Who decides what vitamins and minerals belong in our food and diet?
Scientists and nutritionists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and at universities make a career of studying the amount of vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy diet. They rely heavily on the information that the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey gathers to help determine just what Americans are eating. The earlier NHANES showed that low iron levels were a serious problem for many people, including women of childbearing age, preschool children, and the elderly. As a result, the government decided to fortify grain and cereal with iron to correct this deficiency. That s not all. These surveys showed the need for folate to eliminate another deficiency and prevent birth defects. Today, we have a wealth of information at our fingertips and, indeed, on our food labels to make better choices about what to eat. And much of that information comes directly from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. What about cholesterol? How do I know if that is too hi
Scientists and nutritionists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and at universities make a career of studying the amount of vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy diet. They rely heavily on the information that the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey gathers to help determine just what Americans are eating. The earlier NHANES showed that low iron levels were a serious problem for many people, including women of childbearing age, preschool children, and the elderly. As a result, the government decided to fortify grain and cereal with iron to correct this deficiency. That’s not all. These surveys showed the need for folate to eliminate another deficiency and prevent birth defects. Today, we have a wealth of information at our fingertips and, indeed, on our food labels to make better choices about what to eat. And much of that information comes directly from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
