A new survey finds that kids know more about vitamins than adults, with younger generations outscoring adults on popular questions.
A review of separate surveys of 2,000 adults and 1,000 children ages 6 to 16 revealed that younger generations outperformed older generations in most questions: One in five children knew what 13 vitamins are, compared with just 5 percent of adults.
Additionally, 38% of elementary school students, compared with 31% of adults, knew that the body naturally produces vitamin D. Younger adults also showed greater knowledge that vitamin D helps bone growth and vitamin A improves eyesight.
They also found out more about how vitamins C and D boost the immune system, according to a study by health food company Plenish.
Emily English, a specialist dietitian who works with the company as its “chief nutritional officer”, said: “This research highlights a significant knowledge gap among UK adults about the importance of vitamins and how to take them.”
“As a nutritionist, I see the daily consequences of vitamin deficiencies and strongly encourage adults to educate themselves on essential vitamins. Incorporating these vitamins into your daily routine is easy: eat a balanced diet and aim to take your five vitamins a day or add in a fortified vitamin shot.”
To address this lack of awareness, Plenish opened a “Little Shot Shop” on London’s Portobello Road, staffed by children who educated passersby on important vitamin and nutritional information, and tested adults’ vitamin knowledge.
The survey also found that children know more about vitamins than adults: 37% of children are confident in their knowledge, compared to just 24% of adults.
The survey also uncovered some surprising misconceptions among adults: More than a quarter (27%) incorrectly perceive broccoli as a source of protein, and nearly one in ten (9%) think ketchup is in their five-a-day foods.
Shockingly, almost a quarter (24%) of respondents had never even heard of the World Health Organisation’s ‘five meals a day’ campaign, while two in ten (21%) mistakenly believe that tomatoes are a vegetable and over a third (36%) did not know that ginger is a root vegetable.
To help Brits become more vitamin educated, Plenish has launched a vitamin quiz that could reveal if Brits are smarter than their kids.
