In recent months I've heard two respected doctor friends (and my new neighbor who gave up a career as a naturopath to sell supplements) say that we need to be concerned because the soil in which our food is grown is depleted of vitamins and minerals. I've a simple answer. If there is a deficiency in a mineral or vitamin needed for the growth of a plant, it will not yield (commercially) viable amounts of that fruit or vegetable. The mere presence of a crop demonstrates there is an ample supply of the nutrients it needs in the soil.

Even the (IMHO) reputable Consumer Reports on Health says that the depleted soil argument is a common misconception often harnessed to sell supplements. True, there's some variation in mineral content between identical crops grown in different regions. But that difference is generally insignificant and reflects geological factors, not as is often suggested, soil that has been 'farmed out.'

As Dr. Shaw Reid, Professor of Soil, Crop and Atmospheric Science at Cornell points out, improved farming methods, decreases in soil erosion, and fertilizers have made our soil richer than ever. He also notes, since a plant essentially only takes up inorganic minerals or nutrients, it doesn't matter to a plant whether the minerals come from a synthetic or an "organic" fertilizer.

A recent issue of the University of California, Berkeley Wellness Letter also addressed the same concern and summed it up like this: "As any gardener knows, plants just won't grow properly in depleted soil. Vitamins in plants are created by the plants themselves. Minerals -- such as phosphorus, potassium, iodine, calcium, copper, iron, selenium, fluoride, molybdenum, and zinc -- must come from the soil. If the elements aren't there, the plant droops, fails to flower and may die. If the fruits and vegetables you buy look healthy, you can be certain they contain the nutrients they should."

So, stop wasting your time worrying about depleted soil (especially if you're not exercising). Whether or not the produce you buy is organic, if it looks decent it's going to be a better source of the nutrients you need than the expensive supplements someone may be attempting to sell you. Instead, buy foods in all the colors of the rainbow--you'll also get the full spectrum of vitamins and minerals your body loves. For good measure, cut back on foods that have added sugar or fat or additives and preservatives. Don't bother talking to me about depleted soil. There are more important things for us to discuss.