www.european-nutrition.org
Millions of British women eating dangerous diets
01 June 2010
Researchers and dieticians at Manchester Metropolitan University released a new review of studies into the diet of British women. They concluded, after considering the results of 110 scientific and medical studies, that women of all age groups were not getting a balanced diet.
The review, commissioned by the Health Supplements Information Service, an independent body, has found that women aged 11 to 18 are often not getting enough magnesium, zinc, potassium or iodine in their diet. As well, almost half of them were not getting enough iron, although, in those aged 19 to 50 this figure dropped to only 20 per cent. However, this age group did show a significant number of women were lacking in the vitamin B2 and D – a vitamin essential to strengthening baby’s bones and preventing underweight births. It found that 80 per cent of British women were not getting the levels of vitamin D recommended by European health agencies. This deficiency of vitamin D continued into the above 65 age group –worrying as this is needed to prevent brittle bones.
A variety of factors were blamed in the report: from busy lifestyles, to a lack of cooking skills. It also called for more awareness of fortified foods and vitamin and mineral supplements to make up for this loss.
