This is a piece of Dr. Ruby’s recent blog post on Fruits and Vegetables:
Fruits & vegetables – not what they used to be
Fruits and vegetables are one of our primary sources of vitamins, minerals & antioxidants. Sadly, less than 10% of us are getting recommended 5 servings per day, when in fact, current data suggest we should be getting at least 9 servings daily. Furthermore, our current dietary recommendations (RDV = recommended daily value) only address the bare minimum amounts that are needed to prevent severe vitamin deficiency, not what we need to prevent chronic disease.
To further complicate the issue, the way we process and store fruits and vegetables has a profound impact on their nutritional value. Fruits and vegetables begin to lose their nutritional value as soon as they are picked. Cold storage and processing further deplete the essential nutrients in our produce. Grapes lose 30% of their B vitamins by the time they reach the grocery store shelf. Tangerines lose over half of their vitamin C after 8 weeks in cold storage, while asparagus can lose up to 90% of their vitamin C in only 1 week. Milling grain removes 26 essential vitamins and strips most of the fiber from the grain.
Our soil has been depleted of many essential vitamins and minerals such as zinc, selenium and magnesium. Potentially harmful pesticides are sprayed on our produce. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that nearly 87,000 chemicals are released into environment on a regular basis, many of which have not been fully tested especially in combination with other toxins and chemicals. So for example – chemical A has been tested and found to be “safe” as well as chemical B. But what happens when chemical A and B get together? What happens when a human is exposed to long term low “safe” levels of either chemical? These are just a few examples of why the food we are eating is not really always what it seems.
To read the entire post go to http://drlauraruby.com/essential-nutrition/essential-nutrition-the-connection-between-nutrients-chronic-disease/
Everyone should be supplementing their diet with at minimum, a fruits and vegetables supplement, a high quality cold-processed multi-vitamin and mineral supplement, fiber, probiotics, and antioxidants…oh…did I just describe Daily BioBasics? Its the best “wellness insurance” for the long term and the best way to feel good everyday in the short term.
