In recent decades, humanity has faced a serious problem—soil depletion. Chemical agriculture, which has become the dominant method of food production, has led to a significant decline in soil fertility. As a result, the nutritional value of food has decreased, negatively impacting human health.
According to scientists, more than 2 billion people today suffer from severe diseases caused by a lack of essential nutrients. The human body must regularly replenish its supply of ultratrace elements, micronutrients, macronutrients, vitamins, and other substances, which should be present in various complex organic compounds found in food. These substances include over 70 elements of Mendeleev’s periodic system, playing a key role in the proper functioning of all organs and tissues. Food is not only a source of energy but also a building material for the human body, making nutrient-rich food a crucial factor in maintaining health.
Vitamins play a fundamental role in all biochemical processes necessary for human life. They ensure proper immune function, aid digestion, contribute to bone density, stimulate blood circulation, and support many other essential physiological processes.
The consumption of nutrient-depleted, including “plastic” (hydroponically grown) fruits and vegetables leads to a deficiency of essential micro- and macronutrients in the body, resulting in vitamin deficiency. This disrupts the body’s finely tuned systems, causing a range of symptoms—from mild fatigue and increased exhaustion to bone fractures, chronic diseases, and reproductive disorders.
Currently, 70% of the world’s population is diagnosed with various forms of pathologies caused by vitamin deficiencies.
Depending on the specific vitamin that the body lacks, specialists identify deficiencies in vitamins A, D, E, K, C, and B-group vitamins, as well as biotin (vitamin H), flavonoids (vitamin P), and folic acid. Each of these deficiencies is associated with characteristic clinical symptoms. However, regardless of the type of vitamin deficiency, the body’s resistance to environmental stressors significantly decreases. A person becomes more vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections, frequently catches colds, is more susceptible to food poisoning, and often feels exhausted and weak even after prolonged rest or sleep.
Here are some of the signs and effects of vitamin deficiencies:
Iron deficiency is the most widespread micronutrient deficiency, affecting more than one-third of the global population. It leads to microcytic anemia, which causes fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
People with vitamin A deficiency often feel constantly fatigued, lose energy quickly, and wake up exhausted. They may experience reduced or complete loss of smell and taste perception. A hallmark symptom of vitamin A deficiency is the well-known “night blindness”, where vision significantly worsens in dim lighting or darkness while remaining unaffected in bright conditions. In severe cases, vitamin A deficiency can lead to fertility issues, anemia, and kidney stone disease.
Vitamin D deficiency manifests as muscle, joint, and bone pain, poor coordination and gait disturbances, and muscle cramps, especially at night. Frequent fractures that heal slowly, neurological symptoms, tooth enamel thinning, and localized hair loss on the head and body may also occur. In children, this deficiency leads to rickets.
Vitamin E deficiency in men is associated with reduced sexual function, while in women, it can lead to recurrent miscarriages. Other symptoms include muscle weakness and cramps, particularly in the hands and legs, chronic fatigue, and muscle spasms.
Vitamin K deficiency leads to spontaneous bleeding. The most common symptom is nosebleeds, which can occur due to physical exertion, emotional stress, or without any apparent cause. In some cases, pulmonary and gastric hemorrhages may develop, and joint cavity bleeding can also be observed. Patients with this type of vitamin deficiency may develop bruises on the face and body even from the slightest pressure.
Vitamin C deficiency manifests as severe weakness, numerous pinpoint hemorrhages on the skin, gum redness, swelling, and occasional pain, joint pain, slow healing of cuts, wounds, and abscesses, and accelerated aging and skin deterioration.
A well-known consequence of vitamin C deficiency is scurvy. This condition causes severe gum bleeding, leading to impaired tooth nutrition and eventual tooth loss. It is also associated with cardiovascular and kidney damage as well as soft tissue hemorrhages.
Vitamin B-group deficiency can present with a wide range of symptoms, including persistent shortness of breath, frequent headaches, dizziness, calf muscle cramps (especially after walking, running, or exercising), cracks in the corners of the mouth, skin peeling on the face and body, reduced sensitivity in the feet and toes, swelling, itching, and burning sensations on the tongue, vision disturbances, appetite and digestive issues, reduced stamina, rapid heartbeat, and loud, pronounced heart palpitations.
In severe cases, vitamin B deficiency affects the peripheral nervous system, causing atrophic changes in the mucous tissues of the digestive organs. Some individuals may also experience urinary incontinence.
A deficiency of iodine leads to reduced intelligence, memory impairment, and attention deficits, and is a primary cause of brain damage in childhood. In the early 20th century, researchers identified iodine deficiency as the root cause of mass thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism) in countries such as Switzerland and Austria. This condition often resulted in cretinism, a severe form of intellectual disability caused by the absence of iodine in food and water.
Historically, those affected by cretinism were assigned menial tasks, such as working as doormen, as that was the extent of their capabilities.
According to WHO estimates, at least 2 billion people worldwide have insufficient iodine levels, which negatively impacts national health, reduces workforce productivity, and hinders socioeconomic development (Andersson, Karumbunathan, Zimmermann, 2012).
A deficiency of selenium has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
As we can see, vitamins and minerals play an invaluable role in human health.
However, studies show that with each passing year, people receive less and less essential nutrients from their food. A 17-year study conducted between 1985 and 2002 revealed that, within this short period, the content of many critical nutrients in food decreased by 43–78%.
Over just the past decade, the vitamin C content in certain foods has dropped by more than 80% (!). This means that most commercially available food products today contain less than half a percent of the nutrient levels they had a century ago.
The rapidly increasing micronutrient deficiencies—including shortages of iron, vitamin A, iodine, folic acid, and zinc—are leading to an escalating number of severe and life-threatening health conditions.
This nutrient depletion is a key factor behind declining immunity and shortened human lifespan, as well as the widespread occurrence of numerous diseases that are affecting younger populations each year. Today, people in their 20s and 30s are being diagnosed with illnesses that were once typical for their grandparents in old age. Moreover, an increasing number of children are born with health conditions from the outset.
Allergies and obesity have become modern-day plagues. Over the past 20 years, the number of teenagers with obesity in Russia has increased sixfold. The primary cause is hidden hunger—a condition where the body fails to receive essential nutrients and minerals from “empty” foods. This deficiency triggers false hunger signals, leading to overeating and weight gain.
The United Nations Global Nutrition Report (2020) (https://globalnutritionreport.org/reports/2020-global-nutrition-report/) highlights that nutrient deficiencies are widespread across the globe, with the most affected groups being children and pregnant women. More than 40% of children and pregnant women suffer from anemia.
A particularly alarming trend is the growing prevalence of Sudden Death Syndrome, where young and outwardly healthy individuals die unexpectedly without any apparent cause. Autopsies reveal no underlying diseases, and their bodies simply “shut down” due to the absence of vital nutrients.
The quality of nutrition has a direct impact on human health and life expectancy.
The average daily requirement for micro- and macronutrients as well as vitamins is shown in the diagram below.
A low concentration of certain micronutrients—such as zinc and molybdenum—in food can significantly reduce their positive effects on the human body. It is essential to analyze the nutrient composition of agricultural products, ensuring they are cultivated in fertile soils that contain the necessary microelements.
This nutritional analysis must assess the presence of 70-80 chemical elements, their proportions, and the forms of compounds that can be efficiently absorbed by the human body.
It is crucial to recognize that chemical elements do not appear in food by themselves—they must first be present in the soil in sufficient quantities. Furthermore, as plants absorb these elements, they must be returned to the soil to maintain the natural nutrient cycle.
Some scientists suggest that nutrient deficiencies can be prevented through vitamin supplements, which are widely available in pharmacies and through fortification programs, such as universal salt iodization, vitamin A supplements for children, and iron/folic acid supplements for pregnant women.
However, vitamin and mineral supplements that are commonly recommended are not an optimal solution to this problem. Most of these supplements have low bioavailability, place a strain on the liver, and often lack key vitamins necessary for proper absorption. Additionally, they are expensive and not accessible to everyone.
For example, if a pregnant woman takes six tablets of Magne B6 per day, she receives no more than 150 mg of elemental magnesium (6 tablets × 48 mg = 300 mg, with only 50% absorption). Given that pregnant women require 500–700 mg of magnesium per day, she would need up to five times the standard dosage, or as many as 30 tablets per day, which would place an extreme burden on the liver (Serov, Tyutyunnik, Tverdikova, 2011).
Studies show that macro- and micronutrients are better absorbed from single-component supplements (monopreparations). In contrast, multivitamin complexes with a large number of ingredients lead to increased interactions between nutrients, which can interfere with absorption. In some cases, simultaneous intake of certain nutrients can significantly reduce their bioavailability due to competition for the same transport proteins in the bloodstream and tissues. For example, iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and zinc (Zn) compete with each other, binding to the same transport proteins.
However, some nutrients demonstrate positive synergistic effects when taken together. This effect is known as nutrient synergy. For instance:
Vitamin B12 and magnesium enhance each other’s effects;
Vitamins A, E, and C work synergistically;
Vitamin E and selenium (Se) complement one another;
Certain nutrients require co-factors for proper absorption:
Calcium absorption depends on vitamin D;
Omega-3 fatty acids should be taken with antioxidants (vitamins E and C);
Iron absorption improves with vitamins A and C;
Chromium absorption is enhanced by vitamin C (Samarina, Shilova, 2016).
It is crucial to understand that vitamins and minerals from whole foods are absorbed far more efficiently by the human body than synthetic vitamins in tablet form. These naturally occurring nutrients have higher bioavailability due to their harmonious, naturally balanced composition, which supports metabolism more effectively.
Continuing with the magnesium example, let’s examine its content in natural foods:
Dark leafy greens and vegetables are excellent sources of magnesium:
- Broccoli (140 mg per 100 g of cooked product) provides nearly 50% of the daily requirement.
- Peas (21 mg per 100 g) cover 7% of the daily need.
- Spinach (314 mg per 100 g) supplies approximately 100% of the daily requirement.
Potassium-rich foods include both fruits and vegetables:
- Bananas (348 mg per 100 g), apricots (305 mg per 100 g), and peaches (363 mg per 100 g) provide 17.4%, 15.3%, and 18.2% of the daily potassium requirement, respectively.
- Radishes (255 mg per 100 g) and potatoes (568 mg per 100 g) contribute 12.8% and 28.4% of the daily potassium need.
This means that instead of relying on supplements, one could meet the daily potassium requirement by consuming 100 g of potatoes, 100 g of radishes, 100 g of peaches, 100 g of bananas, and 100 g of apricots. In addition to their nutritional benefits, these foods provide dietary fiber, which further supports digestive health.
Rather than seeking new ways to synthesize industrial multivitamin complexes, it is far more important to ensure that our diet includes a sufficient amount of macro- and micronutrients, as well as essential vitamins.
The development of new dietary supplements (nutraceuticals) and their mass marketing, along with the rise of diseases caused by nutrient-depleted foods, primarily benefits the pharmaceutical industry.
Instead, we must address the catastrophic decline in nutrients in food, which is directly linked to soil degradation and depletion.
The rapid decline in essential nutrients in food is directly linked to soil degradation caused by widespread poor land management practices.
The uncontrolled use of high doses of mineral fertilizers without the integration of organic matter, as well as the excessive use of plowing techniques, has already resulted in the loss of over half of all fertile land and continues to deplete what remains.
The key indicator of soil fertility is its humus content, which is produced by living organisms in the soil. A healthy hectare of soil can contain up to 32 tons of living organisms. However, chemical agriculture is destroying this soil life, causing humus levels (and essential nutrients) to decline by 6–16% every 20 years.
Continuing this destructive approach to land management is not just an agricultural mistake—it is a crime against future generations and humanity as a whole.
According to scientific assessments presented at the UN General Assembly in 2021, if current soil degradation trends continue, humanity will be able to harvest crops for no more than another 60 years—after which, the land will no longer be able to sustain food production.
Many view hydroponics as an alternative to traditional farming, but it is not the answer.
The mineral wool substrates used in hydroponic systems lack essential nutrients and the diverse symbiotic microbiota that are crucial for growing healthy plants.
For example, one gram of meadow soil contains approximately 1.5 million living organisms. These microorganisms interact with plant roots, enhancing their ability to absorb vitamins, minerals, and natural flavor compounds.
By contrast, plants grown in artificial substrates lack flavor, aroma, and essential nutrients—both micronutrients and macronutrients—needed for human health. Essentially, these crops amount to nothing more than empty dietary fiber with no real nutritional value.
Soil depletion is a direct consequence of the uncontrolled use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture. These chemical interventions disrupt the natural soil ecosystem, leading to soil degradation—which, in turn, negatively impacts human health. The well-being of people is deeply interconnected with the health of the soil and, ultimately, the health of the planet.
Humanity must wake up before it’s too late. While the remaining fertile soils still retain an acceptable level of productivity, we must act swiftly to prevent their complete depletion due to aggressive farming practices.
The solution lies in restoring soil microbiota, increasing humus content, and transitioning back to organic, nature-friendly agriculture. This is the foundation of food security for both present and future generations.
Reviving organic farming is the only viable solution to the soil depletion crisis. This approach requires using organic fertilizers (such as manure and compost), employing biofertilizers that contain spores of beneficial fungi and bacteria (Trichoderma viride, Bacillus subtilis, etc.) and rebuilding soil microbiota by growing plants in symbiosis with soil microorganisms—a natural, sustainable farming method.
Soil depletion is an extremely serious issue that requires immediate resolution. Humanity must return to organic farming to preserve soil fertility and safeguard human health. Only then can food retain the essential nutrients necessary for well-being—just as God originally intended.
A fascinating historical fact sheds light on the lifespan of people in an era before soil depletion. In late August 1912, Russian society celebrated the centennial anniversary of the Battle of Borodino—the legendary clash between the Russian army and Napoleon’s forces. Among the grand festivities was the presence of Emperor Nicholas II, but the true honored guests were a group of elderly veterans who had witnessed those historic events firsthand. In preparation for the jubilee, a nationwide search was conducted to locate the remaining eyewitnesses and participants of the War of 1812. By August 1912, 25 surviving veterans were found. According to archival records, six of them—aged between 118 and 120 years old—were brought to the capital for the celebrations. A fascinating historical fact sheds light on the lifespan of people in an era before soil depletion. In late August 1912, Russian society celebrated the centennial anniversary of the Battle of Borodino—the legendary clash between the Russian army and Napoleon’s forces. Among the grand festivities was the presence of Emperor Nicholas II, but the true honored guests were a group of elderly veterans who had witnessed those historic events firsthand. In preparation for the jubilee, a nationwide search was conducted to locate the remaining eyewitnesses and participants of the War of 1812. By August 1912, 25 surviving veterans were found. According to archival records, six of them—aged between 118 and 120 years old—were brought to the capital for the celebrations. These veterans were transported at the government’s expense to Moscow and the Borodino battlefield, where they were granted an extraordinary privilege—even peasants were allowed to sit in the presence of the Emperor of All Russia and other high-ranking dignitaries. The moment was captured not only in photographs but also in documentary film footage. The veterans were treated with great respect, provided with comfortable housing and personal carriages. Moscow Governor Vladimir Fyodorovich Dzhunkovsky recalled: “It moved everyone deeply: the old men were seated, while the Emperor and the Grand Dukes stood. Each of them would rise only when the Emperor personally addressed them. Among the dazzling gentlemen and fashionable ladies, these elders seemed to embody the very spirit of the people who had once defeated Napoleon...” It was not just war veterans who lived to be 110 years or older. Such longevity was not unusual a century ago. It is important to note that poor sanitation and hygiene led to high infant mortality rates, which kept the average life expectancy low. However, for those who survived into adulthood, reaching extraordinarily old age was far from rare. This longevity may have been influenced by the superior nutrient content in food at the time—unlike today, when soil depletion has drastically reduced the vitamins and minerals available in our diets. One of the most famous centenarians of the Soviet era, Shirali Muslimov from Azerbaijan, was reportedly born during the time of Alexander Pushkin and lived to 168 years old.According to sacred scriptures, premature death is defined as passing away before achieving spiritual perfection.The role of world leaders and governmental institutions is to ensure that all people live a holistically healthy life and have the opportunity to develop spiritually.Every person should live long enough to fulfill their purpose, learn to coexist in love and harmony with the world, and ultimately find a connection with God. One of the fundamental prerequisites for this is healthy soil—the foundation of nutritious food, which provides all essential nutrients necessary for human well-being.
Archival photos. August 1912. Meeting of Emperor Nicholas II with veterans of the Patriotic War of 1812.
References
- Pingault, N., et al. (2017). Nutrition and Food Systems: A Report by the High-Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security.
- McLean, E., et al. (2009). Worldwide Prevalence of Anaemia, WHO Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System, 1993–2005. Public Health Nutrition, 12(4), 444–454.
- Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2017). Micronutrient Deficiency. Our World in Data.
- Andersson, M., Karumbunathan, V., & Zimmermann, M. B. (2012). Global Iodine Status in 2011 and Trends Over the Past Decade. The Journal of Nutrition, 142(4), 744–750.
- Serov, V. N., Tyutyunnik, V. L., & Tverdikova, M. A. (2011). Use of Magnesium Preparations in Obstetric Practice. RMJ, 19(5), 352–355.
- Samarina, T. O., & Shilova, I. B. (2016). Elemental Status of Humans: Multivitamin Complexes with Macro- and Microelements. Fundamental Problems of Science, 169–173.
- Yeryomin, D. I. (2014). Fallow Land as a Means of Restoring Humus Content and Reserves in Long-Cultivated Chernozems of the Forest-Steppe Zone of Trans-Uralia. Fertility, 1(76), 24–26.
- Yunitsky, A. E., Zyl, N. S., & Shakhno, E. A. (2020). The Special Role of Food as a Building Material for the Human Body in a Closed Biosphere of Limited Dimensions. Proceedings of the III International Scientific and Technical Conference “Non-Rocket Industrialization of Near Space: Problems, Ideas, Projects.” LLC “Astro-engineering Technologies,” 376–387.
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Portuguese 
Chinese 
Nepali 
Hindi 
Persian 
Arabic 
Korean