Why Your Whole Food Diet Still Leaves You Nutrient Deficient

G'day mate,

Writing this one on the flight back to NYC after cooking on the famous Santa Monica Pier for one of my favorite annual events—Aussie Christmas in July. I’m still smelling like beef (in a good way), but what stuck with me even more than the grill marks was a question from one of the guests:

“If we eat whole foods every day, do we still need supplements?”

After a recent AG1 community summit and some powerful research that just dropped, I’ve got the answer. And I think you’ll find it eye-opening.

In this weeks Newsletter (4 min read)

🧬 The surprising history of our food system

🍅Why your plate looks better than it perform

📊What the data says—and how I personally close the gap

If your mate needs a nutrient boost, share this link with them. Make sure they subscribe to earn a prize!

🌱The Root of the Issue (Literally)

Let’s rewind. Nutrients don’t start on our plates. They start in the soil.

Hundreds of years ago, soil was naturally rich in a variety of minerals and microbes thanks to family farming—where different plants were rotated and grown together to nourish the earth. That variety meant your tomato or carrot pulled nutrients from a vibrant, living foundation.

Fast forward to today: we’ve traded biodiversity for efficiency. Mono-cropping—farming huge fields of a single crop—dominates agriculture. Sure, it’s practical. One machine can harvest acres of corn or wheat. But the downside? Soil becomes mineral-deficient and overworked. Roots don’t get a mix of nutrients, and neither do we.

Worse still, most soil doesn’t get time to rest or regenerate. Just like us, soil needs time to recover in order to function well. Without it, even the best-looking produce is running on empty.

💧Diluted Nutrition

Add to that another issue: water weight.

A lot of produce is now bred and irrigated to be bigger and heavier—which makes it look great on the shelf (and profitable by the kilo), but that weight often comes from water, not nutrition. The result? Modern tomatoes, for example, have less vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants than they did decades ago.

This isn’t fear-mongering. It’s just reality.

👨‍🔬The Research: Do We Still Need Supplements?

Now for the good stuff. At the AG1 summit last week, we reviewed data from a recent study. It asked a simple question: If someone eats a consistent, whole food diet, do they still experience nutrient gaps?

The answer? Yes. Across the board.

Across four clinical trials with 157 participants:

• 87% had at least one nutrient gap

• Most had four or more

• And the kicker? These were healthy, whole-food-eating adults

The study also showed that adding AG1 helped fill those gaps. We’re talking about measurable improvements in nutrient levels across a wide group of people. Not opinion—clinical data.

Even with great habits, our bodies aren’t getting—or absorbing—everything they need. This isn’t just about what’s on your plate, but what your body actually uses. That’s where bioavailability comes in—your ability to absorb nutrients depends on gut health, enzyme support, and pre/probiotics working behind the scenes.

🧠What I Personally Do

This stuff matters to me—not just for performance, but for showing up sharp every day.

I focus on three non-negotiables:

• ✅ A quality multivitamin to cover the basics

• ✅ Prebiotic fiber (remember: shoot for 34g/day)

• ✅ Probiotics to support absorption and gut health

And I get all of that (plus 75 vitamins, minerals, adaptogens, and enzymes) in one scoop of AG1.

It’s not about replacing food. It’s about supporting it—and filling the inevitable gaps even a clean diet leaves behind.

⚡️The Bottom Line

If you’ve ever said, “I eat well, so I don’t need supplements,” just remember:
 Your soil has changed. Your food has changed. Your body hasn’t.

So what can you do?
You can piece together a bunch of bottles from the supplement aisle…
Or you can do what I do: one scoop, every day.

AG1’s Next Gen formula now includes 5 clinically-backed probiotic strains to help you absorb nutrients better and feel supported where it matters most.

👉 Click here to try AG1 and support your daily routine.

Quick Notes

🐄Beef prices are up — for as breakdown of the most cost-effective protein options and tasty recipes CLICK HERE.

🥩I cooked so many steaks for Aussie Christmas in LA I couldn’t keep track. If you do want to splurge on beef, I have to say I think I have the perfect technique. For the best way to cook a steak CLICK HERE.

🎬 New YouTube video shows what we were up to in Switzerland: Hybrid Training & Product Testing at On Running HQ. WATCH HERE.

🏃‍♂️I’m officially in my training block for the Berlin Marathon. Stoked to keep pushing for my sub-3 and happy to bring you legends along for the ride.

#EatGoodFeelGood

DC