How Nutrition Works

The short, short answer...you should ideally get as much nutrition as you can from "nutrient dense" foods.   Vitamin pills and mineral supplements are okay, but stop short of the perfect nutrition you could get, if you were eating a proper array of the best foods.

Counting calories?   Try instead seeking out more nutrient dense foods.   (Count nutrient density instead of calories!)   In so doing, you may find that you no longer care about processed foods such as potato chips, candy bars, marshmallow peeps(!) etc.

Is a burger at the local fast food joint bad for you?   Not really.   Just make sure that you are also getting a range of B and C vitamins, fiber, and other minerals possibly not available in that burger.   You can do this by eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains and fresh sources of protein, along with the occasional burger or filet of fish sandwich.

So, why is it better for your health to buy really fresh produce, free range eggs, and chicken from your local farm?   Because of the nutrition!   Especially if that farm is paying attention to the soil!   Nutrient rich soil makes for nutrient dense foods.

Important Disclaimer:   Blooming Patches CSA Farm and it's owners, operators, and employees are not in the practice of medicine or nutrition counseling.   The information given on this page is generally available knowledge about uptake of nutrients from soil to plants, and then to animals.   If you plan to significantly change your diet, you may want to consult your physician or a nutrition counselor.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Very Brief Lesson In Nutrtion

According to the United States Government's Centers For Disease Control website, "The best way to get enough vitamins is to eat a balanced diet with a variety of foods.   You can usually get all your vitamins from the foods you eat."   For more information, click here to go to the CDC Nutrition website page on Vitamins and Minerals.

The foods you eat are made up of three types of "macro-nutrients".   They are: Proteins, Carbohydrates, and Fats.   Pure and Simple.   These macro-nutrients supply you with all of your energy needs.   For greatest health benefit, your daily diet, as well as your diet over time, must contain the right mix of these three macro-nutrients.   Yes, all three types.

How much of each?   For that answer, you will need to do your own research or discuss with your medical provider or nutrition counselor.   You can download the US Government's Dietary Guidelines - 2005 Booklet by clicking HERE.

The three MACRO-Nutrients are sources of energy (calories).   Micro-nutrients are vitamins and minerals contained in the Macro-Nutrients.   Vitamins and minerals are not a source of energy!   (In other words, vitamins and minerals are not a source of calories.)

Here are important excerpts from the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Booklet. The first quote is regarding the best source of nutrients...food or supplements?:

"(A) premise of the Dietary Guidelines is that the nutrients consumed should come primarily from foods.   Foods contain not only the vitamins and minerals that are often found in supplements, but also hundreds of naturally occurring substances, including carotenoids, flavonoids and isoflavones, and protease inhibitors that may protect against chronic health conditions."

Next, on the topic of nutrient dense foods versus foods heavy on calories, but light on nutrition:

"Nutrient dense foods are those foods that provide substantial amounts of vitamins and minerals (micronutrients) and relatively few calories.   Foods that are low in nutrient density are foods that supply calories but relatively small amounts of micronutrients, sometimes none at all.   The greater the consumption of foods or beverages that are low in nutrient density, the more difficult it is to consume enough nutrients without gaining weight, especially for sedentary individuals.   The consumption of added sugars, saturated and trans fats, and alcohol provides calories while providing little, if any, of the essential nutrients."

What about vitamins and minerals?

It's one thing to get enough protein, carbohydrate, and fat to fuel your body.   But that's not enough.   You also need dozens of vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and feel well.

So, how do minerals get into my food, anyway?

Minerals are found in ground water and soil.   Plants take up these minerals as they grow.   Whole grains and meat are the best sources of minerals, including zinc, phosphorus, magnesium, copper and manganese.

Now, why is it important that your farmer pay attention to the soil?   Because the plants grown in this soil will take up available minerals.   Mineral-rich soil will lead to vitamin and mineral rich plants and livestock.   When you eat plants, eggs, and meat harvested from a farm with plenty of nutrients in the water and soil, you will also have a more nutritious diet.

At Blooming Patches CSA Farm, we test with a BRIX meter before the growing season, and throughout the season, to help ensure that the soil is as beneficial as it can be.   Click HERE to go to our tab on high BRIX farming.