Phosphate in foods: one kind is healthy, one is deadly

Did you know that high blood pressure can destroy your bones and kidneys as well as your heart?

Researchers have found that leaving the wrong kind of phosphates out of your meals may provide an easy way to rescue your blood pressure and your vital organs.

The study demonstrates that foods rich in phosphates – most processed foods – can drive up your blood pressure.

According to this research, inorganic phosphates stimulate release of a pressure-raising hormone designated as FGF23. Large amounts of FGF23 levels result in higher levels of sodium in the blood. That increases high blood pressure.

Phosphate balance is essential for many biological activities and the body’s chemical reactions. If you ingest too much phosphate, it can cause heart dysfunction, weak bones … and high blood pressure.

Contrary to the alarmist articles you may have read, this doesn’t mean that you have to worry about foods with natural organic phosphate. This type of phosphate is incompletely absorbed and is necessary for health.

It’s the inorganic phosphate in food additives that your body does fully absorb and can measurably elevate blood phosphate concentration.

In fact a report published in Germany’s Deutsches Ärzteblatt International reviewed research documenting the links between excessive phosphate and poor health and early death.

Their recommendation was for a ‘traffic-light’ labelling system to be introduced for foods containing phosphate additives.

Unfortunately, the food industry is adding more inorganic phosphate to foods that normally are considered low-phosphorus foods. It’s not on the label, but here are just some of the foods and beverages that now contain hidden phosphorus. Watch out for them if you want normal healthy blood pressure: