[youtudotbe]https://youtu.be/YO4L_jSxsAc[/youtudotbe]
One of the product claims of rock dust is that it increases the nutrient density of the food we harvest and eat. So how do you measure that?
I have found a number of videos and product claims talking about using a Brix tester or refractometer to measure the nutrient density of produce. So what is a Brix Tester? And does it really measure the nutrient density of your produce?
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- Greener Thumb
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- JosephsGarden
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Brix is a measure of "Total Dissolved Solids". The solids dissolved in fruit juices mostly consist of sugars. There are much smaller amounts of organic acids, amino acids, phenols, flavors, and minerals.
The dissolved mineral content of fruit juices is typically less than 0.5%. The sugar content of fruits ranges from around 5% to 30%. So it seems to me that the mineral content of fruit cannot be reliably measured with a refractometer, because there is so much sugar that a little extra mineral here or there gets lost.
I used to use a refractometer to measure the brix of my crops. These days I just taste them. My body knows what it likes.
The dissolved mineral content of fruit juices is typically less than 0.5%. The sugar content of fruits ranges from around 5% to 30%. So it seems to me that the mineral content of fruit cannot be reliably measured with a refractometer, because there is so much sugar that a little extra mineral here or there gets lost.
I used to use a refractometer to measure the brix of my crops. These days I just taste them. My body knows what it likes.
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- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 870
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:07 am
- Location: Fort Saskatchewan Alberta
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- Greener Thumb
- Posts: 870
- Joined: Sat Mar 17, 2012 12:07 am
- Location: Fort Saskatchewan Alberta