Where WholeLiv's Nutrition Numbers Come From

Overview

Every daily nutrient target in WholeLiv is derived from published guidance from recognized nutrition science organizations.

Sources

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)

Publishes the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) — the framework nutrition science uses to define nutrient needs by age and life stage. This is the underlying research behind most targets in WholeLiv.

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements

Publishes per-nutrient reference values derived from NASEM's research. Source for the following targets: Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin K, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium, Zinc, and Omega-3 fatty acids.

U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA & HHS)

Source for added sugar, saturated fat, and calorie-scaled fiber targets.

World Health Organization (WHO) & WHO/FAO

Source for carbohydrate and fiber intake guidance, and amino acid requirement targets.

The Endocrine Society

Source for vitamin D targets during pregnancy.

PROT-AGE Study Group, International Society of Sports Nutrition, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Source for protein targets that vary by activity level.

USDA FoodData Central

Reference for nutrient composition of foods.

What determines your targets

Nutrient targets are calculated from the following inputs:

Age and sex — the primary lookup key for every source listed above.
Life stage — changes the target for several nutrients, such as pregnancy and lactation.
Body weight — required. Used directly in energy and protein calculations.
Activity level — required. Used directly in energy and protein calculations.

Body weight and activity level affect energy and macronutrient targets specifically: calories, protein, and the fat/fiber/sugar targets that scale with calorie needs. Vitamin and mineral targets are determined by age, sex, and life stage only, and do not change with body weight or activity level.

Targets set above the minimum-adequacy baseline

Standard nutrition guidelines are generally set to prevent deficiency. For three nutrients, WholeLiv uses a target above that baseline, each backed by a specific published source:

Vitamin C
Vitamin D during pregnancy
Fiber for adult women

Meal nutrition estimates

Nutrition values for logged meals (photo, voice, or text) are generated by an AI model, informed by food composition patterns consistent with public nutrition databases. These are estimates, not laboratory measurements. Estimate accuracy depends on image clarity and description specificity.

Limitations

WholeLiv's targets are population-level planning guidance from public health research. They are not an individualized medical prescription and do not replace advice from a doctor or registered dietitian, particularly during pregnancy, lactation, or when managing a health condition. Source guidance is reviewed and updated as it changes.