“You are what you eat.”We've had this drilled into our brains since we were tots. But today, even if you eat the well balanced diet you are supposed to, you may not be getting the all-important nutrients you think you are.
This problem is not new, but actually has its roots back in the 1950s. When scientific discoveries made synthetic fertilizers a reality, the farming industry was revolutionized. The tabloids of the day proclaimed an end to world hunger, since commercial farmers could now get extra crop out of the same square acreage of land every year. On the face, you might be inclined to agree with the press, but, if we look closer, your opinion might be very different.
Synthetic fertilizers were, and still are, high in phosphorous and nitrogen, and are designed to stimulate plant growth. This they do. But, these chemicals also cause the plants to become bloated by taking on a lot of extra water. So, the fruits and vegetables these plants bear are also bloated and contain a much higher relative content of water to nutrients than they ever contained before the use of these chemicals.
This is not just a hypothesis, as studies done by the US Department of Agriculture back this up. The USDA has analyzed various foods to determine the amount of vitamins, minerals, proteins, insecticides, etc. that are present. What the studies have shown is that over the past 40 years, there has been a slow but progressive decline in the amounts of these critical nutrients present in our produce.
In addition to these fertilizer induced problems, the fact that the nutrients the plants take out of the soil are not being put back also helps speed the decline along. And, since each acre of land is producing more and more crops then it was capable of before, the nutrient depletion rate is increasing at a ever faster pace.
What, aside from the new fertilizers, has changed? Well, back before the turn of the century, Mom and Pop farm operations would grow their vegetables and feed the leftovers to their livestock. These animals would eat and digest the produce, and the fertilizer that they then produced would be put back onto the fields in order to recycle the nutrients so that next year's crop would have sufficient nourishment. Not only did they re-fertilize the land, but the farmers would keep it fallow during the winter. This allowed it to absorb the rain water and the minerals that would get washed down from the mountains. This would add to the soil replenishment and assure a bumper crop for the next growing season. Today, this simply is not the case. Now, we have fruits and vegetables that are raised in record time, to record weights, and with but a small fraction of the nutrition that they contained even just ten years ago. To add insult to injury, this produce is usually harvested before they are completely ripe. Various techniques are then used to accelerate the ripening process once the produce is picked and shipped to various markets for sale to you and me. In addition, many vegetables are treated with, chemicals to add color and kill fungi that would otherwise grow on their skins: Various waxes are also often applied to produce in order to keep them from dehydrating and shriveling up. Other produce, such as bananas, is literally gassed to induce ripening just before delivery.
When a fruit or vegetable is picked before it is fully ripened, the enzyme structure within it will not have reached its peak level of development or activity. So, not only are the fruits and vegetables depleted of the nutrients that we need to support our biochemistry, but furthermore they lack the critical enzymes that are necessary to support and stimulate our immune system. It is this decrease in enzyme levels, coupled with the decreased nutrient value and the effects of treatments designed to increase store shelf life, that has contributed to the rather poor state of nutrition that we find in virtually all Americans today.
What does all this actually mean to you and me? Unless you are eating a diet that consists primarily of organically grown produce and livestock, it means that the levels of nutrients that are critical for the normal operation of your cells will be sorely lacking.
There are many standard blood tests that can actually document the level of various nutrient deficiencies that you may be suffering from. What the big problem with these deficiencies, is that they contribute to the development, manifestation and spread of various chronic diseases, like cancer. While they may not directly cause the ailments, these nutrients are needed to stimulate and support our immune system, and a lack of them can certainly adversely affect the body's ability to contain, fight and control disease.
The American Cancer Society has officially acknowledged that there is some connection between what we eat and the diseases that we may develop. This is a big step, but it is just that — A step toward recognizing the value of clinical nutrition as a medical science that can be used to help decrease the incidence and severity of many diseases that commonly afflict Americans today.
What can we do to help ourselves? It used to be that just avoiding fast food and junk food might have been enough. Today this no longer cuts the mustard. And, since most fruits and vegetables are so low in nutrients due to the factors discussed earlier, nor does just having a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice in the morning, nor eating a salad with your dinner every night.
To help support your body, one of the things you should do is eat as much organic produce as possible. But, even this alone is not enough. Our water is polluted and it is impossible to walk down the street today and not breathe in tens-of-millions of free radical-causing chemicals that damage tissue and cell structure. What you must do, in addition to careful eating, is make the taking of vitamin and mineral supplements a regular part of your daily routine.
A simple blood test, called a lipid peroxide level test, can give you an idea of how much of a load your body is under in terms of fighting these toxic agents. If your level is elevated, you should be sure to add antioxidants to your diet. By eating organically grown food, and taking vitamin A, C, and E, and minerals like zinc and selenium, you will at least, begin to get proper nutrition. This is the best way to begin stabilizing your health and protecting your future.
