The answer is because we are eating “Nutritionally Depleted”
Recent studies of historical nutrient content data for fruits and vegetables spanning 50 to 70 years show apparent median declines of 5% to 40% or more in minerals, vitamins, and protein in groups of foods, especially in vegetables.
The main culprit in this disturbing nutritional trend is soil depletion:
Modern intensive agricultural methods have stripped increasing amounts of nutrients from the soil in which the food we eat grows. Heavy application of toxic chemicals further deteriorates the soil by destroying symbiotic (healthy) bacteria and fungi that promote nutrient uptake in plants. They also inactivate critical enzyme systems within the plant roots that are involved in mineral absorption. It is, therefore, not surprising that the depletion in the mineral and nutrient content of the soil reflects deficiencies and lack of Good immunity. The idea of kitchen gardens and organic farming has not yet picked up with us in India.
So can I take multivitamin supplements for a long time to compensate for it?
If a person is unable to get all the dietary requirements that they require from her daily intake of food for some reasons like illness or malabsorption syndrome, proven deficiency on tests then dietary supplements may be required but not in healthy people who can eat or are already eating nutritionally well-balanced meals.
“So any amount of pills and tablets cannot replace a Healthy Diet”
The stress from any doctor, therefore, must be on maintaining a diet high in vegetables and fruits not on taking Multivitamin chronically.
Why food would work better than a supplement for inadequate nutrients in our body.
Firstly, food will not give you allergies which supplements might
Secondly, absorption of food is better than that of supplements.
Third, consuming multivitamins without supervision for a long time may have adverse effects on your body and give toxicity symptoms.
“We do not need dietary supplements until and unless specified under medical guidance.
This is because supplements do not suit everybody and but Healthy Food does.”
Dr Shubhashree Patil.
