Research* by leading nutritional consultancy, The Food Doctor, has uncovered a worrying trend in female eating habits with 69% cutting out whole food groups from their diet in a bid to stay slim.18-04-2008

Eradicating fat (46%) and sugar (37%) from their eating habits was top and “Low-Carb” diets see 13% cutting out bread from their diet, meaning that women are starving themselves of key nutrients and minerals essential to all round female health.
In response to this, The Food Doctor has developed ‘Bread For Women’ to provide a convenient way of supplementing the daily vitamins and minerals, including Calcium, Iron, Selenium, Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex in just two slices, as well as 100% RDA of folic acid. These nutrients are commonly recognised as necessary to ward off the incidence of osteoporosis later in life; decrease the chances of birth defects, anaemia; to raise immunity; and improve hormonal health and as 52% of women don’t understand the need for key vitamins such as folic acid, this new loaf can’t come soon enough!
Senior Food Doctor Nutritionist, Dr Alice Sykes, commented; “All food groups play a vital role in our diets and the key is to eat a range of foods in a well balanced diet. While there is a wealth of health and dietary information now available to us, it seems that the real health messages are getting lost amongst the diet ‘noise’ that completely demonises food groups such as carbs and fat. ‘Bread For Women’ presents a real opportunity for young women to ensure they are getting the essential nutrients they need without compromising on time, taste or their diet.”
The Food Standard Agency (FSA) has been calling for the mandatory fortification of folic acid in bread flour as it is essential for all-round female health, especially before and during pregnancy, for the delivery of healthy babies. 74% of females surveyed didn’t take folic acid in preparation of their pregnancy and 17% didn’t know they were pregnant until eight weeks or more, giving them no chance of building their maternal store of folic acid to help their unborn baby.
The Food Doctor has partnered with leading charity BDF Newlife, as their chosen partner to benefit from all sales of ‘Bread For Women’. BDF Newlife has for 12 years been dedicated to countering birth defects such as spina bifida and improving the chances of babies being born healthy. They do this via sponsoring research and also providing much needed specialist equipment for affected children and support for their families.
Sheila Brown OBE, Chief Executive and co-founder of BDF Newlife said: "The research shows that a quarter of pregnancies aren’t planned which means that it is unlikely that the mum-to-be has built her maternal store of Folic Acid adequately to ensure her baby has the best chance of being born without birth defects. Until folic acid fortification occurs, following up on FSA advice, The Food Doctor has now set the agenda by launching 'Bread For Women' and we hope that this is the start of similar products giving women the clear opportunity to act to prevent conditions, such as spina bifida."
‘Bread For Women’ (RRP £1.19) is available in the bread aisle now at Waitrose, ASDA, Budgens and Booths and will soon be available nationwide.