A Couple of Questions For Vegetarians, Vegans, and Omnitarians (i.e. meat eaters)?

I think the answer to this question would vary from culture to culture more than anything, wouldn't it? But I'll base my answer on what I think urban dwelling people in the western world are short on: D, Magnesium, B12, A, E, C, Calcium, and iron. If I had to guess which took the top slot, I'd guess C.

EDIT: I wanted to add to my response (because I think I didn't quite answer the question fully), that my belief is that the closer that we eat to whole, natural (vegan in my case, of course) foods, the healthier that we are. Since I started eating as near as possible to 100% organic as I can, and only NON-processed foods, I've been healthier than ever. I had my bloodwork done not too long ago, and was not deficient in anything. For a vegan who has a family history of low iron, and who doesn't supplement, I'd say that's pretty good! Also, I think the fact that I don't eat/drink the things that can actually strip nutrients from your body (refined sugars, colas, MSG, Aspartame, etc.). makes a big difference to my health as well. I think processed, chemical laden things are the biggest problem with anyone's diet.

i think the answer to this question would vary from culture to culture more than anything, wouldn't it? but i'll base my answer on what i think urban dwelling people in the western world are short on: d, magnesium, b12, a, e, c, calcium, and iron... if i had to guess which took the top slot, i'd guess c...

edit: i wanted to add to my response ('cause i think i didn't quite answer the question fully), that my belief is that the closer that we eat to whole, natural (vegan in my case, of course) foods, the healthier that we are... since i started eating as near as possible to 100% organic as i can, and only non-processed foods, i've been healthier than ever... i had my bloodwork done not too long ago, and was not deficient in anything... for a vegan who has a family history of low iron, and who doesn't supplement, i'd say that's pretty good! also, i think the fact that i don't eat/drink the things that can actually strip nutrients from your body (refined sugars, colas, msg, aspartame, etc...)... makes a big difference to my health as well... i think processed, chemical laden things are the biggest problem with anyone's diet...

Now to finish of things regarding my question, asked on March 16, 2017.

The next six after vitamin D, are vitamin E, which is very close to being as bad as vitamin D is for either being at subclinical levels or even to being outright deficient in.

Next is choline at number three, which comes in at well over seventy five percent.

At number four is magnesium, at slightly over sixty percent.

At number five is and not all that surprising is vitamin A, at just over fifty percent.

Number six is calcium, and no real surprise there.

The one that would surprise many, but correctly picked at number seven, and as the most surprising,, is vitamin C, trumping vitamin B12, which the average is low end at fourty three percent for vitamin C. It was bluntly put a jaw dropper for me, and more recently, my primary care provider.

Vitamin B12, comes in at number eight.

Vitamin B6 is number nine, and folate, or vitamin B9, to round out the top ten.

Iron just for note, is number twelve, getting beat out by zinc.

Neither potassium, nor iodine makes the list. However there's a growing concern, and in developed nations at that, over an iodine deficiency, as fewer people are using salt or even iodized salt.

Now my apologies to all for being so long at selecting the best answer, however there were some more serious real life issues that had to be dealt with.

Do I care ? Long time ago I went through the nutrients required in the human diet , pork came up as number one. A little Brassica and a few nuts and that is all I need.

I'm an omivore (i.e., meat eater) who also eats fruits and vegetables, live in central Europe, and I don't think you need any additional nutrients beside your regular food.

I'm trying to buy responsibly, that means, not too much meat and from local producers if possible, and fruits and vegetables of the season, but as, for example, oranges don't grow well around here, I sometimes also buy imported stuff. But I don't need onions from New Zealand when I can get some from Italy.

white people = scum

Top SIX? I'm not sure. I work in a lab setting, I know doctors order Vitamin B12 testing quite frequently, usually for older folks. We also do quite a lot of potassium and calcium testing. For calcium there are a lot of reasons (your body utilizes calcium for quite a lot, from blood clotting factors to bone structure) Potassium is a similar story, but there's a much narrower idea for what's "normal" and having a potassium that's too low or high usually indicates something seriously wrong going on.

The MOST surprising would be a Vitamin C deficiency. I've basically never seen it before. To put that in proper context, I mostly see blood specimens from older Americans. And only for a few years (the ink on my degree is still wet). I'm sure it's a more common problem elsewhere.

I would say,

Iron, iodine (in.third world countries it is often added to salt), B12 (although I doubting), Calcium, vitamin A, folate and Vit C.

Oh my gosh, i just read this question and thought to myself, I can't wait to see Wendigo's answer to this question. and now i guess I won't.

So i'll give it a shot.

Vegan answer.

1. B12

Lets start with the obvious one B12. and anyone who has read my answer to this - I feel the attention that B12 get is way too much. We need such small amounts, its stored very well in the body and its in every brand of multi. But B12 deficiencies do show up occasionally. even in non vegans. However i think the B12 shot that cures everything is just something that Dr. Feelgoods perscribe.

2. Calcium

Because vegans don't drink milk most non-vegans worry about our calcium intake. And this can really be an issue if you are not the kind of vegan who eats beans and dark greens on a daily basis. But for vegans who actually know about nutrition - calcium is usually not an issue. But the supplements are available and cheap.

3. Iron

I'm constantly borderline anemic. But what I said about Calcium is just as true for iron. since I am borderline anemic I choose multivitamins with iron. but too much iron screw with my BMs. so the iron content of my multi pretty much drives my selection. Many vegans and regular people who eat healthy don't really need to worry about iron. but iron deficiencies are still one of the most common. A multi that contains between 18% - 66% is probably good enough for most people.

4. Omega 3s

Its pretty easy for a vegan not to consume any omega 3s. And pretty much in every Vegan 101 class vegans are taught the benefits of including a tbsp of ground flax seed in their daily meal plan. Theoretically The ALA in flax seed should be enough since it can be converted to EPA and DHA. but the conversion may not be reliable so EPA+DHA supplements are recommended.

5. Magnesium

Magnesium should not be that hard for vegans not to get enough of. but non-vegans might struggle with it. Plus since its a bulky mineral, multis usually contain only small amounts. Best bet is to just increase the amount of magnesium in your diet by eating more potatoes and bananas. Supplementing magnesium needs to be done cautiously and perhaps under a doctor's supervision

6. Potassium

pretty much just like magnesium. but maybe even more dangerous to supplement.