Like most industries farming is influenced by profits.  Since the 1950’s new technology has made it possible for farmers to grow higher yielding crops and less weeds.  That all sounds good right?  It is good financially but the downside is that because crops are designed to grow fast and produce as much yield as possible they are often deplete of nutrients. The plants grow so fast they simply can’t absorb the nutrients from the soil, and often the soil itself is depleted to begin with anyway. 

The USDA collected crop nutrition information in the 1950’s.  Subsequent studies have been comparing current crop nutrient values to these former crops to see if and how they differ.  Recent crops have been show to be different in the following ways: 

• Calcium levels have dropped 27%

• Iron levels have dropped 37%

• Vitamin C levels have dropped 30%

• Significant declines have also been shown in protein, Vitamin B12, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin E.

Some vitamins and minerals our bodies can make themselves but there are several that are “essential” and must be obtained through our diet.  These include: 

• Vitamin D

• Vitamin C

• Calcium

• Vitamin A

• Iron

• Magnesium

• Vitamin E

• Zinc

• Vitamin K

• Folic acid

• Vitamin B12

• Potassium

• Vitamin B6

• Iodine

• Niacin

• Riboflavin

• Thiamine

• Selenium

• Phosphorus

• Copper

• Manganese

So even if you are eating a perfectly well balanced diet (does that even exist??) you are still almost certainly not getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs for optimal health.

That’s why supplements are a KEY component to a healthy life!