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Eating all your vegetables was a lot better for you in the '50s. Store-bought veggies weren't as pretty back then, but according to USDA data, they were packed with a lot more nutrients than their modern counterparts. The likely reason for the nutritional drop is that hybrid crops are often bred for size and color, not nutrients.
Today's Fruits and Vegetables Less Nutritious Than in 1950s
Seeded on Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:30 AM EST
Article Source: MotherJones.com- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (14)
The free market and the agri-business industrial complex have decided that you don't want or need healthy nutritious food.
- 7 votes
#1 - Fri Jan 29, 2010 8:39 AM ESTIt's supply and demand. People want fruit NOW and they supply it. Therefore, they have to cut back on things in order to meet the demand. If they were to do it like they did in the 50's, they would be put out of business because other companies would be putting their produce out. They wouldn't be able to compete with someone who did is faster than they did and maybe it sells cheaper, too. Some people don't care about nutrition, especially in this economy. All they are thinking is: Can I afford it.
- 1 vote
But we American's like a side of cancer with our meal... It is the American way. Process everything, we like our mortality rates.
- 6 votes
#3 - Fri Jan 29, 2010 9:45 AM ESTIn the past, when winter came, you didn't get tomatoes. Now, you can have it all year from different states. The plants are also being picked before they ripen so by the time they are in the stores, they will ripen there. This also affects nutrition.
That's just another reason to why produce nutrition is going downhill.
- 5 votes
#4 - Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:16 AM ESTThis is why I encourage people to plant gardens instead of lawns in their backyards. Also, support community gardens if you have them in your area. Or start one of your own!! Let's take back our health, America!
This website can help you locate a community garden in your area or give you information on starting your own: http://www.communitygarden.org/
- 4 votes
#5 - Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:27 AM ESTGood idea, I've had a small garden at home for several years now.
- 4 votes
This is not news I wanted to hear. I rather liked being blissfully ignorant on the lessening nutritional value of the foods I eat.
- 3 votes
#6 - Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:08 AM ESTAn ignorant consumer is the agri-business industrial complex's best customer.
- 4 votes
Unfortunately you are right on that point and then some. I had been operating on the assumption that the nutritional value of the foods I ate were the same since forever. I'm not at all pleased that it has lessened in exchange for "prettiness".
- 2 votes
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