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Page 2 of 3 Excerpts from an article in Canada's The Globe and Mail, July 6, 2002 Today's Fruits and Vegetables Lack Yesterday's Nutrition "Fruits and vegetables sold in Canadian supermarkets today contain fewer nutrients than they did 50 years ago according to analysis conducted by The Globe and Mail and CTV News." "Vital vitamins and minerals have dramatically declined in some of our most popular foods, including potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, and apples, the analysis reveals.... The story is similar for 25 fruits and vegetables that were analyzed..." "...According to the Canadian data, almost 80% of foods tested showed drops in calcium and iron; three-quarters drop in vitamin A, and half lost vitamin C and riboflavin; one-thrid lost thiamine and 12% lost niacin." "In fact, you would have to eat eight oranges today to get the same amount of vitamin A your grandparents got from one orange..." "...The average potato has lost 100% of its vitamin A, which is important for good eyesight; 57% of its vitamin C and iron, a key component in healthy blood; and 28% of its calcium, essential for building healthy bones and teeth. It also lost 50% of its riboflavin and 18% of its thiamine." "The biggest loser was broccoli, a food that epitomizes the dictates of healthy eating. All seven of its measurable nutrients declined...." "...Modern farming methods, long-haul transportation and crop breeding practices are all believed to be contributing to the drop in vitamins and minerals." "The emphasis is on producing cheap food." "This analysis examined food tables that were prepared by government researches in 1951, 1972, and 1999 and compared the nutrients available from 100 grams of the given food (apples to apples)..." "...Dr. Buford Mason, a biochemical nutritionist, says, 'When I hear people (healthcare community) say: You can get all the nutrients you need from food. I ask them: Where is there a shred of evidence that is true? No matter how well we eat, it's not possible to get adequate nutrition.'" "The results were almost identical to similar research conducted in the United States and Britain." Conclusions Dr. Walter Willett, Chairman of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, says that a recommendation for dietary supplements "should be included as part of a healthy diet." More on next page |