A new study has some very important health news to share. German researchers have found that excessive consumption of phosphate is damaging to your health. They recommend that any foods that contain phosphate additives should be labeled.
The researchers reviewed all the past studies on the subject. It highlights that taking in too high levels of phosphates increases the risk of death in patients who have kidney disease. These patients have been found to have markedly elevated phosphate concentration in the blood. Yet recent studies also show that phosphate can do some serious damage to blood vessels as well, and even induces aging processes.
“Free phosphate” is the type found in food additives, and it is entirely resorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.
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Phosphate additives are particularly present in many types of fast food. The researchers state that it is likely higher levels of phosphates are linked to the increased prevalence of heart disease and related heart conditions in the general population.
The authors conclude that physicians and the public need to be educated about the role of phosphate additives as a risk factor for chronic disease.
While phosphates are naturally present in our bodies and in our foods, some foods have high levels and we should be aware of these. These include dairy products, whole-grain cereals, nuts, and certain meats. The ones in dairy and meat seem to be more readily absorbed by the body.
But the food industry frequently uses phosphate-based additives to help give food a longer shelf life, or a specific taste. Cola drinks contain considerable levels of phosphate (phosphoric acid) and are possibly the worst culprits. This gives soft drinks a high acidity, so they can create too much phosphate in the bloodstream.
Your recommended daily phosphorus intake is 750 milligrams. But regularly eating foods stocked with added phosphates can end up with you absorbing an additional 1,000 milligrams. This carries consequences, as the new study indicates. It can even cause calcium to be released from bones, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. It has even been tied to signs of premature aging.
Whatever the case, it is very likely that high phosphates cause the decline of physiological functions in our bodies.
In a phrase: be mindful.