Things That Make You Go Hmmm…
Humans have been evolving on this planet for millions of years, which means that our digestive systems have been evolving right along with us. Then suddenly, over the last 50 years or so, we began processing all those wonderful whole foods that our bodies had evolved to recognize. For example, take the common grain (i.e. wheat, rye, barley, etc.). We’ve learned how to remove the bran – the bulk of the fiber, the germ – where vitamins, minerals and oils are stored, and the endosperm – the starchy part of the grain, where all the necessary components exist for slow digestion and good health. These vital portions are removed just to improve taste appeal. To make matters worse, we began growing our crops with chemicals, synthetic fertilizers and hormones to increase the rate of production and help livestock mature more quickly. Finally, adding insult to injury, we began to add preservatives to extend the life of our foods, then we added dyes to make the colors more appealing and more natural looking! Today, we have a nation where 50 million of its people are borderline diabetic, and cancer and other diseases are on the rise. Gee, I wonder if there is a connection… hmmm…
Organics – Are They Different?
It seems that each day science discovers new substances held in plant life, including powerful anti-cancer phenolic compounds that scientists are finally becoming able to identify and categorize – similar to the way they once discovered things called vitamins, and later, antioxidants. These secondary metabolites range from an estimated 50 to 100 substances at present, but scientists still concede that there are probably as many as 4,000 – there just hasn’t been enough research yet to know. These are indeed “living pharmacies” held within an organic plant, but they have slowly and systematically been removed from many of the conventionally grown food products that we Americans have grown to love.
The Proof
What science has discovered and is indisputable is the difference between plants that have been grown with conventional agricultural methods (i.e., chemical fertilizers, pesticides and fungicides), and those grown organically. Looking at the cells of these plants under a microscope reveals some amazing details. For example, a tiny extract of an organically grown carrot shows a crystalline picture of order and perfection with an abundance of varying metabolites; this is in marked contrast to an extract from a conventionally grown carrot, which shows a weak and dissipated picture with much fewer and distorted metabolites.
The difference between conventionally and organically grown crops is due to the huge number of secondary metabolites found in mature, organically grown plants. By changing the farming and processing methods of our food products, we have completely changed the way our bodies recognize or don’t recognize these foods. This is not good news for our body’s cells, which require specific nutrients in order to regenerate superior cells; nutrients, as mentioned earlier, that science hasn’t even begun to adequately identify or understand. We do know that there is order to nature, and that through a microscope you can truly see that there is a vitality to an organically grown plant that does not exist in conventionally grown varieties where this vitality has been systematically removed through farming practices and processing.
Indeed, there has been a very slow depletion of vitality in plants in the last 50 years. What we do with conventional agriculture is emphasize the growth of the plant more than the nutrional quality. Conventional agriculture works against the natural nutritional richness of nature in three ways:
2. Pushing growth rates in plants with chemicals to obtain greater profits leaves the cells in a weakened state.
3. Crops that are never allowed to fully mature never receive their full complement of the life-enhancing secondary metabolites.
What You Can Do
Begin by introducing foods that have been certified organic to your diet. Ask your grocery store to bring in more of a variety of organic foods, and if they refuse, find another store. You may feel that these foods are more expensive, but are they really? Many people find they actually eat fewer calories because organic foods are more nutrient dense, and therefore more sating and satisfying. You can also think of it this way: how much could it cost in future medical expenses to correct the many health issues that can arise from eating conventional foods? Simply put, if you have the option, choose organic. Eat well!
Dan Young is president of performance food centers corp. he is accomplished in juice bar concept and design and is certified in personal training and sports nutrition. he can be contacted at 866.632.1927, via email at dyoung@performancefoodcenters.com, or on the web at www.performancefoodcenters.com
