Plant-based - PB Nutrition

After seeing thousands of clients seeking help with their diet and nutritional health, I have no doubt that the three aspects of people’s diet that most commonly need attention are:⁠
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1. Micronutrient intake⁠
There are 30 essential micronutrients and it is not uncommon for unplanned or poorly planned eating patterns to contain insufficient amounts. If we don’t get enough of one or more micronutrients, sooner or later a deficiency will develop, resulting in negative health consequences. Later in this course we’ll outline the essential micronutrients most commonly overlooked or under-consumed and describe ways of ensuring an adequate intake.⁠
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2. Macronutrient intake⁠
The macronutrients (protein, fat and carbohydrate) are available from various sources and in various forms, and poor choices can contribute to poor health. ⁠
Later in this course we’ll look at the pros and cons of getting protein and fats from animal vs plant sources and why some sources of fats and carbohydrates from plants are better than others. ⁠
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3. Intake of colourful vegetables⁠
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Green and other colourful vegetables are important sources of essential and beneficial nutrients yet few people (even many vegans) consume anywhere near enough of them. The recommended intake of vegetables in Australia is 5-6 serves per day for adults, yet the Australian Bureau of Statistics national Health Survey of 2017-18 revealed that only 7.5 % of adults met this recommendation, with the mean intake of vegetables amongst adults being less than is recommended for a two-year old! A survey I conducted of over 1500 women on a vegan diet in Australia (results soon to be published) found that even amongst vegans, only a third met this recommended intake of vegetables. This is concerning because arguably, people on a vegan or other plant-based diet should eat MORE vegetables than the amount recommended for the general population. ⁠
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The take home message is to pay attention to macronutrients, choose macronutrient sources based on potential health consequences and eat more colourful vegetables!