Re: Mineral Content of Foods

Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Wed, 22 Dec 1999 01:23:31 -0500

If we take out all the minerals but only replace NPK why wouldn't mineral
levels go down? Also, what if the only factor in selecting new varieties is
yeild with no regard for quality?

USDA has the mineral data on food but good luck getting ahold of it. I've
tried with no luck. I was told it was just a conspiracy but she wouldn't
send data to show me. That was after I was transferred about 15 times. We
have a huge food quality problem out here and they know it. I'd love to see
one of the investigative tv shows get ahold of the real data. It would make
a good case for a whole new paradigm than industrialised agriculture. I
wonder why they don't want that?
Best wishes,
Greg Gunthorp
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Miller <recycler@eclipse.net>
To: sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu <sanet-mg@ces.ncsu.edu>
Date: Tuesday, December 21, 1999 11:34 PM
Subject: Mineral Content of Foods

>Alan,
>
>You wrote:
>
>>Can anyone point me toward references on the mineral and vitamin content
>> of vegetables since 1900 or so?
>
>Try Rodale, parent of "Organic Gardening" in Emmaus, Penn. They reported
>(15 - 20 months ago) a great loss of minerals in broccoli grown in
>today's soils compared to that grown in the 40's (pre-war and
>pre-petro-pesticides). They made a clear argument that we have robbed
>the soil of natural minerals through pesticide and artificial
>fertilizers.
>
>While I might be leaving something out, short of erosion or run-off, I
>believe that the minerals would remain, it's just that the plant uptake
>might have changed. Or put another way, the minerals may be more readily
>available when the soil is healthy and alive but we have created "dead
>soil" through the use of chemicals. I know that potash contains
>potassium chloride a salt and that the chloride ion "kills" the soil
>(beneficial nematodes, mycelia cease to grow).
>
>Recycler Dave
>
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