“A Kushi Institute analysis of nutrient data from 1975 to 1997 found that average calcium levels in 12 fresh vegetables dropped 27 percent; iron levels 37 percent; vitamin A levels 21 percent, and vitamin C levels 30 percent. A similar study of British nutrient data from 1930 to 1980, published in the British Food Journal,found that in 20 vegetables the average calcium content had declined 19 percent; iron 22 percent; and potassium 14 percent. Yet another study concluded that one would have to eat eight oranges today to derive the same amount of Vitamin A as our grandparents would have gotten from one.” Source.
It’s not just the soil imbalance and depletion that has caused such a rapid – and incredibly disturbing! – decline in our food nutrition levels. Studies seem to suggest that it’s a logical and simple question of YIELD vs NUTRITIONAL DENSITY. As we breed, farm and push for higher crop yields, the nutrition per fruit-vegetable-mouthful declines. It’s incredibly logical, when you take a large step back. The carbohydrate volume per fruit or vegetable increases, but the nutritional content doesn’t, since the same plant has the same nutritional uptake ability, but just spreads it across more fruits. You can read more about that HERE. We may think we’re collectively very clever & evolved, but when you read stuff like this, you have to wonder about our collective stupidity.
Our bodies KNOW this, and it’s why our whole Being sings when it tastes wild blackberries that have grown undisturbed in the summer sunshine. We can feel and taste the difference! And we need to eat a lot less.
Given that few of us have the daily luxury of prancing about eating wild blackberries, how do we respond intelligently to this information? How do we do that in cities? In urban areas? In Asia?
One of my solutions is Juicing. Intelligent juicing. Not just huge super-sweet, fruity, yummy juicing and smoothies. I juice for nutrition, and I try to err on the not-fruit side of things. Because getting massive sugar hits is not terribly smart for long term good heath.
Often (mostly now, since we live in Mae Rim), I juice at home. I use cucumbers and broccoli stalks as my base usually, with lime and ginger. And I add carrot, beetroot and often tomato.
When I’m out and about? This is my go-to:
Beetroot, carrot, pineapple and ginger. With a shot each of wheatgrass, gotu-kola and turmeric-lime-ginger. It costs me 140 THB (about $4.70) and is a superb investment in better nutrition and my whole body functioning more efficiently. Where do I buy this in Chiang Mai? At Khun Kae’s Juice Bar in Moon Muang Soi 7, in the Old City. Yes, I have pinned her to the 
What else can you do?
Choose more nutrient-dense foods. We start each day with moringa powder in our morning super-smoothie, and we also add powdered raw black rice and bee pollen. Choose the black rice over white or brown. Choose nuts instead of raisins.
Grow your own veggies and fruits – and let them BE rather than trying to push for more, more more and bigger, bigger, bigger.
Eat natural foods like organic eggs and seeds which, by design, have a complete nutritional range built in.
Grow your own micro-greens. The just-sprouted seeds are PACKED with most everything and a very dense & yummy!) way of boosting nutrition. My current favourite is fenugreek sprouts. We buy fenugreek seeds from Laan Bombay inside Kad Luang (Wororot) – the germination yield is always excellent, unlike the coriander seeds I bought from Makro, where only 2 out of maybe 400 seeds sprouted! 🙁 The fenugreek sprouts take about 4 days most of the year round in Thailand – 3 days in hot season and 5 in the cool season.
Bio-availability is everything, and many studies show the very poor absorption on synthetic supplements, not to mention GMOs, colouring agents and even plastics. Urgh. If you must slug down supplements, make sure they’re ORGANIC and NOT SYNTHETIC. Choose loose herbal powders over capsules. Making your own is awesome, from shade-air dried herbs. Making your own vegetable powders from surplus (eg pumpkin) is also a great idea – add to soups and other dishes to increase nutrition levels.
Think about living less urban, if not completely wild. It may be the most radical thing you can do not only for your health, but for your mind, spirit and quality of life.
Be aware that the big, yummy, organic salad is not really cutting it nutritionally anymore, on its own. Sprinkle with organic pumpkin seeds and have a vegetable juice on the side.
Food security is not just about putting anything in your mouth and feeling full – it’s about nourishing your body with all the things it needs, in sufficient quantities, for optimal performance and excellent immune response. Make it your business to get involved in the food security, organic and better-soils discussions.
And if you’re in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand? Khun Kae’s is the place to be and where so many cool global friends meet. Standing room only, some days. Might see you there!!
This article was originally published on my own blog, My Natural Thai Life - check it out for all things healthy and natural in Thailand.
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