Is the rice, wheat and everyday food on your plate as nutritious as you think?
In this episode Dr. Pal speaks with Ravindra Grover from HarvestPlus about the changing nutritional quality of our food, hidden hunger, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, soil health and the role of biofortification.
They explore why modern rice and wheat may contain fewer micronutrients, how iron and zinc deficiencies can contribute to malnutrition, and why being full doesn’t always mean being well-nourished.
The conversation also covers food adulteration in India, food labels, ultra-processed foods, organic vs biofortified food, calcium rich ragi, plant based diets, Vitamin B12 and gut health. Watch the full podcast to understand what may really be happening to the food on your plate.
Time stamps :
1:27— Introduction to the guest
4:20— Has Our Food Really Lost 50% of Its Nutrition?
5:18— What Is Hidden Hunger?
6:30—Why Our Soil Is Losing Nutrients
9:37— You Are What Your Food Eats
12:06— Can We Really Trust Food Labels?
13:56— India vs US Food Regulations
16:40— What Is Biofortification?
18:46— Ragi, Bajra & Nutrient-Rich Traditional Foods
20:17— How to Identify Biofortified Foods
21:48— Dr. Pal's NewMe Initiative
22:58— Fortification vs Biofortification
24:58— Is Biofortification the Same as GMO?
26:45— Why Isn't Biofortified Food Everywhere Yet?
28:40— Are Biofortified Foods More Expensive?
29:17— Zinc Wheat, Iron Bajra & Other Biofortified Crops
31:02— Do You Really Need to Eat Organic?
31:48— What Will Gen Z's Health Look Like in 20 Years?
33:51— Sonic Seasoning: Can Sound Change How Food Tastes?
36:31— Why Eating Slowly Matters
38:31— How Cooking Changes Nutrient Absorption
41:26— Why Nutrition Should Be Taught to Children
43:02— The Most Important Lesson About Your Food