DOWN TO EARTH - Tackling nutrient deficiency

Nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver shares why we're coming up short of essential nutrients - and how it's affecting our bodies

In our fast-paced world, where convenience often takes precedence over nutrition, it's no surprise that many of us are not getting the vital nutrients our bodies need. Let's delve into this and explore how to address it.

ENVIRONMENTAL

The quality of our soil plays a crucial role in the nutritional value of the food we consume. Unfortunately, too many soils don't receive what they need when nutrient-dense replenishment or crop rotation are absent. Each time a crop is grown, essential nutrients are drawn out of the soil to fuel the plant's growth. Consequently, the nutritional value of the soil diminishes, affecting the food we ultimately consume. After all, if a nutrient isn't in the soil, it can't be in the food.

Add to this chemical fertilisers, which consist primarily of just three nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Astonishingly, this means there are at least 10 missing. The repercussions of relying on such limited soil care extend far beyond our food. This can have profound implications on the wellbeing of ecosystems and the overall sustainability of some agricultural practices.

Organic farming, biodynamic farming and some home gardeners recognise the pivotal role of the soil as the foundation of our food chain, meaning our health and the health of the planet benefits.

LIFESTYLE