What is nutritional poverty?

Most Americans are consuming a diet that is rich in calories but poor in nutritive value. The idea that the standard American diet provides all of the necessary nutrients needed to maintain optimal health is untrue.

The nature of our food, and how we obtain it, has changed dramatically over the last 50 years, and consequently, it’s challenging to get all of the vitamins and minerals we need from our diet. Recent findings reported in July 2015 by the Center for Disease Control demonstrate that Americans do not consume enough of the right foods to get all the essential nutrients needed to maintain optimal health.

One common nutrient deficiency that many people are not aware of, is vitamin B6. This important vitamin plays a critical role in the production of serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin.* Vitamin B6 deficiency, associated with depressed mood, impaired cognition and memory, as well as inadequate sleep impacts 30 million Americans.
Considering that there are roughly 300 million people currently living in the United States, this means that approximately one out of ten people has a vitamin B6 deficiency. That statistic does not take into account that millions of more people are likely to have “less than optimal” levels but have not yet reached deficiency status. 

Clearly, we are in the midst of an epidemic of nutritional poverty. Most Americans are consuming a diet that is rich in calories but poor in nutritive value. The idea that the standard American diet provides all of the necessary nutrients needed to maintain optimal health is untrue. A multivitamin plays an important role in filling the gaps.

* This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

1 NHANES 2007-2010 for average intakes by age-sex group. Healthy U.S.-Style Food Patterns, which vary based on age, sex, and activity level, for recommended intake ranges.

2 Fortify Your Life, Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and More  (National Geographic Society, 2016)