Contents:
- Medical Video: The Health Benefits of Phosphorous
- What are the functions of phosphorus?
- 1. Helps the kidneys work
- 2. Formation of DNA
- 3. Function of muscles and nerves
- 4. Maintaining the body's acid-base balance
- Foods and beverages that contain phosphorus
- The danger of excess phosphorus
- The danger of phosphorus deficiency
Medical Video: The Health Benefits of Phosphorous
You may have heard of phosphorus minerals for healthy bones and teeth, in addition to calcium minerals. Yes, about 85% of the phosphorus in your body is stored in your bones and teeth. A small portion of phosphorus is also present in cells and tissues in the body.
This mineral has a lot of functions in your body. Phosphorus can help the body to reduce muscle pain after exercise. Phosphorus also plays an important role in how the body stores and uses energy. And, there are many other functions of phosphorus which are certainly needed by the body.
What are the functions of phosphorus?
All this time, what you often hear about the function of phosphorus is probably only for healthy bones and teeth. But, actually the function of phosphorus for your body is very much, not limited to that. Some functions of phosphorus are:
1. Helps the kidneys work
Mineral phosphorus can help the kidneys filter out waste that the body no longer needs. However, too much phosphorus in the body can also interfere with the kidneys. So, the kidneys must get rid of this excess phosphorus out of the body so that the phosphorus levels in the body are always balanced. For those of you who have kidney disease, it is recommended that you limit your consumption of phosphorus so as not to burden your kidneys.
2. Formation of DNA
Phosphorus is also needed in the formation of DNA and RNA. Your body cannot form DNA to store genetic information if your body lacks phosphorus. So, you really need phosphorus because DNA is in almost all of your cells. This is needed to form new cells and repair tissue damage.
3. Function of muscles and nerves
Together with calcium, phosphorus can help muscles work, including the heart muscle. So, phosphorus is also needed in keeping the heart beating regularly. Its function in muscles also explains why phosphorus can reduce muscle pain after exercise. Phosphorus also plays a role in nerve communication, helping nerves send signals to the brain and also helps the brain to react to various external stimuli.
4. Maintaining the body's acid-base balance
Another function of phosphorus, which is to maintain acid-base balance (ph) in the body. This pH balance in the body is important to support all parts of the body working according to its function. In addition, phosphorus is also needed to help the body use vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin D, iodine, magnesium, and zinc. Also, play a role in regulating energy storage and use.
Foods and beverages that contain phosphorus
The need for phosphorus varies between individuals, ranging from 500 mg / day for children, 1200 mg / day for teens, and 700 mg / day for adults. You can meet these phosphorus needs through a variety of foods, such as:
- Meat, chicken and fish
- Milk and milk products
- Egg
- Nuts
- Potato
- Garlic
- Dried fruit, like raisins
The danger of excess phosphorus
Excess phosphorus can be toxic in the body. This can cause diarrhea, burden organ work, and also tissue.
Too high levels of phosphorus in the body can also interfere with the function of iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Phosphorus levels along with calcium that are too high can accumulate in the muscles and interfere with muscle work. Some studies have also linked high phosphorus intake with an increased risk of heart disease.
For those of you who have kidney disease, you should not consume too many foods that contain high phosphorus because it can burden the work of the kidneys.
The danger of phosphorus deficiency
Phosphorus deficiency usually occurs because of health conditions or because of drugs. Health conditions, such as diabetes, and drugs, such as antacids, diuretics, corticosteroids, and others, can reduce phosphorus levels in the body. This results in you becoming less appetite, anxiety, bone and joint pain, fatigue, weakness, irregular breathing, and poor bone growth in children.
