It is possible to get every nutrient the body needs from eating food, a spokeswoman for the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) said today.

She added that those who take supplements because they feel that they are not getting all they can from their diet are best off taking a multi-vitamin and minerals as it means they are getting "everything in one go" rather than a single dose of one thing.

The spokeswoman stated that the benefit of getting nutrients from food rather than supplements is that foodstuffs provide a range of vitamins and minerals, while a supplement will give only one.

She concluded by stating that iron is very good for the immune system, noting that red meat, liver and green vegetables are good sources of it.

"If you are not getting enough nutrition from your diet then it could lead to your immune system being more vulnerable," she finished.

The BNF is an educational and scientific charity.