When it comes to our health, one of the most important factors is the food we eat. The soil in which much of our food is grown, plays a major role in food quality. Unfortunately, the soil across our Country and the globe has become depleted. There are a few factors that drive this issue; increased consumption which causing over-farming, and use of pesticides.
In 1950, the world population was estimated at around 2.6 million people. In 1999, it hit 6 billion, and by end of 2022, an estimated 8 billion people were expected to be living on earth. This dramatic population growth is happening partly because we're living longer. But at the same time, our soil and food are becoming less sustainable than ever. In many cases, the food industry is driven by profit and not by human or environmental well-being, as we often see with the FDA and USDA regulations or lack thereof. Just look at what our country allows in our foods versus Europe for instance.
If you're trying to enhance your health by improving your diet, it can be easy to get overwhelmed by the variety of labels, and how to read them. To make the best food choices for you, it's important to understand how soil quality has deteriorated over the years and what that means for our food.
Why Is Our Soil Depleted?
Our soil is depleted for several reasons. The soil today has fewer minerals and nutrients than it did in the past. With growing consumption, over-farming is on the rise — which results in not allowing enough time for the land to rest nor involve planting non-commercial crops that replenish the soil.
Rotating crops help keep the soil nutrient levels high and can also help prevent certain types of pests from taking over. But crop rotation often requires farmers to invest in lower-yield or non-food crops, which can translate into fewer earnings. Thus, resulting in farmers sticking to repeated plantings of a single crop.
Pesticides
Another factor plaguing our soil quality are pesticides. Pesticide is a catch-all term for chemicals that work to destroy weeds, insects, bacteria, fungi or other organisms that attack crops.
To produce a higher volume of food at a lower cost, many farmers use pesticides. These chemicals seep into the soil and thus, into the plants growing in it. So no, washing produce does not remove the chemicals completely. Several common agricultural pesticides are intended to destroy the nervous systems of the insects they target, but they're deemed safe for humans because the “micro-doses” of them in our food won't kill us. However, “micro-doses” can add up, and there is a lack of long-term studies pertaining to how these chemicals affect our health after eating foods grown with pesticides for 40+ years.
Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) comes out with the "Dirty Dozen" food list of the twelve fruits and vegetables most susceptible to pesticides even after washing. The 2022 list includes strawberries, spinach, kale, collard and mustard greens in the top three. They also release the "Clean Fifteen" food list, which outlines fifteen fruits and vegetables with the least or no trace of pesticides after washing. The top three in 2022 include avocados, sweet corn and pineapple. Any produce listed on the Dirty Dozen list should only be bought organic.
What About Meat?
Poor soil quality can also impact meat quality. When livestock eats grain or soy that has been grown in depleted soil or with pesticides, the livestock then becomes “contaminated”.
While research already shows that the overconsumption of red meat may pose health issues in the long run for some people (remember bio-individuality), a small amount can be beneficial. If you eat meat, your best option is to avoid grain-fed meat. Often, these animals are fed wheat, soy and even candy like Skittles, in addition to being given antibiotics, vaccines, and hormones for purposes like growth or disease resistance.
The best meat to consume is grass-fed or pasture-raised because even organic (a U.S. Department of Agriculture certification) can be deceptive. Organic meat means the cow ate organic grains and forage, but it wasn't necessarily free-roaming.
When you buy meat, always ask if the cut is 100% grass-fed, grass-finished or pasture-raised. Some farmers have taken to calling their meat grass-fed while feeding their animals grain for the last few months of their lives…again with those “regulations”.
When it comes to fish, and salmon, wild salmon is better than farmed because it has higher levels of omega 3s, fewer genetic variations, and it doesn't include the chemical dye that some farmers use to turn their farm-raised salmon pink.
Conclusion and Takeaways
Now that you know industrial farming practices can deplete the soil, resulting in unhealthier foods, what can you do about it?
Be vigilant. Read labels. Check the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists, prioritize organic foods and grass-fed meats and wild caught fish. Always wash your fresh produce well to remove any residue - a simple DIY solution of salt and apple cider vinegar is all you need.
Support local farmers. Try to buy direct from local farmers if you can. You'll get the freshest, most in-season, chemical-free food if you buy from organic farms. Be sure to ask them questions about how their animals are raised and kept. Prices may even be cheaper than at your grocery store. Connect with local farmers for produce, meats, and eggs at your neighborhood farmers market, or join a community-supported agricultural (CSA) cooperative to financially support a local farmer directly.
As you progress on your health journey, I highly suggest you do a test for food allergies, mineral deficiencies and heavy metals testing either with an at-home lab or by requesting one through an integrated health professional. An alternative option is to do a biofeedback- while this is not 100% accurate and is only a snapshot in time using frequencies, it is about 85% accurate and can provide a wealth of educational information about your body. These tools can give you essential insight into how to improve your overall health and make the necessary changes YOU need to optimize your health and achieve balanced vitality! Let me help you get started today! Visit: Balanced Vitality | Integrated Health Coaching (I also partner with a wonderful individual who offers biofeedback sessions and reports at a very low cost!)
