There are a lot of deficiences we Aussies have, due to the infiltration of ultra-processed foods and the lowering quality of factory farmed ingredients. The one you may think of first is protein, as the internet is going insane about protein at the moment, or potentially fibre as that's having a resurgence, too. But no! At this point, our protein intake is reasonable [1] [2] and our fibre is a lot closer to the benchmark than you might think [3]. So long as you're eating high-quality protein that makes up approximately 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, and 25g of fibre through a variety of legumes, vegetables, fruit and nuts! 

So do you have any other guesses about Australia's most common nutrient deficiency?

Iron? Maybe! Many women are iron deficient because of their menstrual cycle, however many Australians deal with varying levels of iron deficiency. In spite of nearly 20% of Australians dealing with some kind of iron deficiency, it isn't the most common nutrient deficiency in Australia [4] [5]. If you're worried about your iron intake, discuss with your doctor options for diet plans or supplements.

Go on, keep guessing...

Vitamin D? Almost, but no! More than 1 in 3 Australians suffer from Vitamin D deficiency, from mild to severe. Although vitamin D is found in a variety of foods including fish, organ meats, eggs and cereals, the daily values of vitamin D can feel insurmountable. Check out your daily value requirements and best sources of Vitamin D on reputable sources online [6] [7].

Given up? Don’t worry, I’ll tell you.

It’s calcium. That’s right! When your parents told you to drink lots of milk to grow strong bones they were not kidding. Calcium isn’t just great for strong bones though, it is also great for blood clotting, regulating heartbeats, nerve maintenance and muscle contractions. Despite its major importance for the human body, half of all Australians are deficient in calcium. According to the ABS, nearly three quarters of females (73%) and half of all males (51%) aged two years and over did not meet their calcium requirements based on their intakes from food. You'd think with all the calcium-rich foods at our disposal, including milk products, fish, cereals etc., we'd be full up on calcium, but it is not true! Calcium is officially our most common nutrients deficiency. Discussing concerns about calcium deficiency with your doctor is important if you have them, but you can also focus on your diet: eating high-quality, nutrient-dense foods that are high in calcium can help boost your daily value of calcium [8] [9]  [10] [11]