nutrition composition of food

There USDA Nutrient Data Library is an excellent site to discover details of the food we eat. The site has details of the nutritional values of a host of different foods.

This data can then be used to make decisions on what foods one wants to include or cut out of one’s diet. For followers of certain dietary protocols, e.g. the alkaline acid diet, the data can be used to calculate whether foods leave an acid or alkaline ash.

Searching the database today I discovered that clams appear to be one of the best sources of iron in the diet. Oysters are one of the top sources of zinc.

Researching Wikipedia it discusses that both iron and zinc are essential nutrients but that over consumption is toxic to human health.

The message appears to be there is such a thing as too much of a good thing!