Many of us try to eat the suitable food to promote a healthy body. If our fruits, vegetables and whole grains are grown in depleted or contaminated soils, how much good are we really doing for our bodies? It's likely you have also heard the term soil depletion, but what does it really mean to the average consumer?Why Are Our Soils Depleted?
The common industrialized farming techniques have depleted the soils of trace minerals leaving our plants deficient of vital nutrients. Out of the 70+ trace minerals that were originally in nutrient-rich soils, modern methods replenish merely 4 or 5. The lack of trace minerals greatly disturbs natural processes like vitamin utilization or disease protection. Mineral deficiency has resulted in a 90% loss of vitamins and minerals present in the plants. Therefore, depleted soils produce nutritionally deficient crops that only provide a minimal nutritional value to the animals or humans that consume them.
Since the crops that are grown in depleted soils are more susceptible to insect infestations, viruses, and diseases, an increase in the utilization of toxic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers often result. Unfortunately, these chemicals destroy the natural organic nutrients like soil nitrogen and kill beneficial microorganisms in the soil that could create healthy mineral complexes. The absence only fosters more fertilizers to be added to make up for the nutrients that were lost which only contributes to the problem of harmful pollutants in our soil.
Soil Pollution
Statistics show that U.S. factories emit 3 million tons of toxic chemicals into the environment every year. Of that, 2.2 billion pounds are pesticides. In addition to the chemicals that pollute our soil in many instances also pollutes other aspects of the environment. Toxic fumes are emitted into the air and can be seen as crop dusters spray the fields. During spraying, watering or rainfall, these chemicals may also make their way into the groundwater, polluting our streams, lakes and the inhabitants that live in them.
Considering that plants derive their food from the soil, whatever chemicals that are present in the soil are also absorbed by the plants. Root crops and vegetables containing these chemicals are consumed by humans. Hence, people absorb the same harmful chemicals and suffer from various health problems linked to chemicals present in the food supply.
One sad example is nitrate pollution. This happens when there is an excessive use of fertilizers, and has been known to cause methemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome. This condition happens when the blood cells are robbed of their ability to carry oxygen. If this is not treated, a baby can die. This usually happens in areas where nitrate levels are not closely monitored.
What Can We Do?
Until we make a change, the cycle will continue. We deplete our soils then need to add chemicals to allow those weakened crops to survive. These chemicals only further deplete our soils. We feed our livestock grains from the depleted and chemically contaminated soil. Besides adding chemicals and synthetic hormones to the animals that we consume as meat, ranchers must also add supplemental nutrients to the feed since the animals cannot grow healthy and strong off the nutrient deficient grains.
How do we make a change? Break the cycle of economic-based industrialized farming practices and go organic. Organic fertilizers put beneficial minerals back into the soil and avoid harmful chemicals that not only damage your health and longevity but to the environment as well. Sure organic costs more upfront but your health and well being are priceless.
