Mineral Depletion in the Soil Directly Impacts Your Health!

Sometimes, we humans like to pretend that we are separate from our environment and that we can do whatever we want. But the truth is that we are intrinsically linked to the earth! What we do affects our environment and our environment has huge impacts on us- and often the two are linked! Back in 1992 the official report of the Earth Summit concluded, “There is deep concern over continuing major declines in the mineral values in farm and range soils throughout the world.” The Earth Summit based their concern on data showing mineral levels declining dramatically over the last 100 years----72% declines in Europe, 76% in Asia, and 85% in North America. Nutrient decline in our food has been further documented by in other studies published by Rogan in 1995, Oliver  in1997,  Deckers and Vanclooster in 1998; and Murphy et al   in 2008. Trace minerals are incredibly important to the health and function of the human body. We need them to ward off sickness and disease; we need them for proper organ, brain, and lymphatic function; we need them to act as antioxidants to fight off cancer-causing free radicals. And so much more! The essential micro-minerals are vital to our health and well-being. And yet, we are getting less and less of them in our diets as time goes on. Yes, the unhealthy American diet is a contributing factor to this- too many hot dogs and not enough broccoli. However, there is something more subtle going on that many people may not realize: even if you eat your recommended servings of fruits and vegetables, you may not be getting all the nutrients you need! 

The fruits and vegetables currently in the main markets are not as nutritious as they could be- or as they once were! There are many contributing factors to this, including plants being bred for travel and color, rather than for nutrient quality. Food crops are often stored or processed for long periods of time, contributing to loss of nutrients. There is also a growing body of evidence to show that pesticides and chemical fertilizers contribute to low nutrient quality in crops. Current food crops are seriously deficient in several minerals including selenium, zinc, magnesium and calcium.  

However, the biggest threat to the nutrient content of our food crops is the soil itself. This is fairly straightforward logic: the more nutrient-rich the soil is, the more nutrients plants can uptake and, therefore, the more nutrients we absorb when we eat them! Many commercial farms are only using chemical NPK fertilizers on their crops- the bare minimum to keep their plants alive. NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) are just a few of the many nutrients that plants, including dozens of trace minerals. Plants with reduced nutrient content are less healthy for us for more than one reason: they are less nutritious and usually more laden with the harmful pesticides needed to keep them healthy (since they lack the strength to do it themselves). The foundation of human health is the quality of food we eat, which relies ultimately on the vitality of the soil on which it is raised. Dr. Linus Pauling asserted, “You can trace every sickness, every disease and every ailment to a mineral deficiency.” As research continues, Linus Pauling appears prophetic. Links are being revealed between soil mineral depletion and anemia, osteoporosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, goiter, fibrocystic breast disease, nervous disorders, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, multiple scerosis, high cholesterol, Parkinson’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease, epilepsy, bladder and kidney disease, dysbiosis, celiac disease, IBS, Crohn’s disease, allergies, prostate disease, dizziness, heat stress ulcers and maybe even the common cold. 

  What can be done about this? Well, luckily, most local, organic farms do their part to boost the soil with the full spectrum of minerals, though it is not guaranteed unless you talk to the farmer. Your best bet is to grow your own food and make sure your soil is nutrient-packed! The best way to do this is to add John and Bob’s Maximize to your soil to boost both the mineral content and the microbes that help increase mineral availability to plants. The minerals are food for both plants and soil micro-organisms; they immediately enliven soil of all kinds. Adding minerals and beneficial micro-organisms to soil is like turning on a light switch in a dark room – life and vitality increase and abound. By adding our other three products, Nourish-Biosol, Optimize and Penetrate, you also provide plants and soil organisms with the organic matter they need to turn your soil into a thriving, self-sustaining powerhouse, full of vibrant life and nutrient availability. Our MAXIMIZE contains nearly every beneficial mineral found naturally in the earth, in a chelated form readily and uniquely available to plants and to soil microbes. In addition to MAXIMIZE, our entire system is made of soil microbes, food for microbes and attractants for microbes. It is this complex blend of microbes in soil that is the key to micronutrient richness and micronutrient availability. Lively soil is the solution to micronutrient depletion in soil, and our John & Bob’s system offers a convenient, affordable way to apply and develop complex life in your own garden soil.  

 The soil of our great earth is forever linked to our health, so long as our food grows in it. The nutrient-rich soil created by the John and Bob’s system will help you to grow the healthiest, most nutritious fruits and vegetables, to ensure that you are getting all the vital minerals you need to be at your healthiest! Reference: Paddington, Debbie Dip ION. 2011. “Mineral depletion in our soils – a growing problem.” http://www.nutripeople.co.uk/News.asp?articleid=927