Where does it give the RDAs for micronutrients on MFP

Sued0nim
Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I know my daily food report is based on % of RDA but I want to know how many mg I'm reaching (specifically of iron) .. anyone know whether the programming behind the RDA is fixed (and not variable) and where the chart of their RDAs is held please

Thank you

Replies

  • DemoraFairy
    DemoraFairy Posts: 1,806 Member
    Is this what you're after? http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/change_goals_custom (Home -> Goals -> Change Goals -> Custom)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited June 2015
    Thanks but not really

    I'm looking for the absolute numbers that they're basing their percentages on

    eg for a woman it should be 18mg iron .. I just wanted to check what MFP is saying it is and make sure it isn't pro rata in line with calorie allocations
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    edited June 2015
    Wikipedia seems to say the RDA isn't calorie scaled, but represents values that would satisfy 95% of the population's needs.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Yes I know that

    But I can't seem to reach my iron minimums, by a long way, and wanted to check that MFP have it right before I adjust my diet even more

    and I'm not convinced that MFP have it right until I see it with my own little eyes *doubting Thomas*
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    edited June 2015
    It doesn't work like that in the database.

    When you enter a new food it asks % for micronutrients. It is individually entered by users as a % and never referenced in the database as mg or IUs. So it's doesn't have a reference value.

    And, since most food isn't entered with such detail I wouldn't use the site to track that unless you've validated each food.

    Hope that helps. Mfp doesn't have that right.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    It doesn't work like that in the database.

    When you enter a new food it asks % for micronutrients. It is individually entered by users as a % and never referenced in the database as mg or IUs. So it's doesn't have a reference value.

    And, since most food isn't entered with such detail I wouldn't use the site to track that unless you've validated each food.

    Cool .. thanks @EvgeniZyntx ... I'm gonna have to blood test it I think
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    It doesn't work like that in the database.

    When you enter a new food it asks % for micronutrients. It is individually entered by users as a % and never referenced in the database as mg or IUs. So it's doesn't have a reference value.

    And, since most food isn't entered with such detail I wouldn't use the site to track that unless you've validated each food.

    Cool .. thanks @EvgeniZyntx ... I'm gonna have to blood test it I think

    Probably. If you think you have a dietary issue you can take a week of your diary and re calc it manually.

    Please be careful with iron supplements - never take them if you don't have a real, verified anemia. Too much iron can create real long term damage, iron supplements may still be a cause - although fatalities are no longer really seen from them since the 80s.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    It doesn't work like that in the database.

    When you enter a new food it asks % for micronutrients. It is individually entered by users as a % and never referenced in the database as mg or IUs. So it's doesn't have a reference value.

    And, since most food isn't entered with such detail I wouldn't use the site to track that unless you've validated each food.

    Cool .. thanks @EvgeniZyntx ... I'm gonna have to blood test it I think

    Probably. If you think you have a dietary issue you can take a week of your diary and re calc it manually.

    Please be careful with iron supplements - never take them if you don't have a real, verified anemia. Too much iron can create real long term damage, iron supplements may still be a cause - although fatalities are no longer really seen from them since the 80s.

    Thanks

    I'm prone to anaemia and I'm feeling really fatigued atm .. so I'm going to have to get the bloods run... I'd never taken any supplement without the blood test to back it up but appreciate the thought / advice
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,151 Member
    Have you tried a bowl of honey nut Cheerios? ;)

    I do think it would be nice to be able to see the RDA % over here. I use another online food diary that shows them which is about the only reason I still use that site.
  • Bshmerlie
    Bshmerlie Posts: 1,026 Member
    I have started taking Womens One A DAY Multi-Vitamin since I started my diet. Depending upon how low your daily calorie intake is it can be difficult to get all the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs. A multivitamin once a day can ensure you're not missing out on something. I look at my nutrition tab everyday on MFP to make sure I am truly eating a healthy balanced diet. I find that potassium is a hard one to meet the goals on.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    Thanks @HappyCampr1

    I don't know why I forgot how inaccurate the databases are .. I mean I know in terms of potassium that you can't track on here but just didn't translate it to iron today for absolutely no reason .. must be the brain-fog ;)
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    It doesn't work like that in the database.

    When you enter a new food it asks % for micronutrients. It is individually entered by users as a % and never referenced in the database as mg or IUs. So it's doesn't have a reference value.

    And, since most food isn't entered with such detail I wouldn't use the site to track that unless you've validated each food.

    Cool .. thanks @EvgeniZyntx ... I'm gonna have to blood test it I think

    Probably. If you think you have a dietary issue you can take a week of your diary and re calc it manually.

    Please be careful with iron supplements - never take them if you don't have a real, verified anemia. Too much iron can create real long term damage, iron supplements may still be a cause - although fatalities are no longer really seen from them since the 80s.

    Thanks

    I'm prone to anaemia and I'm feeling really fatigued atm .. so I'm going to have to get the bloods run... I'd never taken any supplement without the blood test to back it up but appreciate the thought / advice

    You can go donate blood and get the test for free.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    edited June 2015
    senecarr wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    It doesn't work like that in the database.

    When you enter a new food it asks % for micronutrients. It is individually entered by users as a % and never referenced in the database as mg or IUs. So it's doesn't have a reference value.

    And, since most food isn't entered with such detail I wouldn't use the site to track that unless you've validated each food.

    Cool .. thanks @EvgeniZyntx ... I'm gonna have to blood test it I think

    Probably. If you think you have a dietary issue you can take a week of your diary and re calc it manually.

    Please be careful with iron supplements - never take them if you don't have a real, verified anemia. Too much iron can create real long term damage, iron supplements may still be a cause - although fatalities are no longer really seen from them since the 80s.

    Thanks

    I'm prone to anaemia and I'm feeling really fatigued atm .. so I'm going to have to get the bloods run... I'd never taken any supplement without the blood test to back it up but appreciate the thought / advice

    You can go donate blood and get the test for free.

    I'm British .. it's always free at point of need :smiley:
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    Thanks @HappyCampr1

    I don't know why I forgot how inaccurate the databases are .. I mean I know in terms of potassium that you can't track on here but just didn't translate it to iron today for absolutely no reason .. must be the brain-fog ;)

    I'd guess potassium tracking is worse here than iron tracking. There's no USDA labeling requirement for potassium, so only foods that have a good amount and want to show off are going to have it. Iron labeling is mandatory, so at least the label starts off somewhat right before a user puts it into MFP.
  • daniwilford
    daniwilford Posts: 1,030 Member
    Thanks, rabbitjb for asking great questions and some of my favorite member posters for great answers. All done the day before I am wondering about the same questions.
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