Natural Fertilizers Tryptophan & Glycine Increase Nutrient Density of Apples

We know that chemical fertilizers are harmful to us and the environment, but are there good alternatives? This new study comes up with an intriguing option!

The known effects of chemical fertilizers include an increased risk of cancer, impaired fetal brain development, decreased soil biodiversity, contamination of water sources and contribution to greenhouse gases.

In their quest to find healthier fertilizer options, researchers sprayed tryptophan and glycine (common components of dietary proteins) on apples three times during two growth seasons and found a significant increase in total chlorophyll, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc, manganese and boron and a reduction in fruit drop percentage. This study offers intriguing data on additional natural fertilizer options that not only benefit the health of those eating the produce but also the health of the environment.

The easiest way to choose environmentally-friendly, healthier fertilizers is to look for organic options, readily available commercially. Perhaps tryptophan and glycine sprays will be used in the future too!

Author: Kara Fitzgerald, ND

https://www.drkarafitzgerald.com/

Kara Fitzgerald, ND, received her doctor of naturopathic medicine degree from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She completed the first Counsel on Naturopathic Medicine-accredited post-doctorate position in nutritional biochemistry and laboratory science at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory under the direction of Richard Lord, PhD. Her residency was completed at Progressive Medical Center, a large, integrative medical practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Fitzgerald is the lead author and editor of Case Studies in Integrative and Functional Medicine and is a contributing author to Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine and the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)’s Textbook for Functional Medicine. With the Helfgott Research Institute, Dr. Fitzgerald is actively engaged in clinical research on the DNA methylome using a diet and lifestyle intervention developed in her practice. The first publication from the study focuses on reversal of biological aging and was published 04-12-2021 in the journal Aging. She has published a consumer book titled Younger You as well as a companion cookbook, Better Broths and Healing Tonics and has an application-based Younger You Program, based on the study. Dr. Fitzgerald is on the faculty at IFM, is an IFM Certified Practitioner and lectures globally on functional medicine. She runs a Functional Nutrition Residency program, and maintains a podcast series, New Frontiers in Functional Medicine and an active blog on her website, www.drkarafitzgerald.com. Her clinical practice is in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. Additional publications

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Natural Fertilizers Tryptophan & Glycine Increase Nutrient Density of Apples

Author: Kara Fitzgerald, ND

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