Nutrient density is the overall nutritional value of a food compared to another different food. This is not to be confused with nutrient rich, which is a situation where one plant is more nutritional value compared to another of the same food. Nutrient density is dependent on the way the food has been grown. Studies have shown that the nutritional value of food has been decreasing since the 1940s. For example, currently one would have to take four carrots to get the nutritional value of one carrot in the 1940s. Luckily, organic gardening leads to the production of nutritionally dense foods. The production of nutrient dense foods is partly dependent on various interplay of some factors such as the use of a wasp trap instead of chemical insecticides or controlling weeds by using it as food for your pet rabbit held in a good outdoor hutch built using appropriate rabbit hutch plans. It is based on the understanding that nature in perfect balance will work to the benefit of the farmer, so after controlling your insects; get yourself a bug hotel that encourages your choice insects while discouraging the unwanted insects.
The main reason for the reduction in the nutrient value of plants is the use of insecticides, fertilizers, and pesticides. The aim of organic gardening is to grow nutrient dense foods as large-scale farming using chemicals clearly reduces the quality of food. Scientists have taken various soil tests to identify the role that soil fertility and minerals play in determining nutritional density. Research has shown that nutritionally dense foods reducing susceptibility to insect infestation and disease. Even more importantly, nutritional dense foods are the answer to the malnutrition problems in the world. Organic gardening, involves growing foods without involvement of any chemicals instead utilizes organic manure and soil composition to increase nutrient density and crop yield.
Research has shown that the nutritional value of food has been reducing gradually with each year due to the use of chemicals in the production of food.
Unfortunately, in spite of many years of warnings, we have not made much progress. “Highlights� from a 2004 study evaluating USDA food composition data of 43 garden crops between 1950 and 1999 show that as a group the vegetables contained:
• 16% less calcium
• 9% less phosphorus
• 15% less iron
• Protein down 6%,
• Vitamin B2 down 38%
• Vitamin C down 15%
Sourced from: http://robbwolf.com/2011/05/06/the-illusion-of-nutrient-dense-food/
The reduced nutrient density is a result of many small choices ranging from poor soil fertility, and unbalanced mineral ratio. The following are some of the contributing factors:
• Increased yields tend to dilute available nutrients.
• Reliance on annual crops (primarily corn, wheat, and soybeans) exposes the soil to erosion and nutrient leaching from rainfall.
• Long transportation distances, a by-product of crop subsidies and cheap oil, degrade the nutritional content of “fresh� food.
• In a race to the bottom, modern, conventional farms are more akin to mining operations that year-by-year remove (and never replace) trace minerals.
• Applying excessive amounts of certain nutrients to the soil makes other nutrients less available.
Sourced from: http://robbwolf.com/2011/05/06/the-illusion-of-nutrient-dense-food/
The solution to the problem of nutrient density is to grow your own food organically. Interestingly, research shows that nutritional quality seems not to be dependent on the type of fertilizer used but on the balance of nutrients in soil.
Yet even among sincere organic growers, there are distinctions in farming methods that affect the nutritional value of their crop. The groundbreaking news in agriculture is Nutrient Dense Crop production (NDC). Nutrient-rich crops are so much healthier and lush; they have remarkably superior flavor and longer shelf life. All of these beneficial characteristics are made possible with remineralization.
The very best way get the very best nutrition is to grow your own nutrient-dense food in a healthy soil ecosystem. Gardening is a richly rewarding experience in many ways. You will be truly amazed with the delicious flavor and robust health of your vegetables. Nothing can compare
Sourced from: http://nutritionalbalancing.org/center/htma/food/articles/garden.php
