Universal ancestral practices

Throughout the world, there are also constants in the preparation of certain foods in order to preserve them: salting, drying, smoking. Similarly, milk is frequently consumed in a sour or curdled state. This is done to reduce bacterial contamination and to improve its nutritional quality.

The same is true for the lacto-fermentation of vegetables. Here again, it allows to preserve them while increasing their nutritional value. This process is coming back in fashion today.

Green leaves are widely consumed throughout the world, whether it is amaranth, pumpkin, sweet potato and cassava leaves, or wild salads such as dandelion, lettuce, etc. These leaves are rich in beta-carotene, which is a major source of vitamin C. These leaves are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin C (ascorbic acid), iron and calcium. People have always naturally consumed foods that are beneficial to their health, as do animals.

In the same way, the germination of leguminous seeds is an ancestral practice. It increases their bioavailability and thus the absorption by the body of nutrients such as iron, zinc, magnesium, or certain amino acids. This practice is also becoming very popular again among those who are looking for a healthy diet.

The tradition to the test of the agri-food industry

With the arrival of urbanization and the development of the food industry, the wisdom of food has been challenged. The basic products have been increasingly refined (sugar, flour…), packaged with salt, sugar, glutamate and more or less toxic additives.

Moreover, television and the media promote these products relentlessly, for the benefit of the food industry, and in defiance of food wisdom. This has generated important changes in eating habits, including in poor countries. We are therefore witnessing a significant deterioration in health.

It is now crucial to return to dietary wisdom. To counter the propaganda and aggressive marketing of junk food vendors, it is important that influential figures speak out publicly to restore balance. The Internet can also play a valuable role in reinformation.

Returning to food wisdom means understanding that commercial interests never rhyme with altruism and people’s health. It is a matter of getting back to fresh and natural products, if possible grown without chemicals. This also implies taking the time to prepare and cook them oneself. Similarly for babies, it is essential to give priority to breast milk and local and natural products.