1. Processed foods provide fewer nutrients

Even in agriculture, the goal is to make as much money as possible, and thus produce as cheaply, quickly and as much as possible. Farming methods are optimized to achieve this goal, but this also brings unwanted consequences. For example, much agricultural land is being depleted, which causes crops to contain fewer nutrients.

Mass production means our food comes from further and further away, which also means it is much less fresh once it is on your plate. Every day that passes after harvest, fruits and vegetables lose a little of their nutritional value. Local food that comes fresh from the land therefore contains a lot more nutrients.

Primal man was always outside and therefore received an optimal amount of daylight. Nowadays, many of us work indoors and in the winter we leave home in the dark, and return home in the dark as well. When we do go outside, we wrap up thickly or apply sunscreen. All this causes us to barely absorb vitamin D, whereas sunlight is the main source of it. It is therefore wise to eat plenty of food rich in vitamin D, or to supplement this nutrient.

Free radicals are harmful substances in our environment. You find them everywhere. For example in processed food, (cigarette) smoke, cosmetics, air pollution and heavy metals. If the amount of free radicals in your body cells becomes too high, it can be harmful. So your body needs to get rid of these radicals and uses many nutrients to do so, which you also need for other important body processes. So you need extra of these nutrients to avoid building up deficiencies.

6. Low-grade inflammation consumes many nutrients

Many people today suffer from chronic or low-grade inflammation. These are not dangerous inflammation, but your immune system sees it that way and is constantly at work because of it. This can cause you to be constantly tired. This is because your immune system uses extra energy as well as nutrients to fight off the inflammation in vain. This can also cause a nutrient deficiency in the body, which can be supplemented with supplements.

7. Poor digestion reduces absorption

Eating healthy does not guarantee that your body will absorb all nutrients properly. Our digestion is responsible for this, and it does not function optimally in everyone. In the normal situation, the enteric nervous system in your intestines releases enzymes that help digest food. Stress disrupts this function, making your body less able to absorb nutrients. In that case, you need additional nutrients to get enough, but it is also advisable to address the cause of your digestive problems!