Phosphorus in Regards to Bone Health

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Phosphorus in Regards to Bone Health

JoAnn Guest

Dec 17, 2004 17:21 PST

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Phosphorus in Regards to Bone Health

 

We need some phosphorus to help make bone. But most of us have far too

much of it, which upsets the calcium *chemistry* of the body.

 

Excess phosphorus in the bloodstream sends a message that more calcium

is required, and stores are released from the bones.

Some scientists believe that getting the calcium/phosphorus ratio right

is more important than calcium alone in protecting bones.

 

Its very easy to consume too much phosphorus.

It's there in all kind of foods -instant soups and desserts, meats,

cheese and other dairy, toppings, cola drinks, and carbonated beverages.

 

 

We need to cut down on all of these!

 

 

The ideal balance is equal parts of calcium to phosphorus.

However, research suggests that we consume four times as much phosphorus

as calcium. Cottage cheese, for example, contains far more phosphorus

than calcium.

 

Diets deficient in vitamin B6 have produced osteoporosis in rats. B6

appears to increase the 'strength' of connective tissue in bone.

You can find vitamin B6 in many common foods such as organic whole

grains, fish, nuts, bananas, and avocadoes.

 

 

Vitamin K is known primarily for its effect on blood clotting.

But it is also needed to synthesize 'osteosalcin', a unique protein

found in large amounts in bone.

Osteocalcin helps to 'harden' existing calcium. For this reason vitamin

K is vital to bone formation.

 

In one study of sixteen osteoporosis patients, blood levels

of vitamin K were found to be 35 percent lower than in healthy people of

the same age.

Frequent use of antibiotics can result in vitamin K deficiency. The best

source of vitamin K is green vegetables.

 

Zinc-

This important mineral helps the activity of vitamin D in promoting

calcium absorption. Osteoporosis sufferers are frequently low in zinc.

Good dietary sources of zinc are oysters, cold water fish,

pumpkin/sesame seeds, and organic eggs.

 

Boron-

Some minerals---phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, are termed macro-

minerals because they exist in our bodies in large amounts.

 

Zinc, manganese, copper, chromium, selenium, and boron, on the other

hand, are present in small amounts and are known as *trace* elements.

 

Boron is in fact an " ultratrace " element- the amounts needed are even

smaller. But, Boron is now believed to be vital to bones for a number of

reasons.

 

A U.S, Dept. of Agriculture research study demonstrated that giving

women a short course of 3 mg.

Boron supplements a day resulted in a 44 percent 'reduction' in the

amount of calcium 'excreted' in their urine. It also markedly

" increased " the amount of the estrogen hormone " estradiol " in their

blood.

 

The conclusions of this rather dramatic Dept. of Agriculture Study were

that boron improved the " metabolism " of calcium, phosphorus,

and magnesium, helped 'raise' estrogen levels in older women to the

levels needed,

helped in the " manufacture' of vitamin D needed for calcium

absorption, and reduced calcium, magnesium and estrogen " loss " .

 

Boron is found in ALFALFA, KELP, CABBAGE, and LEAFY GREENS.

It is stored in our bones and any excessive amounts are excreted in the

urine.

 

ALFALFA:

alfalfa has a superb calcium to phosphorus " ratio " being the richest

land source of the trace elements 'boron' and 'silicon', both of which

are extremely valuable for bone integrity!

Alfalfa has numerous herbal uses, but it really hits the jackpot when it

 

comes to rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, heart problems, high blood

pressure, labor/nursing, menopause/PMS, and tooth decay.

 

Alfalfa won’t help with these problems whenever you consume sugar, white

flour, processed chemical-laden foods, table salt, caffeine or alcohol.

 

But if you cut all these out of your diet and add alfalfa to your daily

regimen, you can gradually reduce bone loss and 'alkalize' the body to

empty those nasty " acid " deposits.

Many herbalists feel that taking two to three alfalfa tablets daily

also prevents cavities. In combination with proper dental care, alfalfa

tends to ward off dental decay.

You can take it in either tablet or tea form. (To make teas, steep 1

teaspoon of the herb in 8 ounces of hot spring/distilled water). You’ll

need 9-18 tablets per day to benefit from the herb. If you prefer the

tea,

one to two cups a day is usually sufficient.

 

Drink first thing in the morning and during the afternoon.

 

I don’t recommend it in the fluid extract form, because alcohol will

destroy many of its life-giving vitamins and enzymes.

 

Start with two to three alfalfa tablets and increase to six or ten, then

 

take that amount twice a day. The optimal dosage may be twenty to thirty

 

tablets taken throughout the day, until your bowels are regular. Then

cut back to three or four tablets a day. These tablets may be taken at

any time in a day and are rather inexpensive.

 

MAGNESIUM:

Like calcium, magnesium is required for strong,

healthy bones and teeth. This mineral plays an important part in bone

growth, and helps prevent tooth decay by holding the calcium in bones

and tooth enamel.

 

Food Sources:

 

Magnesium is widely distributed in foods. The foods with the highest

magnesium content include seafoods, raw nuts, organic blackstrap

molasses, non-gmo soybeans, sunflower and sesame seeds, and organic

wheat germ.

Red and black grapes and wine are also excellent sources.

 

Magnesium is present in whole grains such as oatmeal, and

brown rice. Dark leafy greens and green beans are also good sources.

 

Your body contains between 20 and 28 grams of magnesium.

Half of this amount is found in the bones.

The remainder 'activates' hundreds of enzymes throughout the body and is

CRITICAL for proper cell function!

It has been estimated that as much as 60 percent of the U.S. population

is at risk for magnesium deficiency.

Any number of pharmaceutical drugs, including antibiotics and diuretics

may deplete magnesium levels. Understandably, poor magnesium intake has

been implicated in bone disorders such as Osteoporosis as well.

 

Vitamin D

This vitamin, unlike vitamin C, is " fat-soluble " and acquired through

sunlight or diet. It assists the body's absorption of calcium and

phosphorus from the digestive process, and helps put them into bone. The

body needs broad daylight to transform cholesterol into vitamin D.

 

The " hormone " that increases dietary calcium *absorption* (calcitriol),

is largely composed of vitamin D.

 

Some say osteoporosis incidence is higher in countries with little

sunlight. However, if you consume some cold water fish or organic egg

yolk once in a while, you should be able to absorb all the vitamin D you

need - even when residing in Greenland, Canada or Northern Europe.

 

Is osteoporosis incidence really lower in countries with more sunlight?

Not necessarily.

Though Italy is much sunnier than Poland, hip-fracture incidence in

Italy is much higher than in Poland (and Spain), simply because in Italy

25% more dairy products are consumed.

 

Kuwait is extremely sunny, but, nevertheless, osteoporosis incidence in

Kuwait is about as high as in Great Britain and France, because in

Kuwait, also, an abundance of milk is consumed.

 

In 52% of examined Saudi Arabian females vitamin D levels

were extremely low (due to clothes that block the skin from sunlight),

however the bones were not affected.

A deficiency of Vitamin D leads to 'decalcification' of the bones.

Good sources are cold water fish and pharmaceutical grade fish oils.

 

Osteoporosis and high-fat Diets -

In general, we do not need much vitamin D to either inhibit PTH

secretion or to increase calcium absorption.

Hyper-parathyroidism strongly increases both uptake of calcium into the

bones and deportation from the bones, eventually causing osteoporosis.

If too little " calcitriol " is available, the secretion of PTH is not

sufficiently inhibited.

 

When we eat many High-Protein foods, animal Proteins are broken down

into other by-products that are highly " acidic " . Our body can only

operate within a very narrow pH range between acidity and alkalinity. In

order to " neutralize " resulting acidity the body is required to

" mobilize " the Calcium from our bones.

Once this is accomplished, the Calcium is lost in the urine,never to

be returned to the bones.

 

Studies 20 years ago showed that even when Calcium intake was increased

to Optimum high levels,...more Calcium was lost in urine than could be

added to the skeleton when consuming an *acidic* high protein diet.

High protein diets lead to excessive bone loss... excretion of 80 mgs

per day or more. Studies show that those who persist on high-Protein

Diets for 40 years or more lose up to 75 percent or more of their

overall skeleton.

 

The first step towards bone building is to eat fewer animal proteins

and more calcium- rich alkaline organic vegetables, unprocessed beans,

veggies and fruits, replacing dairy with non-gmo SOY, RICE, or ALMOND

milk in cooking and baking.

 

For especially strong bones, serve up lots of dark leafy greens,

unprocessed beans, lentils, broccoli, hummus, sesame seeds, oatmeal,

organic Soymilk and Tofu.

 

Added hormones (artifical hormones such as rBGH) are commonly used

to increase milk production (59 of them to be exact), as well as

antibiotics and pesticide residues, come through in cow's milk.

 

It takes seven gallons of milk to make one pound of cheese, so as

you can see... the problem is often triplicated with cheese consumption.

 

 

Constant exposure to rBGH and other articial hormones can cause

physical problems (Breast, prostate and ovarian cancer are directly

related to hormonal imbalances).

 

Statistics: And yes…...

 

In Greece the average milk 'consumption' doubled from 1961 to 1977

(and was even higher in 1985), and during the period 1977 - 1985 the age

adjusted " osteoporosis incidence " almost doubled too.

 

In Hong Kong in 1989 twice as much dairy products were consumed as in

1966 and osteoporosis incidence tripled

in the same period. Now their milk consumption level is almost

“European”, and so is osteoporosis incidence.

It is very simple:

where the most milk is consumed, the osteoporosis incidence is highest.

 

Compared to other countries, the most milk is consumed in Sweden,

Finland, Switzerland and The Netherlands (300 to 400 kg / cap / year),

and osteoporosis 'incidence' in these countries has sky rocketed.

 

Like Australians and New Zealanders, Americans consume three fold

more milk than the Japanese, and hip-fracture incidence in Americans is

therefore 2½ fold higher.

 

In those within the American population that consume less milk,

Mexican-Americans and Black Americans, for example, osteoporosis

incidence is primarily two-fold lower than in white Americans, which is

not due to genetic differences.

 

 

 

Chinese consume very little milk (8 kg / year), and hip-fracture

incidence, therefore, is among the lowest in the world; hip-fracture

incidence in Chinese women is six fold lower than in the US. (30) (The

average American consumes 254 kg milk / year)

 

The less milk consumed, the lower the osteoporosis rate.

If you’re looking to consume less protein and more nutrients that help

prevent Osteoporosis, here are the plant foods I’d suggest.

 

Cabbage:

 

Boron helps raise natural estrogen levels in the blood, and natural

estrogens (phytoestrogens) helps to " preserve " bone. In my database,

cabbage ranks highest in boron

content among leafy vegetables with 145 parts per million (ppm) on a

dry-weight basis.

I eat a lot of coleslaw, and it’s easy to combine cabbage with

high-calcium broccoli, kale, beans and organic tofu in salads and

steamed vegetable dishes. Cabbage is a key ingredient in my

" Bone-strengthening " Broth.

 

Dandelion:

Speaking of boron, dandelion shoots run a close second to cabbage, with

125 ppm. Dandelion also has more than 20,000 ppm of calcium, meaning

that just ten grams (just under seven tablespoons) of dried dandelion

shoots could provide more than 1 mg of boron and 200 mgs of calcium.

Dandelion is also a fair source of silicon, which some studies suggest

also helps strengthen bone.

 

Pigweed:

On a dry weight basis, pigweed leaves are one of our best vegetable

sources of calcium, at 5.3 percent. This means that a small serving of

steamed leaves provides a hearty 500 mgs of calcium.

Other good plant sources of calcium in descending order of potency

include broad (fava) beans,

watercress, licorice, marjoram, savory, red clover shoots, thyme,

Chinese cabbages (bok choy), basil, celery root, dandelion root, and

purslane.

 

Avocado:

As one reputed vegetable source of vitamin D, avocados can help the body

turn calcium into bone. I suggest mashing an avocado into organic yogurt

so you get your calcium and some vitamin D at

the same time.

 

Avocadoes are also rich in heart healthy vitamin E.

 

Organic Soybean: (Glycine max) and other beans)

 

Vegetarian and Japanese women have a lower incidence of osteoporosis and

fractures than Western or meat-eating women. The reason, according to

James Anderson, M.D. of the University of Kentucky College of medicine

in Lexington, appears to be that Western diet meat-eaters *excrete* more

calcium in their urine.

 

Beans are a good source of protein, but they cause less calcium loss in

the urine than meat. In addition, soybeans and other beans contain

genistein, a plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) that acts like the female

sex hormone in the body.

 

Pharmaceutical estrogen replacement increases the risk of breast cancer.

 

 

Genistein from beans has never shown to increase cancer risk, and I’d be

willing to bet that a diet rich in beans would strengthen bones better

than HRT.

 

Horsetail:

French research suggests that silicon helps prevent osteoporosis and can

be used to treat bone fractures.

 

Horsetail is among the richest plant sources of this mineral, in the

form of the compound monosilicic acid, which the body can readily use.

Aging and low estrogen levels decrease the body’s ability to absorb

silicon. Some people recommend up to nine 350 mg capsules daily.

 

Bring it to a boil, then let it simmer for about three hours. Strain out

the leaves, then let the tea cool before drinking.

 

Parsley:

That dark green garnish, which is so often thrown away, instead of

eaten, is generously endowed with boron. It would take about three

ounces of dried parsley to provide the three mgs deemed that is useful

in osteoporosis. That’s more than most people want to consume, but every

sprig helps.

 

In my database, parsley is also among the highest food sources of

fluorine, another bone strengthener. Freshen your breath, while you save

your bones by routinely eating every sprig of parsley garnish on your

plate in restaurants.

 

I have nothing against calcium supplements but I firmly believe that

everyone should get as much calcium as possible from their foods. It’s

not only possible to do this, it’s better for your bones, because the

mineral strength of bone depends on more than calcium.

 

If calcium requirements really were four fold higher, pre-historic

infants would never have been able to grow up, and ultimately, to have

children.

 

If we really need cows' milk, man could never have existed.

Why ?

 

Because we have already been on this planet for millions of years. And

we have only consumed milk for a maximum of 0.01 million years.

 

This means that we did not drink a single drop of milk from other

animals in more than 99% of human existence; in our entire development

from ape to modern human being, we never drank, nor needed animals'

milk.

 

1.6 million years ago there were already humans well over 6 feet tall,

with apparently strong bones.

 

Some argue that our prehistoric diet contained more calcium, but that is

simply not true. you also need magnesium, boron, zinc,

vitamin D and vitamin A You can get all of these nutrients in

supplements, but I prefer to get them the way Nature intended—packaged

all together in food!

 

Lower in animal protein, vegetarian diets are associated with

significantly higher BMD (bonemineral density)!

 

And because our natural plant foods, on the average, contain about as

much calcium as mother's milk, it is absolutely impossible that these

natural foods contain too little calcium.

 

Calcium in mg / 100 g

226 Hazelnuts

 

140 Organic Egg yolk

 

132 Brazil nuts

 

96 Olives, Extra-Virgin Olive oil

 

87 Walnuts

 

54 Figs

 

44 Black berries

 

40 Raspberries

 

20 Coconut

 

18 Grapes

 

16 Apricot

 

16 Pineapple

 

14 Plum

 

13 Salmon

12 Mackerel

 

11 Watermelon

 

10 Avocado

 

9 Banana

 

6 Muskmelon

 

 

Exercise

If osteoporosis was about a lack of exercise, all healthy but physically

inactive people would have osteoporosis, which is not the case. That is

why bone-loss with age cannot be explained by declining physical

" actvity " levels.

 

Exercise causes microfractures which stimulates the osteoblasts to

increase their activity. Logically, then exercise also increases the

death rate of osteoblasts.

(excessive exercise is detrimental)

 

 

Taken from:

“Healing Power of Herbs” with Dr. John Heinerman

“Aging Without Growing Old” with Judy Lindbergh McFarland

“Nature’s Miracle Tonics” with Laurel Dewey,

“The Humorous Herbalist”- Ms. Dewey’s column appears in newspapers and

magazines nationwide.

 

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I found this on Dr. Walt's bb... Wow!

Misty

http://www..com

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Why Soda Pop Drains You Dry

http://www.unhinderedliving.com/soda.html

 

Soda pop is not good for you. Of course, you have probably

suspected this, but perhaps you don't know the extent to which

drinking carbonated, caffeinated, sugared, or artificially sweetened

beverages destroys your body.

 

If you look at the list of ingredients in most soda pops, you will

likely see most or all of these listed:

 

caffeine

carbonated water

phosphoric acid

refined sugar

aspartame

acesulfame-k

sucralose

 

Let's start with carbonated water. As you know, our bodies require

oxygen to remain healthy. For every can of carbonated soda

ingested, the amount of oxygen in the blood is decreased by 25% for

up to three hours. If you are drinking several sodas per day, you

are depriving yourself for a significant amount of oxygen.

 

Calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus must be maintained in the proper

balance for bone health.

 

When too much phosphorus is in the blood, calcium is leached from

the bones, causing osteoporosis.

 

Even in citrus sodas which contain citric acid instead of phosphoric

acid, calcium is needed to normalize blood pH.

 

It has been said that the fastest growing group of people with

osteoporosis in this country is teenagers....because of the huge

number of sodas they consume.

 

As far as caffeine and sugar are concerned, they both cause

dehydration, and the massive depletion of minerals.

 

A study was done in which two groups of children aged 13-18 years of

age were given one of two drinks, a caffeinated sugar-free drink, or

a drink containing both caffeine and sugar.

 

When caffeine was added, calcium excretion in the urine increased by

25%.

 

When refined sugar was added, urinary calcium loss almost doubled (1).

 

Both caffeine and sugar also cause dehydration.

 

Sugar in particular is destructive because its ingestion lowers

immune function by reducing the ability of " white blood cells " to

ingest and destroy bacteria.

 

This lowered immune function can last for five hours or more after

the ingestions of sugar (.

 

Sucralose, also marketed as Splenda, breaks down into small amounts

of 1,6 -dichlorofructose, a chemical similar to " chlorinated "

pesticides.

 

There has not been adequate testing of this product before it was

released for public use, and many of the post-approval studies are

alarming.

 

To read about it, go to Sucralose Toxicity Information Center .

 

Aspartame, or Nutra Sweet, has an alarming health record. Read my

article about Aspartame . Even though this article is about how

aspartame poisons the pregnant woman and her unborn child, you can

see how it would do similar things in the bodies of others.

Also, see the Aspartame (Nutra Sweet) Toxicity Info Center .

 

Acesulfame-k is a dangerous chemical. Read Sample Quotes from

Cancer Experts' Letters on Acesulfame Testing .

 

I hope you will consider giving up the drinking of soda pop. It

would contribute significantly to your level of wellness, and

probably help reverse many existing health problems.

_________________

http://www..com

On-Line Homeopathic Consultations

mistyt-

 

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Regular Cola Consumption Linked to Lower Bone Density in Women

 

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Regular Cola Consumption Linked to Lower Bone Density in Women

http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/dailcollinto.html

 

Women who drink dark colas daily may have lower bone density than those

who drink clear soda, according to findings of a study of women who were

part of the Framingham Offspring Cohort.

 

While various studies have been done on soft drink consumption and bone

health in children and adolescents, this study looked adults, said

Katherine Tucker, PhD, associate professor of nutritional epidemiology

at Tufts University.

 

In other studies, there has been an assumption that increased soft drink

consumption meant lower intake of dairy and other calcium sources.

 

But in this cohort, " we looked at total calcium, and that was similar

across the groups we studied. [Decreased bone density] wasn't because of

lower calcium, " she told Medscape in an interview. Dr. Tucker presented

her findings here at the 25th annual meeting of the American Society for

Bone and Mineral Research.

 

The problem appears to be increased levels of phosphoric acid, which can

interfere with bone absorption. A typical can of cola contains 44 to 62

mg of phosphoric acid per 12 ounce serving, and diet cola contains 27 to

39 mg.

 

Data were presented on a total of 1,672 women and 1,148 men studied from

1996 to 2001. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements were taken at the

spine and three sites of the hip. The cohort was divided into two

groups, those who consumed cola daily and those who drank cola (or other

sorts of carbonated beverages including clear sodas) once a week or

less.

 

The average daily phosphorus level of cola drinkers was 1,146 mg

compared with 1,105 mg in nondaily cola drinkers, but this included all

dietary sources.

 

Among the female subjects, regular cola drinkers had decreased BMD

compared with the infrequent drinkers. BMD was 2.3% lower in the

trochanter, 3.3% lower in the femoral neck, and 5.1% lower in Ward's

area.

 

Yet, daily drinkers of cola had a slightly higher physical activity

score and were similar to the infrequent cola drinks in all other

respects.

 

" We've shown it was not due to lower calcium, it was not due to the

caffeine in the cola, it was not due to the sugar, and we adjusted for

calcium and vitamin D as well as body size. It seems the thing that's

left is the phosphoric acid, " Dr. Tucker said.

 

While phosphoric acid is present in other dietary sources, including

dairy products, it may not cause the same sort of problem.

 

" When phosphoric acid comes packaged with other nutrients, it's absorbed

normally and everything is in balance. We think the problem with cola is

that you're getting those doses of phosphoric acid without any calcium.

It's not balanced, and that extra phosphorus binds with calcium and

prevents it from being absorbed, " Dr. Tucker said.

 

This latest study still doesn't answer all the questions, said Dennis

Black, PhD, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the

University of California at San Francisco.

 

" This kind of study is hard because you ask people at one point in time

'what do you drink?' If you asked them a month earlier they may have

drunk something different. It's very difficult to assess, " he said.

 

The study also found that while cola consumption was associated with

lower BMD in women, the same did not hold true for men.

 

Dr. Tucker reported no financial disclosures.

 

25th ASBMR: Abstract SU259. Presented Sept. 21, 2003.

Thanks to MEDSCAPE

_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Diets.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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