Health is available in Texas: The nutrient content of crops has decreased in recent years
If you ever been told by their elders that food "Just do not know as before, you may want to listen. According to recent reports, of the thirteen major nutrients found in fruits and vegetables, six have decreased significantly, some up to 38%. Preliminary studies in grain crops show similar results.
Donald Davis, a biochemist at the University of Texas at Austin, analyzed data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and reported a decrease in the levels of protein, calcium, vitamin C, phosphorus, iron and riboflavin, compared with the crops of previous decades. What this might mean in terms of agriculture in states like Texas, with its long season growth could be significant. What this might mean for everyone – from individual consumers to local farmers for insurance company health – is also of great importance. If consumers are not happy, consumers are not buying.
This does not mean that people will simply stop to buy food. It's more than when we bought could change, particularly for residents of large cities such as Austin, Dallas and Houston, with a selection wide markets.
Jeff Cronin of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, agrees with the findings of Davis. The shift to large-scale agribusiness has pushed for greater production, he said, and higher yields are often obtained by searching for methods to produce crops faster. Nutrients are absorbed by the sun and soil, however, that the plants have less time to mature, the less time they also have to develop these vitamins and minerals. Although may be growing a larger volume of food, that food is less nutritious. In terms of nutritional content by calories, consumers can actually be losing money as prices fall and increase yields.
Other factors that affect nutrient levels in fruits and vegetables include care inadequate land (ie, depletion of soil nutrients), not rotate properly crops, types of fertilizers, crop genetics, maturity of food at the time of harvest, and the distance food travels before it hits the table. The short cut of these practices of large-scale farming has been criticized in recent years as the development of the mega-industry has risen – not only to produce poor quality food but also for effects on the environment, too.
Decreased nutrient content is important to everyone, obviously, but the question is considerably more interest to those with chronic diseases and immune or nutrient absorption problems. The body's ability to fight disease and maintain optimal health depends on the levels nutrition. Even when consuming adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables, these patients may need to consume 40% more just to get adequate levels of vitamins and minerals – and not even know.
All this only adds fuel to the fire in the debate over organic versus conventional food grown. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture official position is that conventional harvesting crops are not better or worse than those produced organically many would argue differently.
Grassfed meat has already been shown to contain half as much fat as meat from grain-fed beef raised in feedlots in addition to offering the highest levels of vitamins E, A, D and beta carotene. Factory agricultural products, dairy show similar results concern, attributed, in part, to the practice of inducing cows to produce twenty times their natural levels of milk by administering hormones. Free-range eggs contain up 30% more vitamin E, 50% more folic acid, and 30% of B-12 than their counterparts in the factory farm.
organic fruits and vegetables, show similar results, and sometimes growth, lower yields, lack of chemical nitrogen fertilizers, good rotation practices crops, and less travel time – all factors believed to affect nutrient content – seems a good correlation with these statements.
For everything you hate broccoli out there, this is no excuse to ignore the fruits and vegetables. No matter what your choice of food – conventional or organic fruit – and vegetables are undoubtedly one of the best ways to get your daily nutrients. Organic food tends to be more expensive, without argument, and so many simply can not afford the highest price. The question is what should we do about this problem. Food is one of the few products we have to have, after all.
A way to rethink the situation is to analyze what we see as "more expensive." At this point, it may be a matter of perspective. With regard to nutrient content per calorie, the conventionally grown foods, do not seem to be the best deal, after all. The money we save now on the grocery bill can come back ten times, in expenses related to health care. The purchase of organic products in bulk when shopping as possible in agricultural markets, joining Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups, the kitchen at home, and grow a garden in the backyard can save time, cash, and the nutrient content and make it possible to buy more nutritious food selections.
Nobody should have to choose between your budget and nutrient levels. Our health is at stake, after everything. One thing is certain in this soup unfortunate, a chemical that has become our product section, however: health is for sale.
positive food choices have a positive effect on your overall health. Be aware of your health, and what you can do to safeguard certainly affect you as you get older, and finally, your wallet, too.
About the Author
Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at Precedent.com
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