Tag: Soil composition

Up to 95% of our food nutrients are derived from the soil. Understanding what are the nutritional facts of soil, and how they interact to support plant life, is fundamental to sustainable agriculture and overall ecosystem health.

Brazil nuts are a powerhouse of selenium, with a single nut potentially containing over 100% of the recommended daily intake. This extraordinary concentration is a result of a combination of factors, including the unique Amazonian soil, the Brazil nut tree's specialized absorption mechanisms, and the chemical properties of selenium itself.

According to a study found by the National Institutes of Health, the tea plant, *Camellia sinensis*, is a known hyperaccumulator of fluoride, extracting it efficiently from the soil. This phenomenon reveals that natural fluoride content in plants can vary significantly and is influenced by environmental conditions.

Trace amounts of fluoride are naturally present in virtually all foods, including fruits, because it is an element found in the earth's crust. The presence of fluoride in fruits is not an added chemical but a result of natural absorption from the soil and water during plant growth. The concentration varies widely depending on environmental factors, as plants readily absorb this mineral from their surroundings.

According to research compiled by COOKcal.Info, a 100g serving of tomatoes contains approximately 0.029 mg of lithium. However, the precise amount of lithium in a tomato is not fixed, as it can vary significantly depending on the soil composition and geographic location where it was grown. This article explores the scientific factors behind this variability and compares the lithium content of tomatoes to other common foods.

According to soil scientists, clay soil can have a cation exchange capacity (CEC) over 50% higher than sandy soil, making it far more fertile. This inherent ability to retain essential minerals is the primary reason why clay can hold a lot of nutrients, offering a significant advantage for gardeners and farmers who know how to manage it effectively.

Research confirms that cabbage contains trace amounts of lithium, a naturally occurring mineral found in soil and water. However, the exact quantity of lithium in cabbage is highly variable, depending heavily on the geographical location and soil composition where it was grown.

While commonly known for its medicinal use in psychiatry, research shows that lithium is a naturally occurring element found in trace amounts in many foods and drinking water. The amount of naturally occurring lithium ingested through diet is significantly lower than therapeutic doses and is not considered toxic in these trace amounts. The presence of dietary lithium depends heavily on local soil and water composition where food is grown or sourced.