No tags yet.
Definition of Nutrition (from dictionary.com)
1. The process of nourishing or being nourished, especially the process by which a living organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and for replacement of tissues.
2. The science or study that deals with food and nourishment, especially in humans.
3. A source of nourishment; food
As a nation, we eat poor-quality foods that have been stripped of nutrients. We do not consume enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Many of us get our whole grains from instant rice, refined wheat breads, pastas, and cereal. We eat a tremendous amount of prepackaged, pre-made meals. One-quarter of Americans eat at fast food restaurants each day. Americans are overfed and undernourished.
HOW WHEAT IS PROCESSED
1. Wheat kernel comprised of starch and nutrient-rich bran and germ
2. Bran and germ are removed, resulting in primarily empty starch (flour).
3. Processed flour is bleached to improve the appearance and texture of consumer goods.
4. Bleached flour is enriched by adding in a few isolated B vitamins and iron in an attempt
to replace what has been removed.
5. Nutrient-deficient consumer goods that have the ability to sit on a store shelf for an extended period of time are the final result.
Partial List of Nutrients Lost in the Processing of Foods
Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6
Vitamin E
Biotin and Folic Acid
Chromium and Iron
Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium
Essential Fatty Acids
Fiber
Manganese and Cobalt
Molybdenum, Selenium and Vanadium
Zinc
