Have you heard something like: “No man of today can eat enough fruits and vegetables to supply his system with the mineral salts he requires for perfect health”? This statement was made way back in 1936 by a scientist presenting to Congress on soil mineral depletion. Even in 1936, experts realized that commercial fertilization methods were ruining the integrity of American grown products – they simply don’t add the nutrients and trace minerals needed for healthy plants. These experts tried to make the country see what was happening back then, but we still haven’t learned the lesson.

Minerals, minerals everywhere?

If over 70 years ago, our foods were mineral depleted, you can probably imagine what they are like now. Let’s take a look at apples for example. In 1914, eating an apple would give you almost half of the minimum daily requirement of iron. Today, you would have to eat 26 apples to get the same amount of iron as from the apple from 1914. Iron is not the only important nutrient that has been affected (having dropped by 96%). Calcium levels have dropped 48%, phosphorous levels have dropped 84% and magnesium has dropped 82%!

Without these minerals, our plants are not healthy, and therefore, neither are we. And we are missing out on what good food is supposed to taste like! Minerals that the plants are supposed to be getting from the soil change the taste of the food. Higher mineral content correlates to higher sugar contents, making the foods taste better. Less minerals means less taste – anybody that has had a tomato on some fast food chain salad knows exactly what I am talking about!

Another thing to take into consideration is that we are not  talking about only raw foods here. Processing and cooking foods removes even more mineral content, up to 90%.

Here are some more shocking numbers describing mineral levels over the last 80 years:

• Calcium levels have dropped 81% in cabbage, 92% in lettuce and 56% in spinach
• Magnesium levels have dropped 77% in cabbage, 91% in lettuce and 35% in spinach
• Iron levels have dropped 60-99% in the same vegetables

These trends are not only happening in plants, but in all fresh foods, including chicken, beef and rice just to name a few. We can see drops in mineral content as well as vitamin content.

Making up the difference

Because it is getting harder and harder (if not impossible) to get all the minerals and vitamins you need for a healthy life from foods alone, supplementation should be considered. In 2002 the Journal of the American Medical Association made the following statement, “Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins or minerals alone. Pending evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials it appears prudent of all adults to take vitamin supplements.” This is a very meaningful statement coming from the Journal of American Medical Association; they have been skeptical of supplementation since the concept was introduced.

If you are interested in living a more healthful, longer life, talk to us about your diet and what supplements may work for you.