You are what you eat. As cliché as that phrase may be, it’s absolutely true.
If we are what we eat, then we should care a great deal about what our food is “made of”. I’m not talking about ingredients. I’m talking about nutrients.
Unfortunately, many of the fruits and vegetables we eat today simply aren’t as nutrient dense as they once were. Simply put, our soil has become denatured. If our soil is depleted, the fruits and vegetables we love to consume are also depleted of vital nutrients. Even if you follow a healthy diet, you still may not be getting enough nutrients.
Soil Depletion Facts and Studies
How badly depleted is our soil?
- A research team at the University of Texas at Austin studied the data from the U.S Department of Agriculture from 1950 and 1999 for over 40 fruits and vegetables. The results? A worrisome decline in the amount of phosphorus, protein, calcium, riboflavin, iron and vitamin C in modern day soil.
- The Kushi Institute analyzed nutrient data in 12 fruits and vegetables from 1975 to 1997 and also saw a decline in several nutrients. Specifically, the research team found that calcium levels dropped 27%, vitamin A levels dropped 21%, iron levels dropped 37% and vitamin C levels dropped 30%.
- A study published in the British Food Journal looked at the nutrient data from 1930 to 1980 and concluded that in 20 vegetables, calcium levels had declined 19%, potassium declined 14% and iron declined 22%.
If our soil is depleted of essential, health-sustaining vitamins and minerals, our food is, too. As a result, our health and well-being will be just as lacking.
How did our soil become so depleted, and what can we do about it?
What Causes Soil Depletion?
Why is it that the produce we eat today is so drastically different than the produce our grandparents ate? Commercial agriculture and the demand for bigger crops and higher yields has a lot to do with it. But that doesn’t paint the entire picture. There are several things that are depleting our soils.
Demand for Bigger Crops and Higher Yields
Today’s plants are bigger than ever, and yields are even greater. In the 1930s, corn yields of 50 bushels an acre was considered great. Today, it’s not uncommon to see yields of 200 bushels or more an acre.
While plants may be growing larger and we may have higher yields, their ability to uptake nutrients has remained largely the same.
Livestock Operations
Livestock operations interrupt the cycling of soil nutrients. Dairy and meat products are sold off-farm, which means organic materials are not returned to the soil. Today, it’s not uncommon to find large feedlots that have replaced on-farm operations altogether. On these large feedlots, manure isn’t returned to the farm and its nutrients are lost.
Crop Harvesting
Each time we harvest all or part of a crop, we remove nutrients from the soil. Why? Because we interrupt the delicate cycling of nutrients that occurs from plant uptake to release.
Heavy tillage also adds an excessive amount of oxygen to the soil, which only accelerates the decomposition of vital organic matter in the soil.
Misconceptions of What Makes Soil “Fertile”
For many years, agricultural experts have stated that only three elements are necessary to assure maximum crop yields: potash, nitrogen and phosphoric acid. Thus, farmers began using an abundance of commercial fertilizers and manure to ensure “healthy” soil.
What happens when you use animal fertilizers? You introduce an excessive amount of nitrogen. Excess nitrogen leads to a poor formation of roots, grains and tubers.
Under these conditions, plants like the potato and the tomato produce more leaves, but only a little fruit. Excess nitrogen also makes plants more prone to pests and disease.
These are just a few of the many causes of soil depletion. What can you, as someone who is trying to get healthy, do about this?
Bridging the Nutritional Gap
Smart Supplementation
The key to a healthy body is healthy food – or is it? A healthy diet is the foundation of optimal health, but how can you obtain all of the vitamins and minerals you need if our modern day soil is largely depleted?
Nutritional deficiencies can cause a host of health issues ranging from emotional and mental disturbances to digestive issues, fatigue, anxiety, stress, food cravings and more.
To be truly healthy, you need to bridge the nutritional gap. Smart supplementation is the key.
Supplementation of essential vitamins, minerals, food enzymes and essential fatty acids can help restore your health and ensure you’re getting all of the nutrients your diet may be lacking in.
There are numerous supplements to choose from, but I highly recommend Super Trio from Nature’s Sunshine Products (NSP) for two reasons: 1. NSP offers high quality products and 2. Super Trio provides you with nutrients your diet may be lacking in.
Unlike other supplements, NSP actually manufactures its own supplements in its own facilities. They travel the world to ensure that all of the ingredients used in their products are of the highest quality. NSP has been awarded the NSF Good Manufacturing Certification, which is only given to manufacturers who pass an extensive audit by NSF.
As for the supplement itself, Super Trio contains the vital nutrients you need, including: vitamins A, C, D3 and E, riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, vitamins B12 and B6, folic acid, biotin, zinc, selenium, magnesium, iodine, copper, manganese, lycopene and more.
Super Trio also includes a proprietary blend of healthy, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, including orange, pineapple, pear, blueberry, dandelion root, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cranberry, spinach, carrot and so much more. Essential fatty acids from fish oil and potent antioxidants from turmeric, green tea, mangosteen, acai berry and resveratrol are also included in one convenient formula.
Just two packets a day of Super Trio can help you:
- Increase energy
- Reduce stress
- Enjoy a healthy mind
- Get rid of cravings and mood swings
- Reduce medication
Try NSP’s Super Trio today.
Expert Help from an Experienced Health Coach
Supplementation is a great place to start on your journey to optimal health, but a healthy diet is the foundation of true health. Nutrition may only be one piece of the puzzle, but it’s a big one. An experienced health coach, like me, can help guide you on your journey to a healthier, happier you.
A Holistic Approach
Through proper diet, exercise and a positive state of mind, I can help you lose weight, improve your well-being and finally reach your goal of reaching optimal health. Health is multi-faceted. Your health and wellness plan should be, too. Health is a physical, emotional, nutritional and behavioral state of being. That’s why we’ll focus on your whole being.
Setting Goals Together
The road to long-lasting health can be a long one, but you don’t have to walk it alone. Together, we’ll set goals that are in line with your own personal interests, beliefs, attitudes and fitness level. The goals we set will be measurable and attainable, so you see the results you want.
Retraining Your Brain
Positive self-talk is vital. From maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine to finding joy and satisfaction in each day, a positive attitude can help you reach all of your health goals. I can help you identify those erroneous and negative beliefs that are standing in between you and your optimal state of health. We’ll work together to shift those thoughts to positive and motivational ones.
Changes that Last a Lifetime
I’m here to help you make positive changes that last a lifetime. It may sound counterintuitive, but I want you to gain all of the tools and skills you need to maintain healthy habits for the rest of your life.
