Are Hydroponic Vegetables as Nutritious as Those Grown in Soil?

In this article by Sophie Egan of The New York Times, we discuss the healthiness of food grown in two different ways. Hydroponic vegetables have been recorded to be just as healthy as those grown in normal water, sunlight, and soil. Marion Nestle a professor of nutrition, public health, and food studies from New York University said, “Much as I think soil is great for growing plants, hydroponics has come a long way.” In hydroponics, fruits and vegetables are grown in a solution where they obtain the nutrients to make them healthy. Whereas normal fruits and vegetables are grown in soil where they gain their nutrients.

Hydroponics is the new or emerging focus in this article. Being a new study of the twentieth century. When it comes to the future, hydroponics is something that could help feed many millions of people. Marion Nestle from New York University added, “ I have seen hydroponic producers who have tested their leafy greens for key nutrients, and the amounts fall well within normal limits of their crops and are sometimes even higher.” Being a very well known professor of nutrition and food studies Marion Nestle is trying to educate the public on what to learn from hydroponics. The article states the facts that thought the traditional way may be the better route, they still plan to test and in time utilise the method of growing foods in water. The food grown in soil, however has been shown to have just as many as new ones grown in water. The nutrients is not what the scientist are overall worried about. Mineral content is a very important thing when it comes to farming or having a garden. The right minerals are needed to help the fruits and vegetables grow to be big and healthy. The focus of what is covered is the fact that one day scientists will one day be able to make these curtain fruits a veggies have more or stronger nutrients. This information is giving us as people a direct sight of what could in terms be our future. Though we do not know what beholds of our country new things will arise.

The general public is the people that this will in turn benefit. Hydroponics as discussed before can feed many of people in our country and around the world. There are many people that starve every day in the United States. Not to mention those that get food, but lack certain nutrients from our basic foods. This way of growing food can not only feed thousands, but bring more space because they are typically stored on shelves in a unit with sunlight and in some cases artificial sunlight. This can over time give jobs to many people in America, who are out of work or need money. This is something that can bring the United State to a whole new level. Another group that should be noticed are those without. This discovery can bring food to be grown more and have more nutrients. Kids, elderly, pregnant women, and even adults in this area could get these basic foods and become healthier over time.

This information leaves a huge impact on society’s health care system. These foods grown via Hydroponics could bring nutrient rich food to the kitchens of health care facilities all around the world. Scientist could even possibly one day eliminate having to dispense vitamins and minerals on the daily and switch to new standards of these nutrient rich foods. “ You can enhance” a plant's nutrient levels “ simply by adding nutrients to the solution” they’re grown in, said Allen Baker, a professor at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of MA, Amherst. Mr. Baker also stated it was a possibility to enhance fruits and vegetables with whatever you wanted saying, “You can add whatever you wanted: calcium or magnesium, or minor elements like zinc or iron.” Studies over time will tell the outcome of these studies.

Overall, something to note is that foods like fruits and vegetables nutrient content depend on times of the year. If we have the ability to add in the minerals and vitamins all year round we would have the ability to have everything we need in this area of health. This study was very interesting and something I would love to continue following up on. As we advance forward in time, I believe we can make this a really good source of health. The thing to pull away from this is, the healthier we eat, the less production will become a problem.

Title of article: Are Hydroponic Vegetables as Nutritious as Those Grown in Soil?

Name of publication: The New York Times by Sophia Egan

Date of publication: December 23, 2016

To read up yourself check out this site:

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/12/23/are-hydroponic-vegetables-as-nutritious-as-those-grown-in-soil/?rref=collection%2Fspotlightcollection%2Fwell-nutrition&action=click&contentCollection=eat&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=10&pgtype=collection&_r=0