We frequently take the nutritional content of the foods we eat for granted as we go about our daily lives, consuming various cuisines. We assume that spinach is rich in iron and that bananas are a good source of potassium.

Unfortunately, nutritional science is not always simple, and a lot of questions about the nutrient makeup of foods still remain unanswered.

The truth is that we don’t know what makes up 99% of our food, despite how worrisome that may sound. The communities of nutrition and food research are becoming increasingly concerned about this startling statistic.

The difficulty of measuring nutrients:

The inability to measure nutrients effectively is the primary cause of our ignorance of the contents of 99% of our foods.

The majority of nutritional values are only rough estimates based on laboratory examination of a small amount of the food. These estimates frequently utilise outmoded techniques that do not account for all of the nutrients in food.

It is also challenging to measure nutrients accurately because the amount of nutrients in food fluctuates depending on the location, soil, season, and harvesting techniques.

Unforeseen nutrients:

Nutrient measurement is challenging, because there are many nutrients in food that we haven’t yet identified.

Scientists only recently made the discovery of vitamin K2. Although it is typically absent from multivitamins and fortified foods, it is crucial in preventing osteoporosis and heart disease.

Also, a lot of meals contain phytonutrients, which are plant-based substances with a variety of emerging health benefits.

On the other hand, a lot of the nutrients in our meals remain hidden since they are difficult for our bodies to absorb.

For instance, phytic acid, which is included in several plant-based diets, binds to minerals like calcium and iron and prevents their absorption. However, for some nutrients to be absorbed by human bodies, additional nutrients must be present.

For example, calcium is necessary for the best absorption of vitamin D. As a result, even if a food contains a lot of a certain nutrient, our systems may not be able to use it to its full potential.

Processing and cooking:

The effect of processing and cooking on nutritional content is another factor contributing to our lack of awareness regarding the composition of 99% of our foods.

Foods that have undergone processing lose nutrients, making them less nutrient-dense than whole foods. The bran and germ of refined grains, such as white bread and pasta, have been removed, removing much of the fibre, vitamins, and minerals.

Moreover, losing nutrients during cooking is possible, especially at high temperatures. For instance, cooking vegetables for a long time might result in significant nutritional losses.

Moreover, food additives like flavourings, preservatives, and colours may affect the nutritious value of foods. Certain preservatives can weaken the effectiveness of vitamins and minerals by causing their breakdown. Furthermore, it is unclear how flavourings and colours may affect nutrient content and may contain compounds that have harmful effects on health.

The importance of nutrient diversity:

Not withstanding the uncertainties surrounding the nutrients in our food, it is crucial to include a variety of nutrients in our meals.

Assuring that we are obtaining a diversity of nutrients that can help alleviate some of the unknowns and hidden nutrients in our diet can be accomplished by consuming a variety of whole and minimally processed foods.

Moreover, emphasising whole foods rather than processed foods might help guarantee that we are ingesting nutrients in their most accessible form.

It is also significant to remember that nutrient requirements might change based on elements including age, gender, degree of activity, and health status.

If necessary, nutritional gaps can be filled by dietary changes or supplements by consulting a registered dietitian or health professional to help identify individual nutritional needs.

A registered dietitian or other health professional can help you evaluate your specific nutritional requirements and make sure that, if necessary, any gaps in your diet are filled with supplements or other dietary changes.

Considering nutrient diversity and concentrating on whole, minimally processed meals can help guarantee that we obtain a variety of nutrients in their most accessible form, even though there are still many unknowns regarding the nutrient composition of our foods.

Meeting specific nutrient requirements and ensuring optimal health can also be achieved with the assistance of a healthcare practitioner.