Why Your Grandma’s Veggies Were Better (And What It Means for Your Health Today)
Let’s get real for a second - the spinach your grandma ate in the 1960s is not the spinach sitting in your fridge today.
And before you roll your eyes and say, “Okay Cheryl, but spinach is spinach…” nope. Science says otherwise.
Multiple studies (including USDA data from 1950 to 1999) found that fruits and veggies today have less protein, calcium, iron, riboflavin, and vitamin C than they did just a few decades ago.
We’re talking declines anywhere from 6% to 38% on average… and in some cases, crops have lost up to 90% of certain nutrients.
Yep. You could eat the same plate of food your grandma ate, and your body would get way less fuel. No wonder we’re tired, anxious, foggy-brained, and relying on coffee like it’s a food group..
Why This Matters (Especially for Women 45+)
Let me break it down for you. Thanks to soil depletion, even if you’re “eating clean,” you might still be low in:
Magnesium → tied to sleep, energy, and anxiety
Zinc → your immune system, skin, and insulin balance
B Vitamins → energy, mental clarity, and mood
Selenium → thyroid support and detox
Vitamin C → collagen, immunity, and inflammation
Vitamin K2 → bone + arterial health (and modern meats are low too)
See the pattern? These are the exact areas so many of us struggle with midlife - exhaustion, brain fog, anxiety, belly fat, thyroid shifts, and feeling like your body isn’t bouncing back the way it used to.
It’s not that you’re “broken.” It’s that the food we’re eating simply doesn’t deliver the same nutrition it once did.
So What Do We Do?
Here’s the truth:
Food is the foundation. You’ll never hear me say “skip the fruits and veggies.” But most of us need to layer quality supplementation on top to fill in the gaps.
Right now, I’m looking into a couple of brands that have me intrigued. But you know me - I don’t recommend what I haven’t tested myself. So I’ll keep you posted once I’ve put them through the Cheryl Miller “does this actually make me feel human?” test.
In the meantime, focus on:
Leading with protein
Eating as close to whole, colorful foods as possible (the more variety, the better).
Prioritizing sleep, hydration, and stress management (yes, stress burns through nutrients too).
And staying curious - because knowledge is power, and this is about giving your body the fuel it deserves.
Want to Dig Deeper?
This week on Free Coaching Friday we’re diving into Fuel - my very first pillar of The Unapologetic Health Method.
I’ll share:
Why food quality matters more than calorie counting
The “sneaky” signs your body is crying out for more nutrients
How to build meals that actually energize you (without making you feel like you’re on another diet hamster wheel)
Join me live Friday at 11 AM ET on my profile page. And don’t forget - if you haven’t grabbed your free starter kit Unapologetically You: The Micro Rebellion, what are you waiting for? It’s free right now but won’t stay that way forever.
[👉 Grab your starter kit here.]
✨ Because girl, your story isn’t over. Your fuel is your foundation. And when you nourish your body right, you stop shrinking yourself to fit into rooms you were never meant to fit in.
--xo Cheryl Miller 💋
