When you enter a grocery store or go through the farmers market, you are dealing with many choices. Fruit and vegetables may seem overwhelming! What is the “best” or “healthiest” choice of personal and planetary health?
As a registered dietitian, I trained countless clients and their families who want to know the answer to this question. You may already know ecological agriculture, but regenerative agriculture quickly attracts attention due to its potential to alleviate climate change and providing some additional nutrition.
The answer is not black and white – although it would not be easier if it were so? Let’s take a closer look at the regeneration agriculture of fruits and vegetables and break up what it means to consumers like you and me.
What is regenerative agriculture?
This approach to agriculture makes soil health the highest priority. Regenerative practices focus on restoring the Earth, improving soil health and increasing biological diversity. Instead of relying solely in the cultivation of land or the exploit of synthetic or produced fertilizers and pesticides, regenerative agriculture includes practices such as:
- Covering the cover
- Crop rotation
- Low or without passage in the fields and arable fields
- Composting and natural fertilizers, such as manure of farm animals
- Planting various crops, trees and other plants to attract and protect pollinators
These sustainable methods of agriculture have been used for generations by native tribes and farms of all types and sizes in the United States. And some, such as crop rotation or minimal cultivation, can also be used by ecological or conventional farmers.
Farmers deeply care about their land and want to be good flightngles. So think about regenerative agriculture as a spectrum. Even if they do not exploit all practices as part of “regenerative agriculture”, they adapt to the changing requirements of agriculture in the 21st century.
To learn more about regenerative agriculture, check resources With Agricultural Regeneration Center and Resistant Systems on California State University Chico.
Do regenerative fruits and vegetables have more nutrients?
We need more research in this area to fully understand the impact on nutrition. But at this point we have some evidence that fruit and vegetables grown with regenerative practices have more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants compared to conventional or organic. It recovers the soil; Healthier soils grow healthier plants, and these plants provide more necessary nutrients we need.
In the future, expect much more conversations and media about the density of nutrients. But for now there is a bigger problem that we must talk about first …
Most Americans do not eat enough fruit and vegetables
Yes, it embraces me and you! According to Dietary guidelines for Americans (DGA)We should eat at least 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cup vegetables every day. But in fact 9 out of 10 Americans do not fulfill this goal.
As a dietitian examining sustainable food systems, of course I care about the density of nutrients and reducing our environmental impact. But I am also careful in recommending food that may not be available or inexpensive to everyone. As long as we all eat enough fruit and vegetables at the beginning, it may be hair separation to worry excessively with relatively miniature nutritional differences. Just adding one additional portion of fruit or vegetables is a helpful place to start.
Here is more food to think about when you wonder what is happening on your plate (word game):
- All forms count. This means that you can attach fresh, frozen and canned fruit and vegetables. Everything adds up. Even dried fruit without additional sugar and 100% fruit or vegetable juices in relation to the total portion!
- Each type of fresh products is unthreatening to eat. This includes conventional, organic and regenerative. Last published Annual summary of the pesticide data program It was found that 99% of all samples tested in 2023 had remains of pesticides below the tolerance of the Environmental Protection Agency. Almost 40% did not have detectable residues of pesticides at all.
- Nutrition and food are not the only keys to better health. Yes, it is true that what you eat will affect short- and long-term health. But your genes, the environment and other lifestyle habits also play a significant role.
- Local food can be balanced food. Regardless of whether it is local products in your favorite restaurant, a color display distinguishing seasonal vegetables in a grocery store or sellers at the nearest farmers market, local farmers need support. Many of them exploit regenerative methods, even if they are not marked or advertised as such.
The most crucial for self -confident
Regenerative agriculture for fruits and vegetables has a great potential for environmental and nutritional benefits. More farmers are growing regeneratively, and more brands and companies acquire ingredients that are regeneratively bred as part of the strategy of dead climate.
But it can be too early to catch labels or health claims. This time is coming because some groups are working on formalizing definitions and adding additional information to food and packaging labels. We also expect further research on the density of nutrients from the regenerative production of food and human health. Much more!
At the end of the day, the most crucial thing is that you include various nutritious dishes you like. Work in the budget and make conscious choices that are in line with your values. Support sustainable agricultural practices when you can and facilitate shape the future of food – one delicious bite at once.
Do you still feel confused? Contact the dietitian or ask the healthcare team to refer! They can facilitate you weed your nutritional noise and develop a plan that works for you in the long run. After all, it is also part of sustainable nutrition.
