Why would we need minerals that have to be mined or manufactured if we haven’t always had access to these processes?

Question

Does having access mean it just affects quality of life and/or life expectancy?

Did we change to need, or benefit from, these minerals?

Or were there always alternatives, but mining is more efficient?

In:

Answer 1

Your body can function on limited minerals but poorly. More minerals means better everything.

There was no change. The minerals were always needed.

In times past with low populations there were enough river bottoms and flood plains to supply food. The soil can’t keep up with modern agriculture and high populations so we expend some energy to mine them.