38 Apples a Day; Depletion of Minerals in Soil
A well-known English proverb speaks of eating an apple a day keeping the doctor away. It originated in Wales and was first time recorded in 1860s. Today, it is completely out of date.
You can see a titled my article 38 Apples a Day. This number was measured by comparing real apple's to the supermarket wannabe apple's vitamin C content. Basicly, you would have to eat 38 apples to get as much vitamin C as is found in one in the wild.
The content of apple is destroyed mainly by two influences:
- Soil is getting depleted. After about 70 years of "new age agriculture", the minerals including copper, zinc, iron, magnesium and others got lost. Industrial fertilizers don't replenish them and natural ones are not used as much today. From 1941 till 1991, the amount of copper in food was reduced to 1/5, the amount of zinc to 2/5, iron to 1/2, and magnesium to 7/10 just for example.
- Using modern technologies, the apples can be stored for more than year. I think it is two years ago, when European Union approved Smart Gas for use on apples. It increases the time of storing apples safely by one year. They have to be in the cold dark room with a little oxygen to protect them from turning brown. It increases their lifespan tremendously, but even when they keep their color, most antioxidants including C vitamin are lost at the time. Sugar and fiber are more stable, so they remain.
Aforementioned study included only the nutritional value change. However, the amount of free radicals and toxins in the air grows every year. You need more antioxidants to eliminate them than the people 70 years ago needed. Because of that, the real amount of apples you would have to eat to keep a doctor away could be as high as 45 or more.
Yet, we have to take into consideration the pesticides, herbicides, preservatives, chemical wax replacing the original one and more toxic substances, which will rather keep the doctor very busy with you. Also, eating so many fruits of acidic nature would certainly damage your intestinal wall or stomach. No, this proverb can not be updated to fit the year of 2018. Next time you use it, say instead:
An apple a day will be of no avail to health. 38 Apples a day will kill you right away.
Note: Strong digestive tract would handle that many apples. But it goes without arguement the pesticides would intoxicate your body and shorter your life greatly, if you don't remove them fast.
The solution is to buy fresh organic just-picked from the garden. Or grown your own. Even if you use industrial fertilizers, you will harm yourself not. Pesticides won't be in the apple.
Appendix
One of the sources was a book advertised in my article.
@greenmask9
What is your favourite proverb? Do you grow organic?
Ahhh I eat two apples a day thought I was doing something good for myself.
I don't always buy organic because they aren't always very good eating. I'm pretty sure it at least lowered my cholesterol which was too high.
I wouldn't be sure about that. There are not enough long term studies on various pesticides and chemicals used on apples. It might have helped with cholesterol and caused other health issues. It might have helped with cholesterol for a short period, but contribute to worsening the problem in the future. Or it might have not helped other way but placebo.
True tanx for the tip
What a fascinating post! I'm so glad I have a collection of apple trees now (amongst others). I grow mine in huge tubs, keep the branches to a minimum (to save energy wastage when flowering) and make sure they never get touched by the evil chemical world.
I also use my crab apples, and any rotting apples (those that fell and I missed) in my compost, so it's another way of recycling some natural goodness to share between my garden plants.
It's nice to see all my efforts aren't in vain, especially if homegrown is far more superior vitamin-wise than shop bought.
Thank you so much for sharing!