Nutrient targets

ele132

I am vegan and never had issues meeting my nutrient targets when doing blood tests. However since I started using cronometer I noticed that my iron and calcium targets are never met (always around 50-60%), despite me eating a good variety of foods high in those nutrients. How are these % calculated? Do I need to pre-set them up based on my height/weight?

Karen_Cronometer

Hi there,

The nutrient targets come from the Dietary Reference Intakes for your age, sex and life stage, by default. The percentages shown in your nutrient targets are calculated as the amount of the nutrient reported in the foods logged to your diary divided by your Daily Target for that nutrient. You can customize these targets, too, of course!

Best,

Susan_RD_101

@ele132

Some nutrient needs will be higher, while others will be lower, while eating a plant-based diet. The DRIs referenced above were calculated from a healthy, omnivore population; as people vary from this norm, nutrient needs change.

If you've never had clinically low iron, your intake is likely fine. However, vegans may need up to 80% more iron than non-vegans. Calcium, on the other hand, is the reverse. Because a plant-based diet is more alkaline, and the calcium that is included is more bioavailable, needs may be slightly lower (aim for at least 800 mg per day).

Hope this helps!