Category: Nutrition
The Decline of Nutrients in Our Food Supply Is A Problem
Food is supposed to nourish our bodies with essential vitamins and minerals needed for proper growth and maintenance. However, with modern farming practices, changes in diets, and preservation techniques, the food we consume has become less and less nutrient-dense.
Research shows that the food supply in the United States has declined in nutrient content over the years, including foods that many people believe to be very healthy. This is becoming a major problem for our overall health.
What is Causing the Decline in Nutrient Density of Our Food?
The modern food supply system harms the quality of our food. Industrial farming practices, such as monoculture and the use of chemical fertilizers, have depleted the soil of critical minerals. Consequently, the crops grown in that soil have lower nutrient and mineral content than they did in the past.
For example, a study conducted on the nutrient decline of wheat from 1843 to 2002 found that minerals, such as iron, copper, and zinc, have decreased by up to 30%. As small farms that made the effort to put nutrients back into the soil and rotate crops have given way to industrial farms,