Fruits and Veggies May Be Losing Nutritional Value
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Updated: 6:24 PM Jul 30, 2010
Fruits and Veggies May Be Losing Nutritional Value
Newer farming techniques growing bigger products faster may cause fruits and veggies to have less vitamins and nutrients.
Posted: 5:29 PM Jul 30, 2010
Reporter: Stephanie Salvatore
Email Address: stephanie.salvatore@wctv.tv
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We've always been told to eat our fruits and vegetables, but they may not have as many vitamins and nutrients as we'd like to believe.

A recent article in Prevention magazine cites a 2004 study, where a researcher analyzed 43 fruits and vegetables from 1950 to 1999 and reported reductions in minerals, vitamins and protein.

A possible reason? Farming techniques growing produce faster and larger.

"In the past we let the land rest for a year or two before we cultivate it, and now because of the pressure and demand, we have two to three times cultivating the same land and it makes sense that the nutrition value to some extent goes down," says Dr. Bahram Arjmandi, a registered dietician at FSU's Department of Nutrition, Food and Exercise Sciences.

Some nutritionists believe buying organic produce provide a greater benefit than ordinary produce.

"You don't have the pesticides, insecticides that are preventing these other vegetables from any illness or dilatory reasons for your health, but at the same time, what's going on is organic will be fresher normally," says Dr. Freddie Kaye, a clinical nutritionist.

Others say the benefits of eating any type of produce -organic or not- outweigh the risks.

"Not that I don't believe that there are organic fruits and vegetables... but organic fruits and vegetables consume the same water source, the same air, so eventually pollution is there," adds Arjmandi.

We asked if growing your own garden would eliminate the fear of any type of pesticides and put you in the clear for losing nutritonal value, but Dr. Kaye said the only think you'll probably get from your own garden is frustration, because home gardens are usually not as bountiful as we'd like.


Latest Comments

Posted by: WCTV Viewer Location: Georgia on Jul 31, 2010 at 12:12 PM

Anytime you go against the "natural" process of producing fruits & vegetables you take away from its proper growth & maturity values. This is YOUR results of "PROGRESS." I was raised on a farm & I remember my grandfather plowing with his mule. It was slow, tedious hard work but he had the biggest, juicest, fruits & vegetables grown. We had cows, hogs, & chickens. We grew our own, killed our own, processed our own & there was no better tasting or nutritious food. Chickens & other animals that are given hormones to grow faster is wrong. It is NOT the way of nature & therefore the end product will NOT be as good tasting or as good for you. Anytime man steps in & tries to revise, improve, or speed up the "natural" process of things, it is NOT the same. I am very fortunate to have grown up as I did, because if times get bad enough & food products are too messed up, I can grow my own. Taking care of our land is also important & farmers today just don't do that. It will eventually be destroyed
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