Empty Calories: Why Modern Food Is Less Nutritious
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? That proverb originated in the 1860s. Today, you might need to eat five apples to get the same nutrient content as one from your great-grandmother's era. It's a silent crisis: our food looks the same, but inside, it has changed.
At Better Health Beat, we believe in facing facts. Understanding why our food is changing is the first step to bridging the nutritional gap.
The Soil Crisis
The root of the problem literally lies in the roots. Modern intensive farming practices—monocropping, heavy pesticide use, and lack of crop rotation—have stripped the soil of its minerals. If the magnesium or selenium isn't in the soil, the plant cannot absorb it, and we cannot eat it.
The Breed for Speed
Agriculture has shifted focus from nutrition to yield. Crops are bred to grow faster, bigger, and more resistant to pests. This rapid growth dilutes the protein, vitamin, and mineral content of the plant. A study comparing data from the 1950s to 1999 found significant declines in:
- Protein: down by 6%
- Calcium: down by 16%
- Iron: down by 15%
- Vitamin C: down by 20%
What Can We Do?
We can't change the farming industry overnight, but we can change how we eat:
- Buy Organic or Regenerative: Farms that focus on soil health typically produce more nutrient-dense crops.
- Eat Local & Seasonal: Nutrients degrade the longer food sits on a shelf or a truck. Fresh is best.
- Supplement Wisely: A high-quality multivitamin is no longer just an 'insurance policy'—for many, it is becoming a necessity to fill the gaps left by moden agriculture.
Editorial Summary
The reality: Intensive farming has depleted our soil, making our fruits and vegetables less nutritious than they were 50 years ago.
The impact: We may be "overfed but undernourished," lacking key minerals despite eating a balanced diet.
The fix: Prioritise soil-friendly produce and consider supplementation for hard-to-get minerals like Magnesium and Selenium.
Ensure your baseline needs are met with our Food State Multivitamins.