Mineral deficiencies are an increasingly common issue and have, in fact, been found to affect up to 80% of people in Australia and New Zealand.
Data from the 1995 National Nutrition Survey suggests that less than 50% of people under the age of 40 years old are achieving the recommended daily intake for fruit, while only 52% of men and 45% of women aged between 25 and 44 years are consuming their recommended intake of vegetables.2 These statistics indicate that the modern diet is lacking in important plant-based constituents including hormetic phytochemicals.
Thomson CD. Selenium and iodine intakes and status in New Zealand and Australia. Br J Nutr. 2004; 91(5):661-72.
NHMRC. Dietary Guidelines for Australian Adults. 2003 http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/synopses/n33.pdf.
Comprehensive dietary assessment and intervention has always been a cornerstone of holistic patient management. The unfortunate truth, however, is that optimising nutritional status is no longer a simple task, and may in fact be one of the greatest challenges that we face as Practitioners.
Fruit and Vegetables – Staple or Add-On?
The extent of the Western population's nutritional depletion becomes increasingly apparent when we compare the modern diet to that of our Paleolithic ancestors. For example, it is estimated that 65% of the hunter-gatherer's dietary intake was comprised of fresh seasonal foods, including seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. This is a far cry from the typical Western diet in which fruits and vegetables have become more of an 'added extra' rather than a staple, comprising a mere 7.8% of total food intake.3
What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger!
Fruits and vegetables provide a variety of plant-based compounds known as phytochemicals. These secondary metabolites are synthesised in response to environmental stressors in order to protect the plant from damage. Emerging research suggests that phytochemicals play a significant role in the human body through their ability to act as low-dose stressors which activate the body's cellular stress response, a process known as hormesis. It is the activation of protective pathways which allow our bodies to function to their full capacity and resist disease.
The use of whole food powder extracts to supplement a diet lacking in fruit and vegetables may be an effective method of providing the necessary levels of phytochemicals to elicit a hormetic response. Antioxidant and Superfood Powder is a combination of organic green tea, berries, spirulina, fruit and vegetables to support health and wellbeing. Naturally occurring phytochemicals, such as quercetin, catechins and sulforaphane may promote the expression of cytoprotective genes that induce phase 2 detoxification, provide antioxidant defence and assist in cellular repair.4,5
Overfed and Undernourished
There is no shortage of food in our Western society, yet there is an avalanche of data which suggests that deficiencies in key minerals are becoming epidemic in both Australia and New Zealand. For example, it is estimated that over 25% of males and 50% of females are not meeting their daily requirements for calcium. Why then are our patients so overfed, yet so undernourished?
Nutrient Poverty on the Plate
Many Australians are not meeting the recommended daily intakes (RDIs) for several minerals including calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron. With soils being particularly low in trace minerals, zinc, selenium and iodine, even the most conscientious patients making optimal food choices may well be left with inadequate nutrients on their plates, particularly if consuming food grown in Australian or New Zealand soils. Dieting, following a vegetarian diet, and consuming processed foods may also account for poor intakes of certain nutrients, while modern food processing and preparation techniques further deplete vital nutrients from the food we eat.
