Fruits, vegetables not as nutritious as 50 years ago

[cruelshoes]

I thought this artigle was interesting. Makes me get even more excited to get out and work in the garden. There is nothing like a fresh heirloom tomato.

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/261163_veggie01.html

Fruits, vegetables not as nutritious as 50 years ago
Wednesday, March 1, 2006

By LANCE GAY
SCRIPPS HOWARD NEWS SERVICE

In spite of what Mother taught you about the benefits of eating broccoli, data collected by the U.S. government show that the nutritional content of America's vegetables and fruits has declined during the past 50 years -- in some cases dramatically.

Donald Davis, a biochemist at the University of Texas, said that of 13 major nutrients in fruits and vegetables tracked by the Agriculture Department from 1950 to 1999, six showed noticeable declines -- protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin and vitamin C. The declines ranged from 6 percent for protein, 15 percent for iron, 20 percent for vitamin C, and 38 percent for riboflavin.

"It's an amazing thing," said Davis, adding that the decline in nutrient content has not been widely noticed.

He said an agriculture scientist appears to have been the first to pick up the disappearance of nutrients in 1981 in a paper comparing the data on nutrients on garden crops grown in the United States with those grown in England.

Davis, who discussed his findings at a recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in St. Louis, suspects the trend in agriculture toward encouraging crops that grow the fastest and biggest is a reason for the decline. The past five decades have been marked by the "Green Revolution," which has seen a marked increase in U.S. production and yields as farmers have turned to the fastest-growing and greatest-producing plants.

The tradeoff is that the faster-growing plants aren't able to acquire the nutrients that their slower-growing cousins can, either by synthesis or from the soil. He said there also are differences in the amounts of nutrients lost in differing varieties of wheat and broccoli.

Davis said he doesn't want his study to encourage people to stop eating vegetables on the grounds they lack nutrients.

"That's completely wrong," he said, contending his study shows that people need to eat more vegetables and fruits, not less. "Vegetables are extraordinarily rich in nutrients and beneficial phytochemicals. They are still there, and vegetables and fruits are our best sources for these."

Al Bushway, a food-science professor at the University of Maine and an expert with the Institute of Food Technologists, said the decline of nutrients in vegetables and fruits could be made up through other foods Americans eat.

"For vegans only using plant sources for food, this could be an issue," he said. But he said most Americans would pick up adequate quantities of calcium they need by drinking milk.

Bushway said that fruits and vegetables are still crucial to providing nutrients people need. "They are an important part of the diet -- extremely important," he said.

The Agriculture Department data that Davis used doesn't include all of the nutrients scientists today can identify in fruits and vegetables.

© 1998-2006 Seattle Post-Intelligencer
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-Colleen

Where are we going, and what am I doing in this handcart?

[mrsppmrxky]

I wish that they would quite trying to improve on what the good Lord made!

They have really messed with some of the plants so much that the food doesn't even taste like it should. I remember a tomato sandwich from my childhood...............what we have now doesn't even come close.

Let's not even get me started on how the meat tastes with all of the hormones and antibiotics added. YUCK!
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[Kimmus]

Yes, I find it very sad how much altering is done to our foods -- it's hard to even find garden seeds that haven't been genetically 'enhanced' in some way or another.
I'm with you mrsppmrxky -- don't even get me started!


Where did you find the heirloom tomatoes??
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Kim --
Mom of a celiac teen (GF BD Oct-04)

[The Edifying Conscience]

Kimmus,
The link will take you to the place where I always purchase my heirloom seeds. The seeds are of good quality and are quite reasonable. I've never had a problem with his product.
http://www.tomatobob.com/

I especially love the Black Krim, Cherokee Purple and Green Zebra varieties.
TEC

[Guest]

A few years ago, Monsanto tried to sneak a bill thru Congress making it illegal for commercial farmers to use heirloom seeds or any that hadn't been tampered with by Monsanto--for the public good, of course. Luckily, somebody was paying attention and the "organics" people created a ruckus and Monsanto backed down. Don't think they're not still sneaking around.

[NickisDragon]

Sorry--that wasn't a "guest". That was NickisDragon (whose computer is back in operation)!
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The opportunity to find happiness dances within every moment, beats within every heart, and grooves within every occurrence, situation, and event----Let's dance!.

Nicki

B-Day: January 18
DX: October 2005

[The Edifying Conscience]

Lovely! Another example where large corporations have their fingers in every pot.
TEC

[Kimmus]

Thanks TEC, I'm going to have to try those!

It's sad that the big companies get away with so much. Luckily they were caught that time!
_________________
Kim --
Mom of a celiac teen (GF BD Oct-04)

[CAROLYN]

I have tilled up a spot of ground about 10'X10' in the backyard. Will be going for some seeds or small veggie plants this week. What would you recommend for one person. I also can not eat store bought lettuces,etc ,without getting stomach pains. So maybe I will grow lettuce. I bought a vegetable wash,but it does not help. I live in north central Florida, so I should be able to grow a garden all year. I remember eating Tomatoes from my grandmothers yard in Illinois as a child in the 1940's. Florida tomatoes are so tasteless. It is so hard to do with out bread and crackers. I must with homemade soups. I have not been able to find glutinfree items in my area. Carolyn

[Fidissimus]

Carolyn,
You should check out GardenWeb for good advice on gardening in your area (or any area for that matter!)

Tec,
I'm with you I love the zebra varities!

Territorial Seed Company is a great place to order seeds from.

Edited to correct link code
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Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/