Are you hitting your nutrition targets?

The way we feel can be an indication of whether our diet contains the right nutrients. Take a look at what you need to meet your daily nutrition targets and how to top up.

How do we know if we’re meeting our daily targets for nutrients? Short of visually dissecting everything you eat and drink and asking a dietitian to analyse it for you, it can be hit and miss. Guidelines for nutrients exist for good reasons, as insufficient levels, over time, can lead to health complications. Our guide makes it easy to see key nutrient requirements for different population groups, and ways to get them. First, here’s what the terms mean:

Recommended dietary intake (RDI) is the average daily dietary intake level sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97-98 per cent) healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group.

Adequate intake (AI) is the average daily nutrient intake level, based on observed or experimentally determined approximations or estimates of nutrient intake, by a group (or groups) of apparently healthy people, that is assumed to be adequate. The AI is used where there is not enough information to determine an RDI.

Suggested dietary target (SDT) is a daily average intake from food and beverages for certain nutrients that may help in prevention of chronic disease. These have been set for a small number of nutrients including sodium, fibre and vitamin C.

Upper limit (UL) is the highest average daily nutrient intake level likely to pose no adverse health effects to most people. As intake increases above the UL, the potential risk of adverse effects increases. Remember, more is not always better.

Calcium

What happens if you don’t get enough?

The body tries to maintain normal levels in the blood by taking calcium from our bones instead. Bone density is accrued at the highest rate during teenage years – after the late 20s, you merely to maintain your bone density, and from your 40s you begin to lose it.

Worrying stats

Around 60 per cent of us don’t get the recommended amount and, in the crucial 15 to 18-year-old age group, it’s estimated 88 per cent of females and 58 per cent of males have inadequate intakes.

Why it’s essential

A lack of calcium can cause bone deformation in children and weak bones and osteoporosis in later life. It’s also crucial for heart health, muscle contraction and blood clotting.

How to get it

Dairy foods are important sources so, if choosing non-dairy alternatives, it’s crucial they’re fortified with calcium. Soy beans, tofu and nuts (especially almonds) and green veges, such as broccoli and cabbage, also provide it, but it’s not absorbed as readily as calcium in dairy.

Surprising fact

Pregnant women absorb calcium more efficiently to meet the needs of the foetus.

Easy ways to boost calcium

1 cup trim milk = 330mg
105g can sardines = 250mg
20g cheddar cheese = 170mg
small handful almonds (30g) = 80mg

The figures you need to know (RDI)

nine to 13-year-olds 1000-1300mg
14 to 18-year-olds 1300mg
women aged 19-50 and men aged 19-70 1000mg
women over 50 and men over 70 1300mg

Vitamin C

What happens if you don’t get enough?

Deficiency can lead to scurvy, compromising new connective tissue formation. Expect weakness, bleeding gums and poor wound healing.

Worrying stats

While almost all Kiwis easily achieve the RDI, our average intake is 108mg, considerably lower than the SDT.

Why it’s essential

Vitamin C is needed to produce collagen for healthy skin, teeth, bones and tendons. It’s also a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells and enhance immunity.

How to get it

Vegetables and fruit are the main sources of vitamin C, with other foods containing little.

Surprising fact

There’s not a specific upper limit, although having more than 1000mg a day may cause gut problems.

Easy ways to boost vitamin C

1 orange = 75mg
1 kiwifruit = 65mg
¼ red capsicum = 60mg
1 cup cooked kumara = 40mg

The figures you need to know

nine to 18-year-olds 40mg (RDI)
over 19-year-olds 45mg (RDI) and for SDT, 190mg for women, 220mg for men

Iron

What happens if you don’t get enough?

Over time, it can affect energy levels and immunity

Worrying stats

Thirty-four per cent of females aged 15-18 may have inadequate iron intake.

Why it’s essential

We need iron to make haemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen from our lungs to every cell in our body. Too little iron means less oxygen and a subsequent risk of extreme tiredness and poor concentration. Your immune system can also suffer, making you more open to picking up infections. Iron deficiency anaemia needs to be diagnosed and treated by your doctor.

How to get it

‘Haem’ iron (from an animal source) is more easily absorbed by the body than ‘non-haem’ iron (from plants). Lean red meat and mussels are great sources of haem iron. Pulses, such as baked beans and lentils, dark green veges, such as broccoli, kale and watercress, grainy breads and iron-fortified breakfast cereals give us non-haem iron.
Tea, coffee and dairy products hinder absorption, so avoid having these at the same time. Vitamin C helps non-haem iron absorption and helps overcome the effects of iron inhibitors.

Surprising fact

Six mussels contain more iron than a lean steak.

Easy ways to boost iron

150g lean scotch fillet steak = 3.1mg
2 Weet-Bix = 3mg
½ cup cooked lentils = 2.4mg
200g baked beans = 2.4mg

The figures you need to know (RDI)

boys and girls aged 9-13 8mg
females aged 14-18 15mg
males aged 14-18 11mg
women aged 19-50 18mg
women aged 50+ and men aged 19+ 8mg

Selenium

What happens if you don’t get enough?

Over time, it may affect fertility in men and our ability to fight infections.

Worrying stats

Nearly 60 per cent of women and over 30 per cent of men 15 years and over don’t get the recommended amount of selenium in their diet.

Why it’s essential

Selenium produces vital antioxidant enzymes that protect cells and tissue. It also helps with reproduction, the immune system and brain function.

How to get it

Brazil nuts are by far the richest source, but selenium is also found in fish and other seafood, eggs, meat and cashew nuts.

Surprising fact

Too much of this mineral can cause selenosis, triggering hair loss and damage to nails and skin. The maximum safe intake (UL) from all sources is 280mcg for nine to 13-year-olds and 400mcg a day for people aged 14 and over.

Easy ways to boost selenium
2 Brazil nuts (8g) = 95mcg
1 cup prawns = 65mcg
95g canned tuna = 65mcg

The figures you need to know (RDI)

boys and girls aged 9-13 50mcg
girls and women 14 and over 60mcg
boys and men 14 and over 70mcg

Iodine

What happens if you don’t get enough?

It may cause thyroid problems, which affect metabolism.

Worrying stats

Since compulsory fortification of bread in 2009, average iodine levels in over 15-year-olds have almost doubled, crossing into the ‘adequate’ range. But Kiwi women over 30 still don’t get enough.

Why it’s essential

Iodine is crucial to production of thyroid hormones, which help to control the speed we burn energy (kilojoules) and chemical reactions in our bodies. A minimum 40mcg daily is needed to avoid goitre, where the thyroid gland grows as it struggles to produce thyroxine, and metabolism slows.

How to get it

Fish and shellfish are by far the best sources, but it can also be found in milk and bread.

Surprising fact

Getting too much iodine can change the way your thyroid gland works over time and can lead to weight gain. Seek advice from your GP or a dietitian before supplementing.

Easy ways to boost iodine

6 mussels = 130mcg
120g tarakihi = 60mcg
2 poached eggs = 50mcg
1 cup plain low-fat yoghurt = 25mcg

The figures you need to know (RDI)

nine to 13-year-olds 120mcg
over 14 150mcg

Fibre

What happens if you don’t get enough?

Constipation and an increased risk of bowel cancer.

Worrying stats

Many of us don’t get enough fibre, with the average intake for women 18g and men 23g.

Why it’s essential

Fibre is vital for our gut to work normally and it’s related to reduced risk of several diseases, from bowel cancer and type 2 diabetes to heart disease. It’s important to drink enough fluids throughout the day to allow the fibre to create soft stools in your colon.

How to get it

Wholegrain breakfast cereals, bread, pasta and rice, veges, fruit, nuts and seeds all provide fibre.

Useful fact

It’s important to increase your fibre intake gradually, and drink plenty of water, or you may experience gas and bloating.

Easy ways to boost fibre

1 cup cooked broccoli = 5.6g
½ cup (raw) wholemeal spirals or penne pasta = 5.3g
2 toast slices grainy bread = 4.5-6g
1 apple = 3.5g
2 teaspoons chia seeds = 3g
30g mixed nuts = 2.3g

The figures you need to know

girls aged 9-13 20g (AI)
boys aged 9-13 24g (AI)
girls aged 14-18 22g (AI)
boys aged 14-18 28g (AI)
women aged 19+25g (AI) and 28g (SDT)
men aged 19+ 30g (AI) and 38g (SDT)

Potassium

What happens if you don’t get enough?

A low intake, coupled with too much salt, can contribute to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of stroke and heart attacks. But people with kidney problems need to limit potassium and should check with their GP.

Worrying stats

While, on average, women meet the RDI (2817mg) and men are not too far off theirs (3535mg), most of us are miles away from the SDT.

Why it’s essential

We need potassium to balance fluids and for heart electrical signals to function properly.

How to get it

Vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, fish, shellfish, beef and chicken are all sources.

Surprising fact

The more potassium you eat (to a point), the more sodium you lose through urine. Potassium also helps to ease tension in the blood vessel walls. These two effects combined can have a positive effect on blood pressure.

Easy ways to boost potassium

½ 400g can tomatoes = 680mg
1 small baked potato = 600mg
1 cooked kumara = 490mg
¾ cup sliced courgette = 400mg
¼ avocado = 230mg

Zinc

What happens if you don’t get enough?

Early signs include poor growth in children and lowered immunity.

Worrying stats

When last measured, 39 per cent of males and 11 per cent of females, aged over 15, had inadequate zinc intakes.

Why it’s essential

It’s important for healthy skin, immunity and helps in wound healing. It helps break down and make use of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

How to get it

Lean red meat, shellfish, some nuts and seeds, and wheatgerm found in bread and cereals.

Surprising fact

While zinc is essential for good immunity, too much zinc (40 mg a day for adults) can supress your immune system.

Easy ways to boost zinc

100g lean roast beef = 5mg
80g canned sardines = 2.4mg
30g pumpkin seeds = 2.2mg
30g cashew nuts = 1.6mg
100g cooked chicken = 1.4mg

The figures you need to know (RDI)

nine to 13-year-olds 6mggirls aged 14-18 7mg
boys aged 14-18 13mg
women aged 19+ 8mg
men aged 19+ 14mg