The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends eating more plant-based foods. But whether the minerals in those foods are actually absorbed? That is something the new Wheel of Five doesn't tell you.
In April 2026, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre presented the new Wheel of Five. The advice: less red meat, more legumes, more plant-based foods. The reactions have been fierce—from members of parliament, farmers, and scientists alike. But there is one question missing from the entire debate.
Not whether plant-based is better for the climate. Not whether the Nutrition Centre is overstepping into politics.
But rather: if you start eating more plant-based, do the minerals actually reach your system?
The answer is more complicated than the Wheel of Five suggests.
The changes are significant. A maximum of 100 grams of red meat per week—one steak. Cheese intake halved from 40 to 20 grams per day. Legumes increased from 120 to 250 grams per week. More tofu, tempeh, falafel, and hummus.
The rationale comes from the Health Council of the Netherlands, which concludes that a more plant-based diet is better for both health and the environment. For the first time, sustainability is being given full weight in the recommendations.
That sounds logical. And in part, it is. But there is a blind spot.
In 2024, Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden published a study in the leading journal Nutrients. Lead author Cecilia Mayer Labba examined industrial meat substitutes—the exact type of products the new Wheel of Five recommends.
The conclusion was uncomfortable.
Although many meat substitutes are rich in minerals like iron and zinc on paper, their actual absorption is extremely low. The reason: phytates. These are anti-nutrients that occur naturally in soy, peas, and other legumes, and they bind to minerals in the digestive tract, blocking their absorption.
The research results were clear: the estimated absorption of iron and zinc from the products studied was extremely low. You may be eating them, but your body isn't getting them.
Iron deficiency is already a global problem, regardless of dietary guidelines. In Europe, 10 to 32 percent of women of childbearing age suffer from iron deficiency—the very group most strongly represented among vegetarians and vegans.
Red meat contains heme iron, the form the body absorbs directly. Legumes contain non-heme iron, which is absorbed significantly less efficiently, especially in combination with phytates.
The advice to eat less red meat and more legumes is understandable from a climate perspective. But from a mineral perspective, it exposes people to a risk that the Wheel of Five fails to mention: your mineral status may deteriorate, even if you follow the new advice to the letter.
That is a blind spot that deserves attention.
Not every mineral reacts the same way to a shift toward more plant-based eating. These are the most vulnerable:
Iron — Non-heme iron from plant sources has an absorption rate of 2 to 20 percent. Heme iron from meat: 15 to 35 percent. Phytates push that percentage even lower. Vitamin C with meals helps, but does not fully compensate for the difference.
Zinc — Abundant in legumes, grains, and nuts on paper. In practice, phytates bind the zinc before it can be absorbed. Fermented products like tempeh or sourdough bread reduce this effect.
Magnesium — Found in leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. However, absorption depends partly on the mineral status of the soil where the food was grown. And those soils have been significantly depleted over the past few decades.
Selenium — Almost absent in European plant-based foods. Selenium levels in European agricultural soil are naturally low and are continuing to decline. There is hardly any structural plant-based source.
Calcium — Found in kale, broccoli, and almonds. But oxalates — another group of antinutrients — inhibit absorption here as well.
The Dutch dietary guidelines recommend more tofu, tempeh, and meat substitutes. But anyone picking up a ready-made meat substitute at the supermarket is also buying something else: salt. A lot of salt.
Research by the Kidney Foundation into 332 meat substitutes showed an average salt content of 1.4 grams per 100 grams, well above the 1.1-gram limit set by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. The Consumers' Association tested sixteen veggie burgers and reached the same conclusion. In 2025, only 26 percent of the meat substitutes examined met all the criteria of the dietary guidelines.
The story with fat is different, but no more reassuring. On average, meat substitutes contain less saturated fat than regular burgers. But the average hides what lies behind the outliers. Some products are well within the standard. Others contain more saturated fat than the meat they replace. And you can't see the difference on the packaging. The same product, the same shelf, the same green image, and yet worlds of difference in composition.
That is precisely the problem. Not that meat substitutes are inherently bad. But that the consumer is expected to figure this out themselves, label by label, product by product. Anyone who eats less red meat and compensates with ready-made alternatives is trading one uncertainty for another. Less iron being absorbed. More salt being consumed. And packaging that looks healthier than it actually is.
The assumption in much nutritional advice is that intake equals absorption. That your mineral status improves as soon as you eat the right products. But the body works differently. A meal rich in minerals only provides benefits if those minerals actually reach the cell wall.
The soil plays a role here that is rarely mentioned. Fulvic acid is the transport mechanism that nature developed to make minerals absorbable — from the soil to the plant, and from food to the cell. It binds to minerals, makes them smaller and more stable, and helps them pass through the cell wall.
Not as an extra supplement on top of everything you already do. As the foundation that ensures what you eat actually reaches its destination.
That is exactly the question missing from the debate on plant-based eating and minerals. Not which food groups are shifting. But whether the system that makes absorption possible is still working.
You don't have to reject the dietary guidelines. But you can supplement them with questions they don't ask themselves.
Choose your plant-based options wisely. Not all legumes are created equal. Mung beans, tempeh, and lentils are gentler than kidney beans or split peas—both for digestion and for mineral absorption.
Pay attention to preparation. Soaking legumes for a long time and cooking them thoroughly significantly reduces phytates. Fermenting or sprouting helps even more. Opening a can of chickpeas and counting it as a complete source of minerals is a misconception.
Combine smartly. Vitamin C alongside non-heme iron sources increases absorption. Conversely, drinking coffee and tea right with your meal inhibits it.
Measure what you can't feel. Iron, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and selenium are the levels most likely to come under pressure on a plant-based diet. Not to optimize, but to know where you stand.
Ask the right question. Not just: what am I eating? But also: what is my body actually absorbing from it? That is the question the Netherlands Nutrition Centre doesn't ask—and it's the one that matters most.
Plant-based eating is perfectly fine. But it is not an automatically better system for your mineral status.
Anyone eating more legumes, less red meat, and reaching for meat substitutes more often needs to be mindful of mineral absorption, not just intake. The new Dutch dietary guidelines acknowledge the shift. But they don't address what that shift demands of your body.
The blind spot of the Netherlands Nutrition Centre
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→ What is fulvic acid and why do you need it?
Everything you want to know about SMPL72, enrollment, and how it works. Still have questions? We've got the answers.
This varies from person to person and depends primarily on your starting point. Fulvic acid supports the absorption and bioavailability of the minerals you already get through your diet or supplements. The faster your body responds to that improved availability, the sooner you will notice a difference. People with low mineral levels or higher requirements often experience changes sooner than those who are already well-nourished. Some users notice more clarity or a calmer energy level within a few days, while for others, it happens more gradually over a period of weeks. In SMPL72, the fulvic acid is naturally bound to 72 different minerals and trace elements. The most important thing is consistency: fulvic acid doesn't act as a quick stimulant, but as a daily absorption mechanism that builds its effect step by step.
People often get some minerals from various sources, but usually not enough. Furthermore, they are often poorly absorbed by the digestive system. It is important to realize that most supplements are synthetic, and in the case of minerals, they are essentially just rock. These contain large molecules that your body can barely absorb, if at all. We have previously written a blog post about the ins and outs of supplementation; feel free to check out our blog section. You might already be taking magnesium or zinc, but keep in mind that you are only taking one or two of the 60 minerals your body needs every day. When you think in terms of a complementary approach, you cannot simply pick one mineral out of the entire spectrum.
Fulvic acid is not an energy booster, nor is it a substance that provides an immediate effect on fatigue or concentration. What it does is something more fundamental: it supports the way your body absorbs and utilizes minerals. And that very point—the utilization of minerals—plays a bigger role for many people than they realize. Fatigue, "brain fog," and concentration issues often have multiple causes, but in orthomolecular practice, it is frequently observed that mineral metabolism and electrolyte balance are significant factors. Minerals are necessary for processes such as: - signal transmission in the nervous system - energy production in the mitochondria - oxygen transport - fluid balance in and around the cell - enzyme activity involved in focus, alertness, and metabolism If those minerals are insufficiently available at the cellular level, the body cannot perform these processes efficiently. Fulvic acid cannot solve that on its own, but it makes minerals chemically smaller, more soluble, and more accessible to the body. As a result, the minerals you ingest through food or supplements can be better utilized where they are needed. Many users experience a more stable energy level, greater clarity, or fewer fluctuations throughout the day. Not because fulvic acid provides a direct stimulant, but because minerals are able to do their job better. This is a fundamentally different mechanism than that of caffeine, stimulants, or "energy boosters." It remains important to emphasize: fulvic acid is not a treatment for fatigue or concentration issues. It merely supports the biological foundation upon which energy, clarity, and nerve function operate. What an individual notices from it naturally also depends on diet, hydration, lifestyle, and individual needs.
Fulvic acid has a very mild, almost neutral taste. Most people barely notice it when they add a few drops to a glass of water. Some describe it as having a very light mineral flavor, but you usually only notice it if you are really paying attention. SMPL72 is pure fulvic acid with no additives, which keeps the taste soft, clean, and subtle. You don't need to worry about a bitter, sharp, or "muddy" taste, which is common in impure or thick humic products.Most users find that it simply tastes like water with a very faint hint of minerality. This makes it easy to use every day, even for children or people who are sensitive to strong flavors. It is best to take SMPL fulvic acid in a glass of chlorine-free water. Fruit juice is also an option, but avoid hot drinks. It is very easy to use.
Add 7-10 drops daily to a glass of (chlorine-free) water (fruit juice is also an option, but avoid hot drinks). For children: 1 drop per 10 kg of body weight. Feel free to increase the dose during illness or intense physical exertion. For maximum absorption: take 30 minutes before a meal. For an energetic start to the day: take in the morning on an empty stomach. For recovery: take immediately after sports or physical exertion. SMPL72 is a powerful detox, so be sure to drink plenty of water. If you are pregnant or taking medication, build up the dose gradually and monitor how your body reacts. When in doubt, consult your doctor or midwife.
