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There are 50 essential elements each of us must get to be healthy. Take any one of them completely away, and we will eventually die for the lack of it. There are five widely separated groups of people on planet Earth who traditionally live well past 100 years old. Studies have shown in each case these agrarian societies get all 50 essential elements in their diets because of the unique circumstances of where they live. They also possess a pollution free environment. This includes clean air and water and a lack of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. Cancer and heart disease are virtually unknown among them as they live out their lives in seclusion.
That being the case, for argument sake, it is not a very big stretch of the imagination to propose that most of the people on the Earth are dying prematurely. Concerning taking care of ourselves, it is a sad commentary about our affluent North American society that with all our resources, we have only gone down hill within the last 100 years. In 1900, Cancer killed 3.3% of the population. Today it kills 25%. Heart disease killed 14.2% in 1900. Today it kills 33%. Ninety-five years ago, the American diet was vastly restricted from what it is now. On the surface, one would think these figures would drop as our food production methods and distribution have improved. But the opposite has happened. Much of the blame lies with the way we process our foods which is discussed on other pages.
From the following list of the essential nutrients, I hope you will notice
that we as North Americans must go a long way before we get the nutrients
our bodies must have.
% who get less than
Name RDA# the RDA in N. America
2 fatty acids grams
Linoleic Acid 3 5%
Alpha-Linolenic Acid 2 95%
Protein - 8 amino acids (10 for children)
grams
Isoleucine 1.1
Leucine 1.0 The average intake
Lysine 0.84 of protein in North
Methionine 0.65-1.3 America is 2 or 3
Phenylalanine 1.0 times the RDA.
Threonine 0.37-0.7
Tryptophan 0.5
Valine 0.85
Histidine Essential for children
Arginine Essential for children
13 Vitamins milligram/IU
Vitamin A 5000 IU 50%
Thiamine(B1) 1.2 45%
Riboflavin(B2) 1.7 34%
Niacin(B3) 20 33%
Pantothenic Acid(B5) 10 25%
Pyridoxine(B6) 2 80%
Biotin (B7) 0.3 10%
Folic Acid (B9) 0.4 10%
Cobalmin (B12) 0.006 34%
Vitamin C 60 41%
Vitamin D 400 IU 10%
Vitamin E 30 IU 20-40%
Vitamin K Unknown 15%
21 Minerals milligrams
Calcium 800-1200 68%
Phosphorus 800-1200 27%
Potassium 2000 ?
Sulphur Adequate Protein ?
Sodium 220 ?
Chlorine 220 ?
Magnesium 300-400 75%
Silicon ? 30%
Iron 18 57%
Fluorine 1 ?
Zinc 15 35-60%
Strontium 0.32* ?
Copper 2* 85-90%
Vanadium 1-3.2* ?
Selenium 0.05-.1* 50-60%
Manganese 2.5-7* 20-30%
Iodine 0.08-.15 ?
Nickel 0.01* ?
Molybdenum 0.045-.5* ?
Cobalt 0.008* ?
Chromium 0.6* 90%
A source of energy... Complex carbohydrates are best
Water
Oxygen
Light
# RDA stands for Recommended Daily Allowance
* No RDA set. Suggested by researchers.
Home Page: http://waltonfeed.com/
Much of the information for the EFA pages was taken from Fats that Heal Fats that Kill by Udo Erasmus, Published by Alive Books, Burnaby, BC, Canada 1-800-661-0303
All contents copyright (C) 1995-2000, Al Durtschi. All rights reserved.
Revised: 24 Jul 00