Mineral Deficiencies. What Is Your Soil Missing?
Studies have documented depletion of different minerals in soil. One such study compared mineral content differences in fruits and vegetables between 1940 and 1991:
Percent Change in average mineral content between 1940 and 1991
In another study by Dr. August Dunning, a scientist at Eco Organics it was found that one apple contained 4.3 mg of iron in 1950, and 0.18 mg in 1998. This means that in 1998, you would need to eat 25 more apples to get the same amount of iron contained in one apple in 1950.
Minerals – One of the 4 Groups of Essential Nutrients
As a group, minerals are one of the four groups of essential nutrients, the others of which are vitamins, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids.
The five major minerals in the human body are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and magnesium.
There are 16 essential minerals: calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium chloride, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, iodine and selenium, molybdenum, chromium, and fluoride.
Another Study Conducted at UCLA
In 1953, 1 bowl of spinach gave us our daily intake of iron. By 1997, it takes 43 bowls of spinach to give us our daily intake of iron. There has not been an updated look at this study since then. Given the overuse of our soils and the lack of attention to replacing key minerals, including iron, one can only assume in 2018, it would require more than 43 bowls. 43 BOWLS!! Man, you gotta love a lot of spinach!!!
UCLA study: 1953 vs. 1997 mineral content