Q: I'VE noticed a lot of TV ads promoting vitamins and minerals. My local chemist stocks a huge selection of health supplements too. I'm wondering if supplements are necessary. Surely we can get what we need from food?
A While it's true that every nutrient we need can be found in food, the reality is that even those who eat a well-balanced diet may be lacking in the most basic nutrients. With our overly processed food supply, as well as chemically abused farm soils, our foods typically contain fewer vitamins and minerals than they did just several decades ago. Fruit and vegetables from supermarkets can often be nutrient deprived due to excessively long storages times.
Many of us have developed a taste for processed foods made from white flour, trans fats and sugar. These foods have no nutritional value but still require nutrients in order to be processed in the body. In effect, they rob us of nutrients.
In addition, chronic stress has become part and parcel of modern living and stress in itself can deplete vitamins and minerals, so it's no wonder our nutritional needs are often unmet.
Without doubt our bodies will absorb vitamins from whole food sources much more readily compared with vitamins from synthetic sources and it's important to note that not all supplements are created equal. Various brands differ greatly in terms of quality. Ideally you should consult a health professional to guide you in terms of your nutrient needs. It's best to purchase supplements from health-food stores and opt for whole-food supplements.
QI'm trying to start paying attention to food labels but I find them difficult to understand. Can you please explain what a GDA is and give me some basic tips to get started?
AMany food manufacturers have started using 'guideline daily amounts' or GDAs as a way of helping people put the nutritional value of a particular food within context. GDAs are based on the amount of each nutrient an average person needs every day and information is given as a percentage of your recommended daily intake. For example, a general guideline for fat for someone who eats 2,000 calories per day is less than 70g per day. So, if a food has 35g of fat, then it has 50pc of the daily amount for fat -- which is extremely high for one serving. I would encourage people to get to know this system as it's an easy and useful tool.
All ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. So the ingredient listed first is present in the largest amount and the last is present in the least amount. So, for example, if you buy an oat-based cereal, the first ingredient listed should be oats, not sugar.
Elsa Jones is a qualified nutritional therapist. She offers one-to-one consultations for your individual health concerns. www.elsa jonesnutrition.ie
- Elsa Jones
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