The Decline of Nutritional Eating

Good nutrition is a vital aspect of a healthy life. Unfortunately, the food industry has been breeding much of the nutrition out of the food supply, making it much more difficult for the average person to absorb essential vitamins and minerals. It’s an indisputable fact that many of our foods have lost a great deal of the illness-fighting properties they once contained.

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The modern state of the food industry has led directly to the rise of the nutritarian movement. Nutritarians make a point of eating for nutrient content, with phytonutrients being a main part of their agenda. Phytonutrients are food compounds that have been associated with reduced risk of cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Many argue that it’s no coincidence that phytonutrients are on the decline and these four diseases are among the leading causes of death in the U.S.

It would follow, then, that people can seek to prevent these terrible diseases by simply eating better. That’s right – there’s no need to follow the latest scientific developments, diet and exercise fads, or undergo invasive surgery. The preventative cure can be found at your next meal.

Of course, one huge problem remains: Grocers simply don’t stock a huge supply of phytonutrient-rich foods. It terms of evolution, it wasn’t so long ago that humans were foraging for food. Today, humans have managed to weed out much of the old food supply – which was stocked with health-preserving compounds – in favor of things we think taste good. Nutrients have suffered in favor of sweet taste. Indeed, plants higher in phytonutrients tend to taste bitter, astringent, or sour – leading people to consume less and less over time.

Luckily, phytonutrients make themselves known to anyone perusing the supermarket produce section. Cartenoids, for example, are antioxidants present in red, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables. Cancer-fighting ellagic acid can be found in red and purple produce – including, strawberries, raspberries, and pomegranates. Flavonoids, which are believed to reduce the risk of cancer, asthma, and heart disease, can be found in onions, green tea, and citrus fruits. Green vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kale, contain cancer-preventing glucosinolates.

Source: OnlineMastersInPublicHealth.com