UK Vegetables 20-50% Less Nutritious Than In the 1960s
The Telegraph reports that the nutritional value of fruit and vegetables has fallen by up to 50% since the Sixties, according a new study from researchers at startup studio Deep Science Ventures. The study "found that humans needed to consume twice the number of vegetables to get the same level of minerals such as potassium, magnesium or copper as would have been present in their food 60 years…
A new study reveals that the nutritional value of UK vegetables has dropped significantly, with some crops losing 20% to 50% of essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and copper compared to the Sixties, according to The Telegraph and researchers from Deep Science Ventures. This decline in nutrient content may prompt a reevaluation of the UK's dietary guidelines, which recommend consuming five servings of fruit and vegetables daily since 2003.
The researchers attribute the nutrient loss to declining soil quality and the selective breeding of crops for rapid growth rather than health benefits. People taking weight-loss medications might be particularly affected, as their reduced food intake could exacerbate the nutrient deficiency. Nature-friendly farming practices, like planting crops that replenish soil nutrients, could potentially restore the health benefits of vegetables, according to the study's senior associate, Will Summers.
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