Where Have The Vitamins And Minerals Gone?
Diets based primarily on plant foods tend to be low or deficient in vitamin B12. This nutrient is found exclusively in animal products. Vitamin B12 deficiency is related to megaloblastic anemia that results in cognitive dysfunction, and it increases the risk for arterial vascular disease and thrombosis. Obviously a diet based primarily on grains will be deficient in vitamin B12, including strict vegetarian diets. We were not evolved to eat plants exclusively. Not only are cereal grains deficient in vitamins but many contain substances that decrease the intestinal absorption of many other important nutrients. Both wheat and sorghum are not only low in biotin but seem to have elements within them that elicit a depression of biotin metabolism. Vitamin D utilization by the body can be inhibited by an excessive consumption of cereal grains. Cereal grains are good sources of phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium, but are poor sources of sodium and calcium. The high phytate content of whole g
