Women’s diets lacking in key nutrients

Posted in Latest Research ... June 10th, 2010

From teenage girls to elderly women, the diets of Britain’s female population is lacking in key nutrients, according to a recent review of over 100 scientific studies. Women in general are consuming too much salt and saturated fat while consuming too little fruit, vegetables, fibre & oily fish. The most worrying dietary habits belong to the 19 to 24 age group who regularly consume high amounts of salt and alcohol, thereby increasing their risk of heart disease and breast cancer. The study, published in News Bulletin, found that over half (52%) of schoolgirls are lacking in magnesium, an important nutrient for heart health, energy production and nerve transmission. 25% are not getting enough zinc, necessary for healthy skin, immunity and reproductive function while the diets of 30% are deficient in potassium, a key heart nutrient. In addition, 16% are not getting enough iodine, central to the production of thyroid hormones while almost half are failing to get sufficient iron. An iron deficiency may lead to anaemia, whose main symptoms are tiredness, pale skin and lowered immunity. In addition, many women often follow a weight loss program and, as a result of eating less, their intake of important nutrients is further reduced.

Just Nutrition viewpoint

This study highlights the pressures on women today to be thin, to have successful careers and often to juggle them with having children.  It seems that the one aspect of life that suffers is nutrition. It is important to remember that what you eat not only provides nutrients but can also deplete them. There is a myriad of chemical reactions occuring in our bodies every second which require vitamins and mineral for their effective completion. Wholefoods are packed with these nutrients which means that these reactions can proceed unhindered. Processed foods, sugar and fried foods contain few nutrients which means that the body has to draw upon its reserves, often leaving them depleted. In addition stress, alcohol and smoking make big demands upon on these stores, reducing them even further. The result?  - we’re left feeling drained, washed out and exhausted.

This study also highlighs an important drawback of many weight loss programs that emphasise calorie restriction – eating less means less nutrition. This lack of nutrition can only hinder weight loss; to effectively and efficiently metabolise our food (fat, protein and carbohydrates)  we need the key nutrients that this study has highlighted are often lacking – magnesium, zinc and iodine. Eating the right foods not only provides adequate nutrition but also results in gradual, yet sustainable, weight loss.