Infographic: Supplements vs food (eg. how much spinach is equivalent to a magnesium tablet?)
In this infographic, commissioned by UK-based discount retailer SupplementCenter, shows how many Brussels sprouts you need to obtain a dose of 100 micrograms of vitamin K (three), and how many kiwifruit you’d need to eat to get a vitamin E dose of 671 milligrams (559).
Numerous surveys have found that over half of all Americans take dietary supplements, with the most recent data from the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) showing that multivitamins are the most popular form of supplement, with 71% of users reporting taking a multivitamin, with 53% saying they take it daily.
In addition, women are the leading consumers, with 74% of women noted as supplement users, compared with 64% of men.
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS):“If you don't eat a nutritious variety of foods, some supplements might help you get adequate amounts of essential nutrients.
“However, supplements can't take the place of the variety of foods that are important to a healthy diet. Good sources of information on eating well include the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate.”
The doses listed below are less than the upper limits recommended for each nutrient, based on US Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, November 30 2010.