Originally published October 5 2005
Government reports vitamin deficiencies in the average American's diet
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 9,000 consumers were observed from 2001 to 2002, and the research shows a serious deficiency in magnesium and Vitamins A,C and E.
The average American is not getting enough vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin C or magnesium in his daily diet but he is eating plenty of carbohydrates, according to a new government report.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday released a study that surveyed the food consumption for 8,940 consumers nationwide from 2001 to 2002.
The study found nearly 93 percent of Americans have some deficiencies in vitamin E, which is commonly found in vegetable oil, nuts and seeds, and fortified cereals.
But most consumers eat enough carbs -- such as bread, pasta and rice -- and riboflavin, a water-soluble vitamin found in eggs, meat and dairy products, with less than 3 percent reporting an inadequacy in those nutrients, the report said.
"Americans are not making wise food choices," said Alanna Moshfegh, research leader for the USDA's food surveys research group, at the agency's Human Nutrition Research Center in Beltsville.
The USDA conducted the study as a cooperative effort with the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
"We are not getting as accurate information on vitamin E as we would like," she said, adding the group did not examine how much fat participants were consuming regularly.
The survey's results could end up influencing revisions to the dietary guidelines, which HHS will release in 2010, and programs like food stamps and the national school lunch program, Ms.
Minneapolis dietitian Susan Moores said it was no surprise the public isn't getting as many nutrients as they should.
"It's great to have the earth-tone browns on the plate, like meats and grains.
But the plate is much better off when it boasts a whole lot of colors," she said.
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