PLANT AND HUMAN HEALTH

As early as the 1930’s, federal officials in Washington became concerned with the long-term effects of soil nutrient depletion. Of particular concern was the anticipated increase in plant and human diseases that would result. This led to the release of Senate Document 264 in 1936; which reviews the results of research conducted by Dr. Charles Northen. These are excerpts from that document: “……in an orange grove infested with scale, when he restored the mineral balance to part of the soil, the trees growing in that part became clean while the rest remained diseased. …… In Florida, many cattle die from an obscure disease called “salt sickness”. It has been found to arise from a lack of iron and copper in the soil……You would think, wouldn’t you, that a carrot is a carrot, that one is as good as another? But it isn’t; one carrot may look and taste like another and yet be lacking in the particular mineral element which your system requires and which carrots are supposed to contain.”

From a North Carolina State University study on soil health and disease suppression:

“The organic plots had 153% more microbial biomass carbon than the conventional plots by the end of the three year cycle……It has since been proven that soil microbial activity can offer protection from a range of diseases.”

A recent article in Nexus Magazine on mineral depletion in Africa:

“If we are going to have any hope of halting the AIDS pandemic and of slowing the diffusion of Hepatitis B and C, the dietary intake of selenium must be increased in such areas. It is clear also that, even in the developed world, additional selenium could greatly reduce cancer incidence and lower mortality from myocardial infarction.”

In a report from a Southwestern University, studying the effect of selenium on cancerous polyps:

“……Selenium is highly concentrated in the soil of only six states: The Dakotas, Utah, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Anyone who lives in these states and eats ample amounts of locally grown fruits and vegetables daily is probably getting a good selenium intake, but the rest of us are probably not……”

From a mid-western university:

……Symptoms of magnesium deficiency include tremors, muscular weakness, confusion, nervousness, hallucinations and swallowing difficulties.

From the American Pharmaceutical Association, Practical Guide to Natural Medicines:

“……people taking daily selenium supplements of 200 mcg per day for ten years…. there were 71% fewer prostate cancers, 67% fewer esophageal cancers, 62% fewer colorectal cancers, and 46% fewer lung cancers………the body can probably use selenium from dietary sources better than it can from dietary supplements.”

From private research:

“Low zinc levels can slow wound healing after surgery, and delay tissue regrowth after damage resulting from Chemotherapy and radiation. Copper deficiency is a major cause of aortic aneurysms in a wide variety of animals.”

From Senate Document 264:

“Bear in mind that minerals are vital to human metabolism and health – and no plant can appropriate to itself any mineral which is not present in the soil upon which it feasts.”