Written by The world makes things easier and easier for us humans. Sure, we’ve earned it being the smartest mammals on the planet, but this also takes away from what kept us alive for over 315,000 years: our ability to adapt and strive.
The problem nowadays is that while food is way more accessible, it is always way less nutrient dense. This is not new information, either. This was well known even in 1936: “Laboratory tests prove that the fruits, the vegetables, the grains, the eggs and even the milk and the meats of today are not what they were a few generations ago (which doubtless explains how our forefathers thrived on a selection of foods that would starve us today). It is bad news to learn from our leading authorities that 99% of the American people are deficient in these minerals, and that a marked deficiency in any one of the more important minerals actually results in disease. Any upset of the balance, any considerable lack of one or another element, however microscopic the body requirement may be, and we sicken, suffer, and shorten our lives.” (The 2nd Session of the 74th USA Congressional Record
1936)
What does micronutrient deficiency lead to? A paper published in 2010 by Calton reported findings that showed micronutrient deficiencies being a contributing factor to increasing the likelihood of becoming overweight or obese by 80%. That is just the obesity factor, we then also have to account for the chronic disease state that comes with obesity and weight-gain.
What you can do:
- Aim to consume 10 – 12 servings of high quality vegetables each day in order to avoid micronutrient deficiency
- Avoid processed and frozen vegetables
James
References:
Calton, Jayson B. “Prevalence of micronutrient deficiency in popular diet plans.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 7.1 (2010): 24.
