Insight needed re: daily nutritional ratios

[Jackie1995]

This subject always fascinated me. Let me give you an example:

research I've found states that the proper intake proportion of
Calcium to Phosphorus is 2.6 : 1.
Calcium to Potassium ideally is 4.2 : 1
Sodium to Magnesium is 4 : 1
Calcium to Magnesium is 7.1 : 1

OK, that's all well and good.

My daily consumption of mostly raw veggies and fruits gives me some conflicting information.

For example, this morning I had my typical green smoothie:
1 med apple
1 small banana
1 mango
1 cup parsley
3 cups spinach
2 tbs nutritional yeast - vegan blend
1.5 tsp maca root powder
2 tsp fresh ginger root
1 tsp cinnamon

This, which I would expect to give a good spectrum of nutrients in their proper proportion, gives me Calcium of 596 and Potassium of 1600.

Going along with the ideal intake of Calcium to Potassium of 4.2 : 1, well, I'm just totally confused! My typical daily intake is more like .4 : 1. As the day progresses, it may get to .2 : 1

There's just a lot of potassium in fresh fruits and veggies!

The only one ratio that comes out close is the Sodium to Magnesium at 3.6 : 1. (The ideal is 4 : 1)

So, my questions are:

am I reading these ratios incorrectly, or
are they designed for nutritional supplements rather than whole foods?

Or perhaps are these ratios telling me I need to be supplementing because my natural intake of these nutrients is skewed by the foods I eat?

Since I feel great, I'm willing to just dismiss this whole topic, however, it's something that inquiring minds want to know more about...I'm mentally trapped...I really want more information on this whole ratio thing and how it relates to my mostly raw diet.

I was always under the impression (with no backup for this idea) that eating living foods would always just naturally provide the proper proportion of nutrients needed for (as close to) ideal health (as I can achieve.)

Any input would be appreciated!

I'm also posting this message on another forum, so if you see it again over there, don't be surprised!

Here's my past month averaged values of nutrients, with my ratios and where they "should" be per information I've found on this topic:

Nutritional Ratios

Nutrient: VALUES
Calcium CA - 960.9
Phosphorus P - 1137.8
Magnesium MG - 460.92
Sodium N - 1679.4
Potassium K- 4355.4
Zinc Z - 21.44
Copper CU - 2.21


My Average Values:
CA/P 0.8
CA/K 0.2
N/MG 3.6
CAL/MG 2.1
Z/CU 9.7
N/K 0.4


Ideal Ratios:
CA/P 2.6:1
CA/K 4.2:1
N/MG 4.0:1
CAL/MG 7.1:1
Z/CU 8.0:1
N/K 2.4:1


BTW, this lines up beautifully on the post I'm typing, but when I go to preview it, all the neat columns are just mashed together. Makes it hard to look at. Sorry.

Thanks!
Jackie

[Revvell]

Seems like too much work for me. I don't even pay attention to that. Life's wayyyy too short. Then again, some people have no interest in things I have interest in either ~ like people and how they operate. :)

Hope you find answers ~

Revvell

[rawfigure]

Have you read Eco Eating by S. Brook ? He talks alot about the balances of what you list and how inbalances effect you. It is very interesting. He has a chart on balancing these foods to optimize the ratio's (never as perfect as the science in real application). I tried it for awhile but I did not feel any different, better for doing it and the thinking and planning required. I also found to get the ratios he suggested there were foods I like to eat, and those I do not like to eat, detered me !

Interesting, but for me, not essential to good overall health. I feel best just eating variety of Raw foods.

[Jackie1995]

Thanks for the lead, rawfigure. No, I've never heard of that book, but I will investigate. I'm not obsessed by this, but it caught my attention and the only way to go on living is to find out all I can and then I'll be able to move on.

When I get interested in something, my focus becomes like a laser beam, until I have all the info I need and go to the next interesting thing. Tough job, but somebody's got to do it!

I'm with you, variety is the best for me.

Hey Revvell, yeah, you're right, life IS too short. So I better get some answers quickly or I'll be trapped here on this topic for a week! Oh my! Hahaha!!

Thanks again for your input.

[Jackie1995]

Just got back from viewing the Eco Eating page. Wow, very VERY intense discussion of nutrients - and that CaPNaK chart is incredible!

And I thought I was focused! OMG!

Thanks so much for that link, this is even better than what I originally sought.