Even if you eat all your fruits and vegetables, get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated 24/7 and have no stress, your body may still be deficient of needed nutrients. And you probably do not exist, because who lives like that?!
Shockingly, 90% of people don't get the recommended amount of important nutrients from food alone.
6 surprising reasons why:
1. You buy fresh produce at the store.
That most likely means your fruits and vegetables come from big industrial farms where powerful fertilizers are used to boost the yields. The fertilizers deplete the soils of vital nutrients – in turn grains, fruits and vegetables get significantly deprived of vital nutrients too. Not fun fact: today’s nutritional values are below what you could get in 1970s (USDA, 2004). In the past, harvests fully embodied the vital nutrients of the soil and sea, and those nutrients nourished people fully. That’s either a good reason to start taking food supplements, or start a farm.
2. You love variety of fruits & vegetables all year long.
That means your food comes from long distance transportation. It may well be that your fruits & vegetables have been picked weeks or even months before you buy them. The problem is that as soon as food is harvested, the levels of certain nutrients begin to diminish. When you can, go for fresh local produce. Or DO start a farm. Or take supplements.
3. You don’t always cook from scratch.
Food processing often drastically reduces nutrient content. For example, the refining of wheat to make white flour removes approximately 80% of its magnesium, 70-80% of its zinc, 87% of its chromium, 88% of its manganese, and 50% of its cobalt. Polishing rice removes about 75% of its zinc and chromium. Artificial flavors, colors, stabilizers and preservatives are added to a large proportion of foods available. While some are harmless and may even increase the quality of food by preserving it, many are toxic and can deplete the body of nutrients.
4. You’re stressed. Or live in the pandemic.
Stress can deplete various nutrients like calcium, magnesium and zinc. On top, stress reduces digestive strength. Weak digestive system = reduced nutrient absorption and utilization. Well then, don’t stress, huh? Or look for supplements that support your digestive function.
5. You like alcohol, coffee or tobacco. Because who doesn’t.
Smoking and drinking alcohol depletes the quantity of vitamin C in the body. People who smoke generally need twice as much vitamin C intake as non-smokers to maintain comparable blood levels. A cup of coffee may reduce your iron absorption to 1/3 of normal.
6. You removed certain foods from your diet.
Like going plant-based, vegan, gluten-free or keto. Or maybe you are avoiding certain food groups due to food allergies or intolerances, medical conditions (e.g. celiac disease or colitis), in which the body may not be able to absorb nutrients properly.
Truth be told, nutritional supplements are “supplementary”. But while they can’t replace poor dietary habits, busy city-life or lack of sleep, they can make a dramatic impact on our health and quality of life when done right.
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