Fruits and vegetables are all nutritionally alike, right?
Wrong!
When you read a nutrition label at the supermarket, you only get part of the story. Some scientists claim that the average supermarket vegetable has 5% to 40% fewer micronutrients (like magnesium, iron and calcium) than vegetables that were grown 50 years ago.
Part of the problem lies with modern commercial farming practices. Single crops grown with synthetic fertilizers have led to the rapid demineralization of U.S. soil. Crops are often harvested early, before fruits and vegetables have even had a chance to fully absorb the nutrients available to them. If you’ve ever eaten a giant—yet totally flavorless—tomato, you know that bigger does not taste better. It’s certainly not better for your health, either.
It’s not surprising, then, that people are becoming more interested in eating healthy, nutritious food that they grow themselves. Good food begins with good soil, and spring is an excellent time to begin preparing your garden’s soil for the months ahead (read our related article here).
If you want to plant some power foods, consider these:
Artichokes are high in magnesium, a mineral that helps the body generate energy and keeps it from tiring out too quickly.
Strawberries are packed with vitamin C and other healthy antioxidants.
The iron in spinach won’t turn you into Popeye, but it will help deliver oxygen to your muscles for some much-needed energy.
Spears of asparagus are not only fun to eat, but they are also one of the best sources of the B vitamin folate.
Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which stimulates endorphins and can boost your mood.
The antioxidants in blueberries may help boost your brain power and improve your memory.
Lycopene is the antioxidant that gives tomatoes their bright red color and helps reduce the risks of cancer.
Healthy soil, healthy plants, healthy people. At Cascade Minerals, our mission is to help people eat more nutritious food that they grow themselves. Our all-natural remineralizing soil booster is made from massive basalt stones from Central Oregon’s legendary Cascade Mountains. Rocks are crushed to produce a finely ground, 100% natural product that is approved for organic production and releases the essential minerals and trace elements that plants and humans need to flourish.
