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Intensive Farming and Trace Element Loss
Trace element loss in our foods is truly shocking.
Recent research ('Nutrition and Health', the Journal of the McCarrison Society for Nutrition & Health, Vol 17: no 2) is the first peer-reviewd comprehensive study of trace element loss from our food.
Confirming US research, Government research on trace element content in our foods from 1940 to 1991 was studied. Extensive erosion has been seen in more recent years showing that we are in an even worse state now.
Plants obtain these elements from the soil and this is reliant on good farming methods to retain the quality of the land. However, the expansion of intense farming methods over this period, including increased use of nitrogen-phosphate-potash (NPK) fertilisers has left us with plants that are forced to grow but have no trace elements. Without trace elements we are less able to fight oxidative cell damage, support a healthy metabolism and maximise brain activity, among other problems.
Vegetables were depleted of:
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Fruits were depleted of:
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Low trace elements have been linked to obesity, insulin resistance, heart disease, mental illness and general immune system based symptoms.
Growing vegetables in your own garden is a great way to move away from this. Or buying your fruit and vegetables from local or permaculture farms, else certified 'Biodynamic' farming is best. Most organic farms are cetainly an improvement over regular supermarket foods, however even organic farms are based around intensive farming methods.
Mineral Deficiency Chart (symptoms)- and these are just what we know of.
See below for organic raw sources of these and other minerals
ACNE ANAEMIA ARTHRITIS ASTHMA BRITTLE NAILS BIRTH DEFECTS CANCER CANDIDA CARDIOVASCUALR DISEASE CHRONIC FATIGUE CONSTIPATION CRAMPLS DEPRESSION DIABETES DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS ECZEMA OEDEMA GOITER (LOW THYROID) HAIR LOSS GREYING HAIR HYPER ACTIVITY HYPOTHERMIA IMMUNE SYSTEM WEAKENESS IMPOTENCE INFERTILITY LIVER DYSFUNCTION MEMORY LOSS MUSCULAR WEAKNESS SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION WRINKLES AND SAGGING |
Zinc, Sulfur Iron, Cobalt, Copper, Selenium Calcium, Copper, Magnesium, Potassium, Boron Manganese, Zinc, Potassium, Iron, Zinc Zinc, Copper, Cobalt, Selenium, Magnesium, Manganese Selenium, Germanium Zinc, Selenium, Chromium Calcium, Copper, Magneisum, Potassium, Selenium, Manganese Zinc, Selenium, Chromium Vanadium Iron, Magnesium, Potassium Calcium, Sodium Calcium, Sodium Chromium, Vanadium, Zinc Chlorine, Chromium, Zinc Zinc Potassium Iodine, Copper Copper, Zinc Copper Chromium, Zinc Magnesium, Lithium Magnesium Zinc, Selenium, Chromium Selenium, Zinc, Manganese, Calcium, Chromium Calcium, Zinc, Selenium, Chromium, Copper, Cobalt, Manganese Cobalt, Selenium, Chromium, Zinc Manganese Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Boron Selenium, Zinc, Manganese Copper |
Mineral Source Chart
| Mineral | Function | Sources | Deficiency | Excess | best source | good for | other notes | works with |
| Calcium | Muscle contraction & relaxation, vision, teeth & bone formation | Nuts & seeds (almonds, brazil and hemp being some of the highest), cheeses, parsley, dry figs, apricots, sunshine, Custard apple contains 800mg per fruit; Beware of phosphorus content which strips away any useful calcium (see CaPNaK chart) | leg cramps (especially at night) | unusual | best fruit source by far is oranges, dairy product=parmesan, swiss then cheddar cheese and not forgetting exercise! | nursing mothers, pregnant women, elderly, regulates heartbeat, bowel cancer prevention | Stimulate enzymes | magnesium phosphorous, vitamin D |
| Chlorine | Works with sodium and potassium, regulates body acidity | Olives, Tomatoes, celery, iceberg lettuce, kelp, spinach, beetroot | digestive disorders, weak water retention, loss of weight | Tomatoes, celery, lettuce | also found in cabbage, garlic, parsnips, avocado, dates, coconut | |||
| Chromium | Blood sugar metabolism, also protein and cholesterol metabolism | Brewers yeast, mushrooms, asparagus, whole grains, wheatgerm, wholemeal bread | craving for sweets or alcohol, increase risk of heart attack, low energy | vomiting, diarrhoea, weakens liver & kidneys | pregnant women, diabetics | levels lowered by too much sugar consumption, though it balances blood sugar | vitamin b3 and exercise | |
| Cobalt | Blood formation, part of B12 | Meat, milk, oysters | muscular atrophy, scaly skin | meat | good for drinkers and strict vegetarians | |||
| Copper | An antioxidant that works with blood formation | Cashew nuts, bananas, mushroom, peas, legumes, nuts, whole grains | weak utilisation of iron, anaemia, bad respiration, limited growth | leek, garlic, steamed artichoke, parsley, beetroot | Also works with hair & skin pigments | Also found in molasses | ||
| Fluoride | Decreases dental cavities, bones | Almonds, carrots, beet, potatoes, spinach, celery, cauliflower, cabbage | tap water | sweet eaters | Also found in watercress, parsley, cucumber, most western tap water | |||
| Iodine | Thyroid metabolism (for energy) | Green peppers, onions, pineapple, okra, cucumber, watermelon | lower body temperature | brassy taste, gastrointestinal irritations | All sea vegetables (kombu, hijiki, nori, arame etc.) | pregnant and nursing mothers, adolescents | Also found in spinach, asparagus, carrot | |
| Iron | Development of blood cells, immune boosting, energy, O2 to brain, skin, nails | Hemp Seeds, beans, nuts, watermelon, apricot, cherry, apples, grapes, pineapple, oranges, whole grain | anaemia, low energy, short breath | liver toxicity, increase in respiratory system | Bran and dried beans & lentils | good for most persons | Also found in molasses, dried bananas, lettuce, asparagus, pumpkin seed, fenugreek seed, greenleaf curd | vitamin C, E, calcium, folic acid, phosphorus and healthy intestines |
| Magnesium | Muscle relaxation, metabolism of calcium, vitamin C and sodium/potassium, digestion, heart muscle, liver detoxification, cramps. | Okra, dried figs, dried apricots, broccoli, almonds, tomatoes, lemon, apples, bananas, figs, hemp seeds, brazil nuts, pecan, walnut, carrot, celery, leek, lettuce | insomnia, exhaustion and irritability, constipation, skin problems | laxative | Tomatoes, spinach, lettuce, grasses. Also found in spinach and other chlorophyll rich foods, wheatgerm | good for most persons. Also relaxes bowel (hence milk of magnesia- but try natural sources which work just as well!) | levels lowered by too much sugar consumption | B1, B6, C, D, zinc, calcium and phosphorus |
| Manganese | An anti-oxidant, blood sugar, thyroid, works with EFA metabolism | Hemp seeds are a very good source, walnuts, apricots, peas, parsley, carrots, beetroot, watercress, blackberries | aching joints, blood sugar problems, restricted growth | muscle fatigue, impotency | Also activates enzymes | zinc, vitamins E, B1, C and K | ||
| Molybdenum | clears uric acid, detoxifies body | tomatoes, wheatgerm | teeth problems | protein and a good diet | ||||
| Phosphorous | Bones and teeth, kidney stones, metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, aids weak circulation | Most seed & nuts (especially. brazil and walnut), squash, cucumber, oranges, kale, radishes, asparagus, sorrel | bone loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, unusual | bone re-absorption, limited growth, general weakness | grasses, parmesan cheese, wheat germ, brazil nuts | pregnant and nursing mothers, adolescents, maintains pH level | Also found in watercress, carrots, cauliflower | calcium, vitamin D |
| Potassium | As sodium, plus maintains heart | Carrot juice, sunflower seed, tomatoes, oranges, lemons, apricots, bananas, dates, grapes, figs, peaches, | fatigue, depression | vomiting, weakness, confusion, heart &nervous system problems | Tomato, kale, grasses and dulse. Also found in raspberries, watermelon, olives, peanuts | drinkers, athletes and adolescents | levels lowered by too much sugar consumption but also found in carrots, celery, parsley, spinach, beetroot, cauliflower, leeks, garlic, sorrel, mint | magnesium |
| Selenium | An anti-oxidant, immune strength, liver de-tox | Wheat germ, organic tomatoes, onions, broccoli, garlic, eggs, mushrooms | grasses grown in healthy organic soil | pregnant and nursing mothers, adolescent, city dwellers, elderly | Vitamins A, C and E | |||
| Silicon | Hair & nails | Whole grains, most sweet fruits, cucumbers, lettuce, parsnip, asparagus, beetroot | lettuce (preferably lambs) | Also found in , leeks, okra, parsley, green pepper, radishes, spinach, watercress | ||||
| Sodium | Acid base balance, adrenal support, nerves, blood pressure, bodys water content controller | Miso, tomatoes, strawberries, squash, cabbage, cucumbers, apples, apricots | nausea, anorexia | excess water intake, diarrhoea, blood pressure rise | Miso, celery, spinach | pregnant and nursing mothers, adolescent, athletes | Excess can also lead to calcium loss (Osteoporosis). Also found in watermelon, pears. | Vitamin D and Potassium |
| Sulphur | Part of B complex, vitamin & protein metabolism | Raspberries, pineapple, currants, apples, brazil nuts, brussel sprouts | restricted growth, poor growth of nails and hair, eczema, dermatitis | Kale, watercress | adolescents and athletes | Also found in watercress, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, sorrel | ||
| Zinc | An anti-oxidant responsible for most body functions incl. immune, reproductive, endocrine, enzymatic functions | Sesame Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Nuts and legumes, wheat germ, yeast, lentils, corn, oysters | white speckles on fingernails, infertility, hair & skin problems, immune system | diarrhoea | Oysters | levels lowered by too much sugar consumption | A nutrient lost in semen. For most persons | Vitamins A, E, B6, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus |