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Fulvic acid is important to our bodies, and we used to get a lot of it in our soil. It’s important for plants, too. It contains electrolytes, increases the plant’s capacity to absorb nutrients, can absorb radiation from the sun, and protects the plant from toxins in the soil. (Wolbert)
Centuries ago, the earth was filled with vibrant plant life, soil microbes, and organic matter that made the soil absolutely ideal for growing. Recently, in Japan, ancient soil deposits were drilled nearly two miles beneath the ocean floor, revealing the strong presence of nutrients, and microbes still alive and preserved--unexposed to above sea level elements like pesticides and herbicides. (Jex)
Our modern-day farming practices have left our soils depleted, meaning our bodies are depleted of nutrients as well.
In fact, some experts even believe that by overusing antibacterials and washing our produce, we’re actually harming ourselves and our own gut microbiome. This might be true if we grew the veggies ourselves, didn’t use conventional fertilizer, and closely monitored the growing environment. But the truth is, while the dirt on vegetables might be beneficial to our microbiomes, the abundance of pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals definitely are not.
Generations ago, our ancestors may have been able to receive fulvic and humic acid from the plants they consumed, but that is no longer the case. With the dawn of the Agricultural and Industrial Revolutions, farmers became concerned about improving crop yield and increasing growth. In the past, they would let some parts of the field lie fallow, meaning the soil was able to rest for a period of time to replenish the nutrients and fulvic acid. During the 18th century, farmers instead began rotating crops. They would plant turnips, which had deeper roots that could reach nutrients other, shallower plants could not. They also planted clovers, which could convert nitrogen in the soil to other minerals.
The lands became more industrialized, improving trade and opportunity for more money, so there was no longer time to let fields stay empty, which is what they needed to replenish the nutrients and minerals stripped from the soil when plants are grown.
It’s easy to see how modern-day farming practices have helped farmers produce more crops and make more money, but the plants and soil have become stripped of nutrients in the process. When a portion of crops were lost to insects like aphids or caterpillars, farmers developed pesticides and herbicides to prevent it. And with the development of the free market, farmers had to do anything they could to lower costs and produce more crops.
While fertilizer used to be organic (from manure, fossils, crushed bones, or other materials), it has changed to become a commercial industry.
We are so depleted of nutrients that entire professions exist in measuring mineral content in hair and tissues and helping clients re-balance minerals. Mineral deficiencies are a problem for many reasons, including diet, soil, gut health impairments, lack of nutrient absorption, genetic factors, generational deficiencies, and more.
There are so many nutrients to choose from when you start replenishing your depleted body, but it can be dangerous to consume too much of one isolated mineral, because it throws off the mineral ratio. Certain minerals function together on a continuum, like magnesium, calcium, potassium, and sodium.
For example, if you just take isolated magnesium, your sodium levels can be negatively impacted, which can, in turn, affect the ratio of sodium to potassium.
The good news is that fulvic acid functions more like a food-based mineral bomb since it’s full of so many types of minerals and nutrients. It’s also bioavailable, so the benefits of fulvic acid are easy for your body to recognize and absorb. When you give your body a variety of sources, there’s a much better chance that multiple minerals will be absorbed by the body--not just one--leading to better body balance. It’s all about balance!
