Recent figures from the Food Consumption Survey (VCP) 2019-2021 reveal that some people in the Netherlands are not getting enough important vitamins and minerals. What we eat directly affects our health.
What are we short of?
Vitamin A, B2, B6, C, folate (Folic acid, B11), iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium appear to be deficient in a portion of the population. Let’s look at the foods that contain these important substances.
Vitamin A: Found in meat, fish, dairy, egg yolk, liver, margarine, carrot, kale, spinach and endive.
Vitamin B2: Found in dairy products, meat, vegetables, fruits and brown bread.
Vitamin B6: Found in dairy, vegetables, meat, eggs, bread, grains, potatoes and legumes.
Vitamin C: Present in fruits, vegetables and potatoes.
Folate (Folic acid, B11): Found in green vegetables, whole grain products, bread, meat and dairy.
Minerals:
Iron: Found in meat, bread, whole grain products, nuts, leafy vegetables, purslane, pak choi, chard, egg and radish.
Calcium: Present in dairy, cheese, cereal products and, for example, broccoli.
Magnesium: Found in nuts, seeds, whole grain products, green vegetables and dairy products.
Potassium: Found in vegetables, fruits, potatoes, dairy products and bread.
A key issue is Vitamin D:
Vitamin D you get primarily through sunlight. In a country like the Netherlands, it is quite difficult to “capture” enough sunlight. People with tinted or dark skin and, for example, Muslims who wear a burka and cover limbs receive little sunlight = vitamin D.
We also see a lack of vitamin D intake in the elderly (70-79 years old). On average, they are at 11-13 micrograms, while the recommendation is 20 micrograms. It is found in fatty fish, eggs and fortified margarine, among others.
Too much is also possible:
Some people actually get too much of certain vitamins and minerals, such as retinol, zinc, iodine, copper and magnesium. It is good to know what these substances are in, but at this time it does not seem to be a major health concern.
What about you?
You can now view the results of the 2019-2021 Food Consumption Survey (VCP) at www.wateetnederland.nl. Here you can see how much of what we eat. If you know what certain vitamins and minerals are in, you can more consciously choose what to put on your plate.
Summary:
What we eat determines how healthy we are. Understanding what nutrients we need and where to find them is essential to a healthy lifestyle. More information about it is needed. More clarity is coming about adequate and nutritious eating. Unfortunately, with the food offered to us in supermarkets, it is very difficult to make the right choices.