In a world driven by convenience and mass production, the quality of our food and its impact on our health have taken a severe blow.
We live in an era where food travels thousands of miles to land on our tables, where produce is often selected for its longevity on the shelf rather than its nutrient content, and where our rushed meals are more likely to be microwaved than freshly prepared.
This shift comes with a dual problem.
Not only are we consuming less nutritious food, but our bodies are becoming less effective at absorbing the nutrients that are present.
These are distressing trends, but how do we combat this compounding problem? How do we nourish ourselves back to optimal health in an environment seemingly set against our wellness?
In this article, we’ll explore the multifaceted issue of declining food nutrition and absorption, and provide actionable insights into how we can work with, not against, these challenges to foster robust health.
A Tale of Diluted Nutrition
The food industry’s evolution has led to a significant decrease in the nutritional quality of our meals. Long before the apple or the kale reaches our local grocery store, it’s subjected to various processes that strip it of its inherent nutrients.
Mass farming practices often prioritize yield and appearance over nutritional content, leading to soil depletion and, as a consequence, less nutrient-dense crops.
This dilution process extends to the treatments crops undergo. Pesticides, herbicides, and preservatives may prolong shelf life, but there’s mounting evidence that these chemicals also interact with the plants’ natural defenses, potentially reducing the concentration of beneficial compounds within them.
What we end up consuming, therefore, is a shadow of the food’s potential nutrient profile.
Fruit and vegetables, once harvested, have to endure transportation and storage, often in less-than-ideal conditions. The longer the time that elapses between picking and eating, the more nutrients degrade. This issue is exacerbated by the pursuit of out-of-season produce year-round, resulting in far-from-fresh options on our plates.
Even cooking methods come into play. Over-boiling, high-heat methods, and microwave cooking can lead to substantial nutrient loss. This complex chain of events means our modern diets are often lacking in the vitamins and minerals our ancestors enjoyed.
The Fallibility of Gut Absorption
Less at the fore but just as critical to our nutritional health is our body’s capacity to absorb the nutrients we do consume. Optimal digestion and nutrient absorption are foundational for overall well-being.
Our intestines are responsible for breaking down and absorbing the nutrients from our food. However, factors like stress, pharmaceuticals, overconsumption of processed foods, and insufficient microbial diversity in our gut can impair this process.
Living in a constant state of stress triggers the sympathetic nervous system, which can literally shut down the digestive system, leading to poor nutrient extraction.
Antibiotics, while necessary at times, can also indiscriminately wipe out the beneficial bacteria in our gut, leading to imbalances that can contribute to nutritional deficiencies.
Additionally, the Western diet’s reliance on processed foods has been repeatedly linked to gut health issues, namely inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, and reduced diversity of gut bacteria—all of which impact the absorption of nutrients.
In essence, our digestive systems, like the food we ingest, are under duress.
Preparing the Path to Better Nutrition
Acknowledging the challenge is the first step. But the true game-changer lies in how we adapt to better respond to our health’s needs in light of these obstacles.
Opt for Nutrient-Dense Foods
While it might not be plausible to completely overhaul our eating habits overnight, we can make a conscious shift towards more nutrient-dense foods.
These are foods that pack a significant nutritional punch relative to their calorie content. Think dark leafy greens, berries, and omega-3-rich fish.
By prioritizing these options, we can ensure our diets are rich in vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
Support Digestive Health
Maintaining a healthy gut is integral. Consuming probiotic-rich foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut can help bolster our gut’s microbial diversity. Additionally, choosing high-fiber foods supports digestion and can lessen the chance of nutrient malabsorption.
Supplement Sensibly
In response to the diminished nutrient content in our food, supplementation has become increasingly common. Vitamins, minerals, and other dietary supplements offer a concentrated form of nutrients that may be lacking in our diets.
But the quality of these supplements varies, and it’s crucial to research and choose reputable brands that offer nutrients in bioavailable forms—those that our bodies can readily absorb and utilize.
One of the most proven supplements on the market is Truehope GreenBAC, which is a rich blend of bacteria, prebiotics, botanicals, algae, enzymes and ingredients designed to maintain and promote a healthy digestive system.
Mind the Method of Cooking
How we prepare our meals can affect their nutrient content. Opt for cooking methods that preserve as much of the original nutritional value as possible.
Steaming, for example, can help retain nutrients that might be lost in open boiling.
Similarly, eating raw or lightly cooked vegetables can offer higher vitamin content than their heavily processed counterparts.
The Power of Plants
Plants don’t just offer us varied vitamins and minerals; they also contain phytochemicals with numerous health benefits. Incorporating a wide array of fruits and vegetables of different colors is a simple way to ensure we’re getting a diverse snapshot of the nutritive potential our food can offer.
A Path to Healthier Nutrition
The combined effects of our degraded food supply and potential barriers to nutrient absorption are significant. But they are not insurmountable.
By being mindful of our food choices, supporting our digestive processes, and making informed decisions about supplements, we can begin to reverse the trend of declining nutritional intake and, in turn, improve our overall well-being. When we fortify our bodies with the right nutrients—and provide them with the means to absorb and utilize those nutrients optimally—we create a foundation for long-term health.