The diet of the modern humans is full of over-processed food, on average, at least in what is considered the civilized societies where food often comes in half-baked or fully prepared in supermarkets. Through processing, much of the natural properties of some foods like vegetables and fruits are lost or diminished significantly.
If we look at the top countries by life expectancy, we discover they are places close to the sea or ocean, potentially with mountains making their mark.
Top countries by life expectancy, as provided by ChatGPT based on information from World Health Organization and World Bank.
Of course, in many cases the level of development of the country or the wealth of people in that area influences the life expectancy, because they have access to better healthcare, besides eating healthier and maybe less food as a way of life. The "speed of life" and our focuses may influence how much people live - see Italy with "la dolce vita", a concept that in Spain takes the form of "siesta".
For most people in the world, at least in the Western hemisphere, the speed of life increased so much that they are happy with half-baked food from the supermarket or eating fast food, even though they are the worse choices for health.
Source - fast food, seems familiar?
Even if you cook your own meals, how nutritious are the ingredients you use these days, if you don't grow them yourself responsibly? My mother often complains that vegetables, meat, or even spices found in the supermarket don't make the food good enough, no matter how much of them you add. Sure, the solution is not to buy from the supermarket, if or when possible.
With that in mind, do we take what we need from our food? Other than to survive I mean. To not get ill, for example.
Food supplements is the rather... artificial way to supplement what you don't get enough from food (even when they are from natural sources). A better way is to eat the foods you need to bring you the necessary nutrients, vitamins, minerals, or amino-acids you have deficit of. I know people who probably use food supplements in excess. Some after careful analysis, others more like a habit, to always take something. Probably not a good idea to abuse them...
I began to use them more often too, especially as a way to boost my immunity during the colder season. They seem to work... In the past, if someone near me had a cold, only a brief contact was usually enough for me to get it too. Now my sister has been cold and coughing and I spent enough time close to her, and... thankfully, nothing happened. That's not the only example that made me conclude that my immunity is now more active in fighting at least the usual enemies.
What do you think about food supplements? Do you use them? What for?
