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MegaFood Campaign Fights “Nutritional Poverty”

by Nicholas Saraceno | February 10, 2017

The good news? Americans think they are eating well; in fact, 60 percent say they eat a very healthy diet. The bad news? Perception and reality may not be aligned. As recent research conducted by ORC International on behalf of supplements leader MegaFood finds, 62 percent of U.S. adults admit to eating just 1 to 2 servings of fruits and vegetables a day, despite recommendations from the USDA to eat five or more servings per day.* Only 6 percent of Americans report eating five or more servings per day, leaving a huge nutritional gap to fill.

As part of the large NHANES survey, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) identified that 30 million Americans are deficient in vitamin B6 (1,2), a nutrient found in foods like bananas and avocados, which plays an important role in the production of fuel and energy and is critical for the optimal function of our brain, nervous and immune systems. Survey results reveal the nutrition misperception persists here as well, as 52 percent of adults reported that they believed that they get enough B6 in their diet.

More than two thirds (67 percent) of adults believe they can get all of their nutrients by eating a healthy diet, which simply may not be realistic.

Despite the challenge of getting all needed nutrients through their daily diet, two in five (42 percent) adults reported that they do not take a multivitamin. When asked what lifestyle changes they planned to make in 2017, just one in five (18 percent) planned to take a multivitamin. Survey respondents reported their top reason for not taking a multivitamin as “just not really thinking of it” (30 percent).

To help address this significant nutrition and awareness gap, MegaFood is asking Americans to make 2017 the best year yet and pledge to improve their own life while also the lives of others. The MegaPledge campaign is MegaFood’s next step towards curing nutritional poverty. They’ll motivate people to take action and pledge to close their nutritional gap by taking a multivitamin, and help support someone in need with a 1-for-1 pledge and product donation. By paying it forward, they aim to improve lives twofold!

Just for pledging, the first 20,000 pledgers will receive a $5 MegaFood coupon to use on their next purchase and all pledgers will be entered to win a year’s supply of MegaFood multivitamins and a grand prize trip for two to a wellness retreat getaway.

Consumers can now visit megafood.com/megapledge to take the one-click pledge.

Additionally, MegaFood is teaming up with Wholesome Wave, a non-profit organization that empowers under-served consumers to make healthier food choices by increasing affordable access to fresh, local food. With every pledge, MegaFood will donate two servings of fruits and veggies to someone in need—up to 40,000 servings. 

For more information, visit www.megafood.com.

* Based on a 2,200 calorie per day diet for those aged 14 and older.

(1) The CDC, Second National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition in the U.S. Population

(2) 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.

 

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