| If you've heard it once, you've heard it a zillion times. | | | | Apples- Vitamin A is down 41% |
| "If you want to be healthy, eat your vegetables!" | | | | Broccoli- Calcium and Vitamin A are down 50% |
| Certainly, this is still good advice, but there's a | | | | Cauliflower- Vitamin C is down 45%; Vitamin B1 is |
| problem creeping in. Vegetables and fruits are losing | | | | down 48%; and Vitamin B2 is down 47% |
| their nutritious qualities. They may not be providing | | | | That's a big drop, and other fruits and vegetables are |
| you with the healthy kick they used to. Sure they | | | | also affected to varying degrees. So what can you |
| look the same, and they might even taste the same, | | | | do about it? You want to eat healthy to stay healthy |
| but did you know... | | | | so taking action in your diet is a step to take right |
| "You'd have to eat 10 servings of spinach to get the | | | | away. Vitamin supplements are a great idea. Because |
| same level of minerals from just one serving about | | | | vitamins are made, not grown, they are held to |
| 50 years ago." | | | | nutritional standards, and must contain exactly what |
| That's what Elmer Heinrich found out when he did his | | | | you see on the label. But, one cannot live on pills |
| research for his book "The Root of All Disease". It's | | | | alone! First, consider organic foods and using a home |
| amazing, but it's also terrible because no one is ever | | | | garden. Chances are, your yard was never the site |
| going to eat 10 servings of spinach in one day. To | | | | of a huge company farm featuring depleted soil. The |
| get your 'optimum nutrition' according these new | | | | foods you grow at home can still pick up necessary |
| statistics you'd have to be an elephant! Or at least | | | | minerals from your soil. |
| eat as much as one.... | | | | But what about apartment or condo dwellers in the |
| But why is all this happening? | | | | city? No time for a garden? Next, small farms and |
| It sounds rather far-fetched at first that a vegetable | | | | local growers are also more likely to be farming on |
| or fruit could look and taste the same, but be so | | | | land that is not nutritionally deficient, or using |
| lacking in nutrients you need. However, there are | | | | "Maximum shelf life" variety plants. Local farms don't |
| several reasons, which most people would never | | | | have to ship long distance, and they know you'll be |
| think of. It's important to know the cause behind | | | | back for more if you like their produce's FLAVOR. |
| something as vital as your own nutrition. You try to | | | | Another easy solution is the Chia Seed. |
| eat right, you try to have your 'required servings' of | | | | This seed is packed with a full range of B vitamins, |
| fruits and vegetables each day-but what are they | | | | trace minerals such as Boron, and it even has more |
| really doing for you? | | | | calcium by weight than milk. The seed of the chia |
| Over-farming causes depleted soil- | | | | plant also has omega 3 oil (the same as that found in |
| Despite farmers' best efforts with chemical fertilizers | | | | fish) and complete protein, just like what is found in |
| and crop rotations, the huge human population's | | | | meat. These seeds also have both soluble and |
| demands on the soil causes 'over-farming'. Nutrients | | | | insoluble fiber and more magnesium than broccoli. |
| you need are depleted from the soil by 100s of | | | | They don't spoil or go rancid like flax, and you can |
| previous crop cycles-and if they're not there, the | | | | make them taste like whatever you want....but more |
| plants can't absorb them. This is especially true for | | | | on that later. |
| the trace-minerals we all need to maintain good | | | | Why is the Chia Seed still a good option for you? |
| health. | | | | Chia plants only grow in areas most other plants hate. |
| Crops are now being bred for the wrong thing- | | | | You couldn't grow a peach or an apple where chia |
| Fruits and veggies are chosen for several | | | | likes to grow. It only grows where it's hot and dry all |
| reasons...none of which are their nutritional value. The | | | | the time. This means the land used to grow it hasn't |
| important thing about them is how they look, how | | | | already been stripped of nutrients. Worried about |
| long they stay fresh, how much they weigh, and | | | | pesticides? Don't be. The plant takes care of itself |
| how they can resist weeds and pests. Are any of | | | | like no other-producing an oil in the leaves and stems |
| those factors helping YOUR health? No, they're just | | | | that insects and other pests can't stand. Chemical |
| helping the bottom line. These are no 'franken foods' | | | | pesticides don't even need to be touched when |
| either (genetically modified crops) they're your usual | | | | you've got chia growing. The plants are still pulling in |
| 100% natural crops which have gone through | | | | all the nutrients you need while being free from toxic |
| selective breeding for money making, NOT nutritional | | | | chemical pesticides. |
| qualities. Sure, some genetically modified crops like | | | | So by looking to a food that's unusual and new, you |
| the black tomato are super-nutritious, but they're still | | | | can still get the nutrients your body needs despite |
| years away from a real market release. | | | | depleted soil in many areas. These seeds have no |
| An experiment for you: | | | | flavor of their own, so they're not prepared like the |
| If you look around on TV, do you see commercials | | | | food you're used to. No one sits down to a pile of |
| for 'grow at home tomatoes'? Have you ever | | | | chia as they would rice. Instead, they're super easy in |
| enjoyed a tomato from a vine at a friend or | | | | an all-new way. You simply add them to food you |
| neighbors' house? These 'home grown' fruits (yes a | | | | already like to eat. The flavorless seeds then absorb |
| tomato is a fruit) often taste MUCH better than the | | | | moisture from that food (whether it be yogurt, salad |
| ones you find in the supermarket. That's why kits | | | | dressing, cereal with milk, tomato sauce, or your |
| and vines are so popular in gardens. Supermarket | | | | favorite drink-almost anything will do!) and take on |
| tomatoes are raised only to look good, stay fresh | | | | the taste of the food or drink. You won't have any |
| and make the high "weight grade". They're NOT bred | | | | problems with "I don't want to eat my vegetables" |
| for taste or nutrition quality. | | | | when these nutritious seeds can taste like anything |
| It's easy to demonstrate this with something like a | | | | from orange juice to chocolate pudding without ever |
| tomato, because they have a specific flavor that | | | | diluting the flavor. There are even many easy and |
| everyone recognizes, and are easy to grow at home | | | | fun Chia Seed Recipes that you can use to make |
| in many climates-unlike spinach or peaches. The point | | | | both new and familiar meals lower in fat and higher in |
| is, that this type of 'all style no substance' is afflicting | | | | nutrients by adding chia. All the nutrition is still there |
| more than tomatoes and affecting much more than | | | | just waiting to be eaten in the way of your choice. |
| flavor. | | | | Don't let these startling statistics stop you on your |
| These statistics show various losses from 1975 | | | | quest for greater health, energy and longevity. You |
| compared to 2001. The USDA came up with the | | | | can still take control of your nutrition and improve |
| facts, and Life Extension Magazine is quoted on the | | | | your health. |
| following statistics: | | | | |