Fruits, vegetables not as nutritious as 50 years ago

Reading article "Fruits, vegetables not as nutritious as 50 years ago" - Reply to this / 16 comment(s)
"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."

Stating the obvious? Still, eating vegetables has got to be better than junk food.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/261163_veg... 

Reply to this

Comments

1. never thought about that... by Thumperfive, 948 days ago

   ... but it makes sense - as we shorten the growing season and demand our products year around, it would have to have some results in the long run....
   
   still, like it said - better than junk food!

   Reply to this comment

2. Also by Green Diva, 934 days ago

   I bet hybridizing and overbreeding have knocked out ome nutrients as well. Similar to roses, which have had the smell bred right out of them!??

   Reply to this comment

3. tasteless by jane, 933 days ago

   the other day I offered someone some of the radishes I'd grown and they were surprised to find that they actually had flavour.... I just hope that the home grown ones are not only tastier but more nutritious. It would make sense!

   Reply to this comment

4. chickens by jhoffman, 933 days ago

   Well pretty much /anything/'s better than junk food really. But isn't this like how most people haven't really tasted "real" chicken because the habitats and diets in/on which the chickens we buy in the supermarket are reared are nothing like how chicken used to be...
   
   I don't know. All I know is that, in Malaysia, I had some chicken that had been reared just pecking worms and suchlike from the grounds where it roamed and it tasted nothing like the chicken back here.

   Reply to this comment

5. I had chicken in Central America by Bettina, 932 days ago

   that also has been alive and pecking just hours before, and it tasted much different than factory-raised.
   
   It comes to to if people are willing to pay the much higher costs of free range chicken.

   Reply to this comment

6. . by ninikins, 932 days ago

   I've never tried chicken like that :/ I tend to try not to think of where meat I eat comes from! But I'm surprised to hear of the difference...why does no one mention this??

   Reply to this comment

7. ... by ninikins, 932 days ago

   I've never tried chicken like that :/ I tend to try not to think of where meat I eat comes from! But I'm surprised to hear of the difference...why does no one mention this??

   Reply to this comment

   1. Re: ... by jhoffman, 932 days ago

      Heh heh, double post.
      
      But I don't know - I guess that the topic of the taste of chicken doesn't often come up...? It is a really weird thing when you think about it, but as you said, I think a lot of people don't really like thinking about where their meat comes from when they go to eat it...

      Reply to this comment

      1. Re: Re: ... by suttree, 931 days ago

         It's a contentious issue - should people understand how the food reaches their plate? Is being ignorant of that such a bad thing?
         
         I think we'd all agree that people should see how and where the food that is on their plate has made it there. The Guardian newspaper used to do an article each week about the 'history' behind each componenent of a typical restaurant meal, but I got the feeling that the only restuarants who volunteered for it were those who could see the marketing potential of highlighting the local sourcing of their chicken, for example.

         Reply to this comment

         1. Re: Re: Re: ... by jhoffman, 931 days ago

            No, you make a very good point and I agree. A lot of people don't like to think about the food that they eat once having been alive when they eat it - just as people can sometimes be disturbed by things like buying meat that still has heads etc. attached.
            
            I think it's a bit strange to want to be ignorant of this though - I mean, if the thought of the animal once being alive or the way it was killed bothers you, maybe go vegetarian..???

            Reply to this comment

            1. Re: Re: Re: Re: ... by Green Diva, 913 days ago

               Yea. That's me. If I really thought about how my poultry and meat arrived on my plate I'd never eat it. I love oxtail stew so I decided to make it. However, the whole idea of it grossed me out when I was the one making it. Even though it tasted good I couldn't eat it--at all.

               Reply to this comment

8. Sometimes it's a matter of time by Bettina, 931 days ago

   If someone's very busy with work, children, home, etc. they may have to depend on supermarkets for their food.
   
   Most people would like to shop at farmer's markets or local merchants, but that can be time-consuming--and most farmer's markets are during the day.
   
   It would be good to see more local produce in supermarkets.

   Reply to this comment

   1. Re: Sometimes it's a matter of time by jane, 928 days ago

      Yes, but time and organisation...
      
      and you've also got the option of having veg delivered through fbox schemes - there are some that operate nationwide here in the UK, including www.abel-cole.co.uk. OK, you don't get the full choice if you're out of their main area, but at least you get the box of organic veg.

      Reply to this comment

   2. Re: Sometimes it's a matter of time by jhoffman, 928 days ago

      Oh definitely - that's where supermarkets beat the crap outta the local markets and small business - because they're just so /convenient/.
      
      That's also why a large burden of responsibility is on supermarkets' shoulders to make a point of selling locally grown produce.
      
      I know that some Waitrose stores have locally grown/made specials that are only available in the local stores - that's a good place to start, I reckon.

      Reply to this comment

   3. Re: Sometimes it's a matter of time by Green Diva, 913 days ago

      The thing is, most of the time you have to go to the farmer's markets to get the local produce. Most supermarkets carry food that is produced on huge farms.

      Reply to this comment

9. Re: Fruits, vegetables not as nutritious as 50 years ago by ninikins, 914 days ago

   The state we're in and the way we grow our fruit and veg is all based on the quick and easy method, ofcourse nutrients are lost in the process.

   Reply to this comment

About ecolocal.co.uk

Ecolocal is free to join - why not register today? Our members can start discussions and comment on all the threads taking place throughout ecolocal.co.uk.

Help us build the best source for healthy living and local news by submitting your tips, events and links so that we can all learn how to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.