There are a number of reasons why the nutrients in our foods are being depleted. Here are a few things to consider the next time you head to the supermarket:
- Farming methods throughout the ages have depleted our nutrient rich topsoil. There just isn't as many minerals and vitamins in the soil for the plants to absorb to be passed on to us!
- Unless you are eating local foods, much of the produce that we consume (pets included) are grown elsewhere in the world and then shipped in to us. This time, shipping methods and conditions all play a factor in the produce breaking down and losing much of the nutrients it once held.
- Freezing and canning our foods have yet again changed the amount of nutrients available to us. Because we buy in bulk, buy for longevity of the product, buy it on sale so that we can eat it later...we don't get what we need from the produce.
- Synthetic vitamins - we all see the labels that say "Enhanced with Vitamin C" or "Plus Vitamins". What does that mean? It means that the company realizes that the vitamin content of the food is not really as it should be for human (or pet) use so they supplement the food. This is a problem - I will discuss the problems with synthetic vitamins in the next blog.
- The biggest issue that is removing nutrients from our foods...the production process. This is most concerning in pet foods. Pet foods are normally heated to high temperatures and this alone can destroy nutrients and enzymes needed by the pet. Unfortunately, unlike humans that eat a variety of foods, most pets eat the same things day after day. This is why they need supplements more than anyone!
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