Vitamins and Minerals. When first changing from an animal based to a plant based diet, people often wonder where they will obtain their minerals, vitamins, protein and fats. I will answer all these questions in this series - but green leaves will provide most of the nutrients that we require. Of all the many foods, green leaves are actually the richest in vitamins and minerals. The reason for this is that these nutrients are also required in photosynthesis - hence our heavy emphasis at Plants For A Future on plants with edible leaves.
Green leaves are the foods richest in easily utilised calcium.
On a dry weight basis, chemical analysis shows that most plant leaves are actually as rich or richer in calcium than cow's milk. This mucus interferes with digestion and absorption, so the calcium it contains is not well utilised. In addition to this, calcium requires magnesium for its utilisation in the body - without sufficient magnesium, calcium cannot be utilised properly. Milk is a poor source of magnesium, while green leaves, are a rich source of both calcium and magnesium together. Also, unlike milk, green leaves are very clean, light foods which the body finds easy to handle, and they actually help to clear the body of mucous and toxins.