamins and minerals. I have been conducting 3 day diet analysis on anywhere from 30-100 students every semester for years. I found the same thing. See the sample in included below. Some of these long term deficiencies cause some big time health issues.


Fulgoni VL 3rd, Keast DR, Bailey RL, Dwyer J. Foods, fortificants, and supplements: Where do Americans get their nutrients? J Nutr. 2011 Oct;141(10):1847-54. doi: 10.3945/jn.111.142257. Epub 2011 Aug 24. PMID: 21865568; PMCID: PMC3174857.

Abstract
Limited data are available on the source of usual nutrient intakes in the United States. This analysis aimed to assess contributions of micronutrients to usual intakes derived from all sources (naturally occurring, fortified and enriched, and dietary supplements) and to compare usual intakes to the Dietary Reference Intake for U.S. residents aged ≥2 y according to NHANES 2003-2006 (n = 16,110). We used the National Cancer Institute method to assess usual intakes of 19 micronutrients by source. Only a small percentage of the population had total usual intakes (from dietary intakes and supplements) below the estimated average requirement (EAR) for the following: vitamin B-6 (8%), folate (8%), zinc (8%), thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-12, phosphorus, iron, copper, and selenium (<6% for all). However, more of the population had total usual intakes below the EAR for vitamins A, C, D, and E (34, 25, 70, and 60%, respectively), calcium (38%), and magnesium (45%). Only 3 and 35% had total usual intakes of potassium and vitamin K, respectively, greater than the adequate intake. Enrichment and/or fortification largely contributed to intakes of vitamins A, C, and D, thiamin, iron, and folate. Dietary supplements further reduced the percentage of the population consuming less than the EAR for all nutrients. The percentage of the population with total intakes greater than the tolerable upper intake level (UL) was very low for most nutrients, whereas 10.3 and 8.4% of the population had intakes greater than the UL for niacin and zinc, respectively. Without enrichment and/or fortification and supplementation, many Americans did not achieve the recommended micronutrient intake levels set forth in the Dietary Reference Intake.

My samples taken this past summer semester I. This is 100% typical of all of my students. Green represents greater than 100% RDA.

Vitamin.JPG


minerals.JPG
 
testboner

testboner

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Oct 10, 2010
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Yup. Depleted soil from the common / typical monocrop practice is a significant factor with regard to agriculture / produce.

Another whammy against plant based diets…… already lacking in bioavailability of their nutrients (in human consumption) to begin with.
 
SAD

SAD

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Feb 3, 2011
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My micronutrients are depleted by X%?

My salad is X% less micronutrient rich than it was XXXX years ago?

Come on, the reality here is, I know people who have lived the last 35 years of their lives on alcohol and fast food. No joke. Your salad is 2000% more nutritious than their handle bottle of captain Morgan, two liter of coke, and Taco Bell, regardless of whether or not it’s GMO or organic or micro-nutrient-less.

The end result from a lot of the studies and opinions that paint fruits and veggies in a bad light is that people just say fuck it and eat whatever because it’s all fucking giving us cancer and isn’t good for us anyways.

Figure it out through extended trial and error. Everyone is different.
 
testboner

testboner

VIP Member
Oct 10, 2010
1,479
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My micronutrients are depleted by X%?

My salad is X% less micronutrient rich than it was XXXX years ago?

Come on, the reality here is, I know people who have lived the last 35 years of their lives on alcohol and fast food. No joke. Your salad is 2000% more nutritious than their handle bottle of captain Morgan, two liter of coke, and Taco Bell, regardless of whether or not it’s GMO or organic or micro-nutrient-less.

The end result from a lot of the studies and opinions that paint fruits and veggies in a bad light is that people just say fuck it and eat whatever because it’s all fucking giving us cancer and isn’t good for us anyways.

Figure it out through extended trial and error. Everyone is different.

Or the exception to the norm — BE the exception to the norm, and change dietary and lifestyle indulgences for the better.
 
69nites

69nites

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Aug 17, 2011
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In all the tests I've had over the years I've literally never been deficient in any vitamin regardless of what type of nutrition plan I'm following. If you're eating enough volume to maintain a decent amount of lean mass and are vitamin deficient you deserve some kind of award for staying big and lean without consuming anything rich in micronutrients.
 
Bigtex

Bigtex

VIP Member
Aug 14, 2012
1,108
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My micronutrients are depleted by X%?

My salad is X% less micronutrient rich than it was XXXX years ago?

Come on, the reality here is, I know people who have lived the last 35 years of their lives on alcohol and fast food. No joke. Your salad is 2000% more nutritious than their handle bottle of captain Morgan, two liter of coke, and Taco Bell, regardless of whether or not it’s GMO or organic or micro-nutrient-less.

The end result from a lot of the studies and opinions that paint fruits and veggies in a bad light is that people just say fuck it and eat whatever because it’s all fucking giving us cancer and isn’t good for us anyways.

Figure it out through extended trial and error. Everyone is different.


Yea, I don't buy into this soil depletion thing either. It all falls sown on how much you eat and what you eat. I also teach if you can't eat right then supplement! Its better to have what you need than not have it at all. A silly Flintstone multivitamin will go a long way to correct micronutrient deficiencies. Exactly why they are prescribed by medical doctors.,

Look at this sample 1 day diet from a young woman about 140lbs that was turned in to me last summer semester. Micro nutrients yes, but where are the micro? It is a matter of eating what ever is around so you are not hungry and going on with life. Its not a problem with plants and minerals it is a problem with food choice. Which is the reason I teach this class and have them do a 3 day analysis. They think they are eating right until they see this. Now change it.

diet.JPG


Now here is one that is an exception. Just goes to show as bad as we want to make humans/modern man, it is highly possible to consume 100% of the RDA and more from proper food selection.

vitamin.JPG


minerals.JPG
 
testboner

testboner

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Oct 10, 2010
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RDA standards are antiquated, and of course no one size fits all. If you haven’t, look up the history of how and why the RDA was created.
And so far as soil depletion and nutrient content — it’s digression is quite irrefutable. Industrial era big ag has majorly ass raped “healthy” food.
Overweight, obesity, cognitive and physical dysfunction and illness will continue to steadily worsen for Americans in particular.
 
gunslinger

gunslinger

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Sep 19, 2010
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People can say what they will but I've lived off of pretty much nothing but meat for the last 3-4 months and feel better than I ever have in my life. Joints feel better, lost 46 pounds, gotten stronger, BP is down a lot, cholesterol is on point. I also no longer feel like I'm in a fog all the time. Maybe the best thing I've ever done with my diet. I was eating around 2,000-2500 calories per day before and getting fatter by the day. Started eating just meat I average around 3,700 calories and I'm still getting leaner and losing.
 
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