Why Supplementing With Vitamins Matters More Than Ever in an Era of Topsoil Erosion
The Silent Crisis Beneath Our Feet
The food we eat is only as healthy as the soil it grows in. But here’s the problem: our topsoil—the rich, upper layer of earth that nurtures crops—is disappearing at an alarming rate. Due to industrial agriculture, over-tilling, chemical fertilizers, and deforestation, fertile topsoil is being eroded up to 30 times faster than it can be replenished.
What does this mean for you and me? In simple terms: the fruits and vegetables we consume today may contain far fewer nutrients than they did just decades ago.
Declining Nutrient Density in Food
Research has shown that many modern crops contain significantly lower levels of vitamins and minerals than those grown in the mid-20th century. A landmark 2004 study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found notable declines in protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and vitamin C in 43 garden crops from 1950 to 1999.
This drop isn’t just about tasteless tomatoes—it’s about our collective health and immunity.
Why Supplementation Is No Longer a Luxury
Given the nutritional depletion in our food supply, diet alone may no longer be sufficient to meet daily vitamin and mineral needs—especially for vulnerable groups such as:
People recovering from trauma or chronic stress
Individuals with PTSD or hormonal imbalances
Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
People on restrictive diets (including many vegans and vegetarians)
Neurodivergent individuals with sensory-related food aversions
Supplementation becomes a bridge—a way to restore what our soil, and therefore our diets, are lacking.
What Should You Supplement?
While everyone’s needs are different (we recommend blood work or consultation with a health practitioner), common deficiencies related to soil-depleted foods include:
Magnesium – Crucial for nervous system health and often missing in processed foods.
Zinc – Key for immunity and wound healing.
Iron – Especially important for menstruating individuals.
Vitamin B Complex – Important for mental health, cognition, and energy metabolism.
Vitamin D – Not soil-based, but commonly deficient due to indoor lifestyles.
Iodine & Selenium – Often missing from crops grown in depleted soils.
