Very good to be aware of the deficiencies and true, you know your own body and what you are challenged with re: health issues. But be aware of being as optimal as one can be for more optimum health. Minerals are important. IF, you can get it all from whole foods more power to everyone. I cannot so I supplement and I've been working with supps for over 25 yrs and I'm headed to 78 and still learning.

18 Causes of Mineral Depletion

The above link is interesting. I think that its comments about nutrient-deficient soils are very sensible.

However, in my view it makes a number of sweeping statements which would have been strengthened with links to evidence that people can check out for themselves.

Also, I think that some statements in it are misleading.

Some examples:

"Pharmaceutical Drugs -- this is too vast to go into, suffice it to say all drugs deplete the body of a vast amount of nutrients."
Is there any evidence for this claim?

"Radiation - any type of electromagnetic (EMF) frequency has an effect on the bodies ability to absorb and assimilate minerals."
Which electromagnetic frequencies - radio, microwave, infra-red, visible, ultra-violet...? What is the evidence for this claim?

" the body needs appropriate stomach acid in order to break down minerals, namely calcium"
I don't understand what "break[ing] down minerals" means.

"Birth Control Pills -- deplete magnesium and zinc, along with numerous other vitamins."
Magnesium and zinc are not vitamins. Is there any evidence for this claim?

"Sugar - for every molecule of sugar our bodies use 54 molecules of magnesium to process it."
Mg2+ is, in various ways, needed for glucose metabolism. However, it is not "use[ed]" in this process - it remains available.

"Excess Insulin- causes calcium to be retained by the body through re-absorption by the kidneys."
Is there any evidence for this claim?

Hi, I'll just focus on one the pharma drugs. For me, it would be great if I didn't take any, but I do take a few, one being ibuprofen and I know it's toxic to my body. Foreign for my body...so are blood pressure meds as I know these synthetics. And probably the desiccated thyroid support which comes from the porcine thyroid and is pretty much a food based support for my thyroid, but it's still a drug. If others want to research the rest, then can do so.

Hi, Kiwi... I'd like to respond to your post. I agree the language is vague on that mineral siteand exaggerates the topics at times. "all" drugs in the quote I bolded is not really accurate. But many or some drugs, yes, do affect nutrient status.

I can provide you some information about pharmaceutical effects of nutrient depletion.

There is a reference that was compiled by two pharmacists who went thru Medline and collected papers on this subject and published a book about it.

Here is one author who has provided excerpts from that work online:
Recognizing Drug Induced Nutrient Depletion in Chiropractic Practice
Click on the button that goes to the chart too for more details.

This reference book is now out of print:
Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook: Ross Pelton, James B. LaValle, Ernest B. Hawkins: 978193598454: Amazon.com: Books

I have a copy however, and do refer to it for posting on this forum at times.

This book is also good, easier to read for the layman, and based on LaValle and Pelton's work:
The Side Effects Bible: The Dietary Solution to Unwanted Side Effects of Common Medications - Kindle edition by Frederic Md Vagnini, Barry Phd Fox. Health, Fitness & Dieting Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

It is true that drugs and nutrient depletions is a huge subject. All the data mostly was discovered post marketing of RX drugs. One of the oldest examples that was quickly discovered, was the depletion of B6 by INH.
Here is a paper illustrating that from 1980.
Pyridoxine supplementation during isoniazid therapy. - PubMed - NCBI

Much of the information on this subject comes from post marketing studies on drugs and can take up to 10 yrs or more to be discovered. Many doctors remain unaware of this fact and don't realize that some side effects listed for drugs are really signs of some metabolic changes due to the drugs' effect on the body.