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In order to be absorbed and metabolized, these minerals must be absorbed in plant-bound colloidal form. The absorption rate should be above 90%. One problem with dietary supplements is that not all reach this quality and therefore their effect remains limited. Nature’s prescribed route, as mentioned, is through the absorption of minerals by plants. For this to work, bacteria in the soil are necessary, which together with other microorganisms form the so-called “rhizosphere,” a microcosm that has a close relationship with the plant root and contributes to its growth and immune system (7). Various bacterial and fungal species alter, among other things, the chemically bound form of sulfur, phosphate, and nitrogen, making them bioavailable to plants. Modern fertilizers containing minerals are supposed to replenish the nutrients, however, excessive fertilization poses dangers to the fauna and the soil itself. Fertilizer constituents enter the groundwater and can reduce its quality. An overabundance of minerals is called “eutrophication,” which can promote algal blooms and cause a lack of oxygen in the deep waters of lakes. This is especially a problem with intensive agricultural use with livestock. Sewage sludge fertilization can lead to increased concentrations of heavy metals in the soil, which can result in infertile soils as heavy metals are difficult to leach and plants are unlikely to take them up. Nitrate should be kept out of groundwater as far as possible, as it can be converted to nitrite. This produces nitrosamines in the bodies of mammals, which in turn are carcinogenic. Since 1991, the limit value for nitrate in groundwater has been set at 50 mg/liter. Groundwater naturally usually contains less than 10 mg/liter. In post-war Germany, nitrate levels increased due to denser settlement and intensive soil management and have not stopped to this day (8).