Friday, September 25, 2009

Our Fruit and Vegetable Supply

In 1936, a group of doctors sounded an alarm to the US Senate. It was a dire warning that the mineral content of the soil was eroding. Vegetables were losing their power and people were at risk. Congress did nothing and today we're feeling the effects.

Just look at the loss of vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables today compared to 1975.
Apples: vitamin A is down 41%
Sweet peppers: vitamin C is down 31%
Watercress: iron is down 88%
Broccoli: calcium and vitamin A are down 50%
Cauliflower: vitamin C is down 45%; vitamin B1 is down 48%; and vitamin B2 is down 47%
Collards greens: vitamin A is down 45%; potassium is down 60%; and magnesium is down 85%


These are the USDA's own numbers. The vitamin and mineral content of our fruits and vegetables has dramatically plummeted - in just 34 years!


Notice that minerals like iron and magnesium have dropped by more than 80 percent. That's from commercial farming and powerful fertilizers that practically sterilize the soil - leaving it with little to no mineral content.

If the soil doesn't have minerals, there's no way for vegetables to absorb them. And that leads to the big question…

How Can We Get the Vitamins and Minerals We Need?
It is important to purchase as many organics as you possibly can. This doesn't just mean USDA certified organic but the small local farmer in your area that you can trust when they tell you they do not add synthetic fertilizers or dangerous pesticides. Studies show that organic produce carries at least 50% more vitamins and minerals than that of conventional.

Another great way to get an abundance of nutrients is from spirulina, a "green food" with the nutritional power of 1,000 pounds of assorted vegetables! It's the oldest food on earth, arriving on this planet over 3.5 billion years ago.

Spirulina is a kind of blue-green algae. After 30 years of clinical study, researchers agree it's the world's richest source of vitamins, minerals, iron, protein and a host of other energizing and detoxifying nutrients.


It's so powerful in fact, that scientists at NASA consider it the perfect food for astronauts when they travel into space.


So don't rely on commercially grown fruits and vegetables alone. Start taking a green food supplement with spirulina to ensure you're getting all the nutrients your body needs.


Kombu
This powerful sea vegetable is a valuable mineral booster as well as gas reducer and the secret ingredient in speeding up the cooking process of your beans! I advise my clients to simmer a strip of kombu in a cup of chicken or vegetable broth for an additional mineral booster. Add to your soups, stews and chilis. Move over Beano, we have Kombu!

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