Since Davis' research was published in 2004, other studies have shown that modern varieties of wheat are half as rich in protein as varieties grown 100 years ago, heirloom cornmeal is significantly richer in a wide range of nutrients than modern varieties, and commonly grown varieties of broccoli in 1950 contained 13g of calcium, where the common super market varieties today contain only 4.4 g of calcium! This is a travesty! Links between dietary nutrient deficiencies and cancer are well documented.
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| Chart reprinted from Mother Earth News |
On the UT website, Davis explains the reason behind this devaluation. “We conclude that the most likely explanation was changes in cultivated varieties used today compared to 50 years ago,” Davis said. “During those 50 years, there have been intensive efforts to breed new varieties that have greater yield, or resistance to pests, or adaptability to different climates. But the dominant effort is for higher yields. Emerging evidence suggests that when you select for yield, crops grow bigger and faster, but they don’t necessarily have the ability to make or uptake nutrients at the same, faster rate.”
Another reason resides in the soil. The application of nitrogen fertilizer causes plants to grow quickly and increase yields, but they tend to absorb more water and have less nutrient density. Your vegetables are only as nutritious as the soil is healthy! Sustainable and organic farming focuses on building a balanced soil holistically, allowing the plants that grow in these healthy environments to absorb more nutrients. A review of 97 independent studies published in 2008 shows that food grown on nurtured soils in organic systems today are as much as 25% more nutrient dense than conventional crops.
These studies give us yet another reason to choose heirlooms vegetables (rather than modern varieties) that have grown on soils that have been cared for. This is one of the many reasons we here at the Monument Market are commited to bringing you local, organic products. Here you can be sure to please your body and your taste buds!
