by Dr. Joseph F. Unger, Jr. DC., F.I.C.S.
On 24 September 2012 the Reuters News Service published a report citing evidence that the amount of vitamins in plant or animal products produced organically and conventionally is not significantly different. The report is suggesting that organic foods are no more nutritious than their non-organic counterparts. I find this not at all surprising, because it is true.
Virtually all of the foods eaten today are the products of hybrid plants. The animals we consume are also fed with the same hybrids, which is a form of genetic modification. These plant variations are designed to improve the products’ appearance, to grow better on nutritionally deficient-soil and to produce more products per acre.
Those of us who are old enough can recall when every two years or so a farmer’s field was allowed to lie fallow for a season. This is nature’s way of rebuilding the nutrients lost from the growing of food crops. One of the qualities of hybrids is that they can grow on soil deficient in some of the nutrients required by non-hybrid plants. If a plant does not require a specific nutrient, it will not absorb it. This eliminates the need for fields lying fallow and allows for crops to grow on a few simple chemical fertilizers. More profit for all concerned.
You may have noticed that it has been many years since you’ve eaten a good-tasting Missouri tomato. You may have heard the discussion a couple of weeks ago on National Public Radio’s Science Friday. A university researcher is attempting to figure out how to splice flavor genes back into the tomato hybrids to recapture some of the original taste they once had. They claim that the current hybrids are all designed to produce prettier fruit and higher yields per acre, at the expense of taste.
It doesn’t matter if the plant is grown organically or not. If it is a hybrid, the seed stock is specifically designed to require fewer nutrients. Our bodies, however, are designed for the nutrition content of the original seeds and plants. Virtually all of the food sources commonly available now are nutritionally deficient because of these farming practices.
Also, it is virtually impossible to conclusively determine the ill effects of this nutritional deficit upon human health. However, I would be of the opinion that virtually everyone is somewhat nutritionally deficient. Supplementation, therefore, is absolutely essential for optimal health. The only truly complete nutritional supplement is Catalyn from Standard Process Inc. The background story of Catalyn is another subject and is available through Atrium Health Services as well as the Standard Process website. Also see www.westonaprice.org.
While I believe the research report referenced above to be accurate, nutritional value is certainly not the only factor to be considered. For example, organic foods are decidedly less toxic. Skeptics are encouraged to read Detoxify or Die by Sherry A. Rogers, MD. I personally would recommend different techniques of detoxification than those she presents, but her book is quite compelling. Information concerning detoxification programs is also available through Atrium Health Services at 314 872-9955.
For more information, contact Dr. Joseph Unger, Jr. at Atrium Health Services, 314-872-9955.