Nuts and seeds must count toward your five-a-day, nutritionists warn — Britain’s health crisis hinges on what we eat
A leading nutritionist argues that nuts, seeds and even dried fruit should count as part of the official five-a-day guidance, not treated as optional extras. The UK is facing a growing health crisis linked to poor dietary habits, with many people falling short of essential micronutrients. Although nuts and dried fruits appear in the government’s Eatwell Guide, their health benefits are under-appreciated and not emphasized enough. Eight of the top ten causes of diet-related death are avoidable, underscoring how gaps in our diet drive preventable illness.
In This Article:
Why change is proposed: better guidance and awareness is needed
Dr Max Gowland argues the five-a-day message is well known, but the guidance must expand to include nuts, seeds, and dried fruit. The aim is to close the nation’s nutrition gap as chronic diet-related diseases rise. Baz Goode of Whitworths says the guidance has remained in place for more than 20 years, and it’s time to modernize it to reflect the benefits of a wider range of nutrient-rich foods. “It’s time to update the guidance and recognise the importance of a much wider variety of nutrient-rich foodstuffs like nuts and seeds,” Goode says.
What the data shows about public understanding
A follow-up survey of 2,000 adults found that 18% rarely or never achieve five portions of fruits and vegetables a day, and 28% aren’t sure which foods count toward the quota. Additionally, 34% think the five-a-day recommendations are exaggerated, and 27% doubt they would have a significant health impact. These gaps help explain why the nation struggles to meet micronutrient targets.
What the change could deliver — and why it matters
Proponents argue that a daily handful of nutrient-dense nuts, seeds, and dried fruits could deliver the equivalent nutrition of one portion of five-a-day, while also supporting heart health, brain function and immunity. The proposed shift would be paired with a government-led awareness campaign to help people incorporate these foods into everyday meals, potentially boosting wellbeing and reducing the NHS burden from preventable, diet-related disease.
Nutrient gaps and public attitudes toward health
Overall, Vitamin D (29%), Omega-3 and healthy fats (23%), and Iron (22%) are nutrients people don’t think they get enough of in a typical day. For many, shortfalls are tied to eating less fruit and vegetables. In a OnePoll survey of 2,000 adults, 21% reported a diet-related health problem, and about half of these worried it could worsen. Among those concerns, 36% cited difficulty maintaining a healthy diet, 34% cited resistance to unhealthy foods, and 18% felt they lacked knowledge to manage their condition through diet.
