Dutch pediatrician Dr Koen Joosten becomes enthusiastic about the idea that growers will become the vegetable pharmacists of teh future. As a staff member of the Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, he observes that the human body is chronically affected by unhealthy nutrition.
“Even though our food has become cheaper, it has become much more unhealthy. We eat too much fats, animal proteins, carbohydrates and salt daily. And this unhealthy lifestyle leads to an increase in the number of overweight people and complaints like tiredness and concentration problems," reveals Joosten.
Not only babies have to get their vegetables from a very young age, but also adults who want children. “Vitamins and minerals are passed on through the sperm of the man and the egg of the woman. A pregnant woman with a healthy eating pattern can already influence her child positively.''
In practice, it turns out that we eat far too few vegetables. This can lead to a shortage of vitamins, minerals and fibers. Koen Joosten acknowledges that physicians lack knowledge about it. "It's literally an unimportant aspect in the education. This really must change. It is therefore appropriate that a congress for growers, policymakers and physicians is organized annually, to highlight all aspects of healthy food. ''