If you're deficient in phosphorous, ask your doctor about taking a phosphorous supplement or phosphorous tablets especially if you are unable to source it from natural foods. Make sure you only buy phosphorous supplements that are made in the USA because you want that added confidence that these products are manufactured to the highest standards and with the best ingredients.
Importance of Phosphorus Supplements
The media has done a good job singing the virtues of calcium as the builder of strong bones and teeth. But there's an unsung hero lurking about which also plays an equally essential role. We're referring to phosphorous.
Phosphorous: a true partner to calcium
You may not be aware of it but phosphorous is also required by the body to build strong bones and teeth. It aids calcium in performing this critical function. Calcium needs all the help it can get to do what it's supposed to do. People take calcium thinking that this is sufficient to protect bone. Not quite.
Taking too much calcium without good amounts of phosphorous isn't going to do it. Recent research proves that calcium needs phosphorous to strengthen bones, and some researchers are saying that these two are co-dependent when it comes to bone health. This is why more and more people are seeing the advantages of taking phosphorous supplements or phosphorous tablets as dietary supplements. Americans will be happy to know that there are thousands of American-made phosphorous supplements in the market today. It's a question of finding the ones that are of excellent quality.
Over 50% of human bone is formed from phosphate. The body uses small amounts of phosphate to help maintain tissue health and to balance the fluids in our body. The body will have a difficult time absorbing phosphorous if too much calcium is present. Taking excessive amounts of calcium supplements without a little help from phosphorous is not advisable.
Older women who are diagnosed with osteoporosis or who are told they are at risk of osteoporosis may take calcium supplements or calcium carbonate, unaware that this may prevent the efficient absorption of phosphorous. They don't know that the calcium won't work as well because bone material is made of both calcium and phosphorus. So by taking more of the other, the benefits are cancelled out.
The idea therefore is to take a calcium supplement with phosphorous as one of the main ingredients, or if possible, take phosphorous supplements or phosphorous tablets as well. No other than the National Academy of Sciences has advised women over 60 years of age to have the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 700 mg of phosphorous.
Benefits of Phosphorous
The benefits of phosphorous are numerous, some of which are:
Helps in the proper digestion of riboflavin and niacin
Properly transmits nerve impulses
Aids kidneys in eliminating waste
Promotes energy and vitality
Assists in the formation of certain proteins that can help the reproductive system of women and prevent some cancers
Produces phosphate, a mineral that the body needs to break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates
Maintains the body's electrolyte balance
Stimulates hormone production and helps the body to use B vitamins
Doctors, dieticians and nutritionists say that an individual has to have a good balance of magnesium, calcium and phosphorous for optimal health.
How do you know if you're deficient in phosphorous?
Some symptoms include:
Feelings of numbness
Changes in your weight
Poor dental health
Anxiety and stress
Difficulty in breathing
Not having sufficient amounts of phosphorous can also result in bone loss.
Phosphorous Supplements: Speak to your Doctor
If you think you may be deficient in phosphorous, ask your doctor about taking phosphorous tablets or supplements. If you're taking certain medications for other health problems, it is always wise to ask him about safely supplementing with phosphorous. The FDA has established that 1000 mg of a phosphorous dietary supplement is ideal. The Food and Nutrition Board on the other hand set it at 800mg to 1200 mg. This is to help equalize the calcium RDA for most people. Healthy adults have 500,000 to 650,000 mg of phosphorous.
If you can't take phosphorous supplements, you can still get it from natural foods: raspberries, raisins, soy beans, lentils, other legumes, whole grain cereals, fish and others. Beware of junk food. Many junk foods contain ingredients that can affect the body's processing of calcium. When an individual has sufficient amounts of phosphorous, chances are he or she will not suffer from the usual problems associated with a phosphorous deficiency: rickets, stunted growth (in children) and osteoporosis (in adults). Beware too of processed foods. There's actually very little "real food" in convenience foods and hence are not good sources of phosphorous.
It is in the small intestine where phosphorous ï¿½ or phosphate ï¿½ is absorbed. The quantity absorbed on the average is between 50% and 90% depending on the needs of an individual. It enjoys a higher absorption rate than calcium or magnesium.
While we mentioned earlier that you need to ask your doctor about taking phosphorous supplements, it is generally accepted that persons taking supplements do not need to worry about phosphorous toxicity since the kidneys do a very good job of controlling phosphorous levels and excreting excess amounts.