I don't recall off hand if he said that was total being food and supplements or supplements only. My guess is supplements only. It's increasingly difficult to get everything we need from food as the amounts of vitamins and minerals found in fruits and vegetables in much less than it used to be because of depletion in the soils they're grown in. I know for myself, I have a very slow metabolism and just don't eat that much food. Consequently, it is impossible for me to get some of the nutrients I supposedly need from my diet alone.