At any grocery store in North America right now, there are shoppers cruising the isles, making thoughtful choices about their family's nutrition. Armed with the latest information about health, choosing foods high in nutrition is a primary goal. Unfortunately, no matter how carefully one shops, there is often little nutrition in the foods we consume. In fact, it is nearly impossible to consume adequate nutrients through diet alone in our modern world.
What causes our foods to be devoid of nutrition? There are many causes, primarily modern farming, storage, and preservation methods of food. Let's take a look at why this happens.
First, it is widely acknowledged that soils in North America have been depleted of many nutrients since the 1930's due to loss of topsoil and reliance on chemical fertilizers. Farmers replace the nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus depleted by agriculture in order to achieve optimum plant growth. However, little attention is paid to replacing trace minerals lost in soils.
Consumer demand for attractive produce also plays a role. This demand has resulted in plant breeding for appearance and storage longevity, ignoring nutritional quality. Fruits and vegetables are often picked in the green stage, ripening in transit to the store. Again, this prevents the production of nutrients which often occurs in the ripening stage while on the plant itself. One example of this is seen in fruits, where the cartenoid levels increase as fruit ripens naturally.
Produce now travels an average of 1500-2000 miles from farm to market, often in refrigerated trucks. There have been few studies done on the effects of storage on produce, especially in the area of overall phytonutrient levels. However, what we do know is most fresh vegetables steadily loose nutrients when stored in cold, dark conditions. Some types of produce are more vulnerable to these losses than others, losing fifty percent or more of phytonutrients in as little as five days storage.
Food preservation methods often play a role in nutrient depletion. When properly blanched prior to freezing, most-but not all-foods retain more nutrition when frozen as compared to canning methods. Interestingly, the container used in canning also makes a difference. Foods preserved in cans often retain more nutrients than those in glass or plastic containers as many nutrients are depleted by exposure to light.
Preparation methods further affects nutritional quality of food. Chopping, grinding, and heating foods depletes nutrients. Common preservatives added in processing cause depletion of nutrients and the use of antimicrobial preservatives may decrease the bacteria normally present in the colon, impeding the body's ability to absorb what nutrients are left in food after processing.
There has been very little research done comparing nutrients in food before and after processing. The result is that nutritional labels are calculated from unprocessed foods using what are called "nutrient retention factors". However, these formulas do not consider all aspects of nutrient loss and have been shown to be inaccurate in representing nutrient levels in foods after processing.
So what can be done to ensure adequate nutrition in our diets? The most sensible approach would be to eat only fresh, organically raised fruits and vegetables picked from the garden just prior to consumption, eaten in the whole, raw state. Of course, this is not possible for the vast majority of people. While eating foods as close to the ideals is a goal, it is no longer realistic to expect diet alone to provide adequate nutrition. Some form of supplementation is necessary.
In order to incorporate the proper nutrients, in the optimal amounts in ratio to other nutrients and in the most bioavailable form, great care must be taken in the selection of all supplements. Price is not necessarily an indication of quality. Taking the maximum amount safely possible is not a guarantee of maximum benefit, either. Due diligence is required in the selection process. Know that what you are taking is truly of benefit to your body.
Good nutrition is essential for healthy living, but obtaining sufficient nutrition from diet alone is nearly impossible due to modern farming, storage and preparation methods demanded by consumers. Careful use of supplementation is therefore a requirement for health.
Karen Walker is a wellness consultant and author. She works from her home in western Montana. She and her husband, Lynn McCormick, maintain a website to help those whose lives have been upset by catastrophic health events. http://www.keephealthkeepwealth.com
bedroom cleaning professionals Bannockburn ..Students might start thinking a little differently, once they learn... Read More
We've heard it not only once or twice or even... Read More
They're not only good for you, but they taste good,... Read More
Many people complain that organic foods are more costly than... Read More
Dieting is a pain. I think basically everyone would agree... Read More
Step 1: Eat five to ten servings per day of... Read More
Carbohydrates have gotten a lot of bad press in the... Read More
Information on potassiumWhen you read about potassium and senate document... Read More
Here's a conundrum: While experts agree that high cholesterol and... Read More
Random thoughts taken from valuable sources, what many nutrition experts... Read More
I'm willing to bet you probably haven't heard the word... Read More
Summer brings a lot of fantastic things with it, but... Read More
It seems as if the health of America is failing.... Read More
Manganese is a metallic mineral that was discovered by a... Read More
I first learned of Milk Soy Protein Intolerance (MSPI) in... Read More
PROTEIN DEFICIENT? CHANCES ARE YOU ARE!Did you know that 9... Read More
The key to better health is learning the difference between... Read More
I turned into my parents' driveway in Maryland and parked... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
"To eat an apple before going to bed will make... Read More
The importance of protein in diet has been clearly established... Read More
I'll preface this article by saying that it will help... Read More
East Meets WestAsian cultures have realized the medical benefits of... Read More
What are Glyconutrients? Glyconutrients are eight newly discovered biologically-active sugars... Read More
Summer is not too far away. It is almost time... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Bannockburn ..Many people avoid avocados thinking them to be fattening, but... Read More
Health is the thing. And no matter how many ways... Read More
Some say they don't or can't buy organic foods due... Read More
With summer comes more sun and with more sun comes... Read More
The latest tallies show that over three million people in... Read More
THE RISKThe primary symptom of acid reflux is obvious to... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
Apple cider vinegar is a product of apple juice fermentation.... Read More
Post nasal drip is a sensation of mucous build up... Read More
How Can... Read More
If you drop a bomb, you kill not only your... Read More
With new research, new products and new skin protection advice... Read More
Copyright ? 2004 priya shah Glutathione, the body's... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
How often do you pick up items at the grocery... Read More
Secretly we all want just a few things in life,... Read More
Incorporating these fat loss tips will improve your nutrition program.... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
Do you notice your child putting off going to the... Read More
If you want to lose weight, there is one thing... Read More
Could it be possible that our beloved chocolate may actually... Read More
Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More
The Health and Nutrition Industry has come about as peoples... Read More
As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and... Read More
The cry of "I have no willpower!" often emerges from... Read More
Nutrition |