It's not a surprise that it's getting harder and harder to fill your plate and belly with nutritious food. Nutrient-dense food has become hard to find because of the modernized production process and longer shelf-life requirements. For example, even fruits, veggies, and greens are harvested before ripening to be stored for months before delivery to supermarkets. Unfortunately, this means that despite your best efforts, you're probably getting fewer nutrients than ever before.
Here are a few examples:
Researches compared data of current vegetable nutrient content to data from 50 years ago. It showed the mineral content of cabbage, lettuce, spinach, and tomatoes had depleted from 400 milligrams to less than 50 milligrams. In addition, vitamin C, D, A, and E contain, on average, 27% less in several of the most common fruits and vegetables.
Most Americans are chronically deficient in most vitamins and minerals. Check out these statistics:
9 out of 10 are deficient in potassium
7 out of 10 are deficient in calcium
8 out of 10 are deficient in vitamin E
Iron levels have decreased by 37% since 1997
Vitamin A levels have decreased by 21% since 1997
Vitamin C levels have decreased by 30% since 1997
So what's the solution? How can we support ourselves and our bodies with the nutrients they need? The answer may be simple, but it's far from easy.
Research suggests the true way to avoid nutrient deficiency is to avoid the Standard American Diet (S.A.D.), specifically the added sugars that can be found in almost anything (meat, cereals, peanut butter, soups, dressings, bread, even vitamins, and medications).
Our awareness of nutrient deficiency is the first step to overcoming it. Be more aware of the food on your plate and in your pantry. Buy whole, organic food when possible. Invest in high-quality supplements that can help cover the gap. Those small changes can make a big difference.