Medical science is constantly developing over time. Some scientific researchers have recently discovered that phosphate-rich foods can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease.
Hypertension has become one of the most common health issues today as a result of lifestyles and foods habits. Phosphate is an essential nutrient for proper cell functioning, regulation of calcium and making adenosine triphosphate which provides energy to our cells. Consuming too much food rich in phosphate causes the body to send calcium from the bones to the blood for the purpose of attempting to restore the balance. This calcium transfer will conduct to the risk of heart attack. Phosphate exists in almost every food. Some scientific research suggests that this nutrient can be found in seeds, cheese, fish, cola, baking powder and it is easily more absorbed from cured meats. The quantity of phosphate absorbed differs from person to person. It is also widely used as preservative and Ph stabilizer in the food industry.
Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 (FGF-23) or also called sodium conserving effect is responsible for phosphate metabolism. The New England Journal of Medicine argued that this hormone increases the rate of urinal excretion of phosphate and inhibits renal production of dihydroxyvitamin D. Lack of this hormone excretes higher quantities of sodium in urine and that will result in low blood pressure. Otherwise, when the level of FGF-23 is raised we are unable to excrete excess sodium so that will lead to high blood pressure which is also known as hypertension.
According to Reinhold Erben, Head of the Unit of physiology, pathophysiology and biophysics at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, the problem is really worrisome for patients who suffer from kidney disease. In fact, the phosphate and the FGF-23 levels are chronically high for these persons. However, large quantities of phosphates can quick-start the production of FGF-23 hormone, and such situation puts strain on the cardiovascular system. There are approximately 72 million persons who suffer from hypertension in the U.S. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that about two-thirds of people over the age of 65 in this country have high blood pressure. Until now, the relationship between the accumulation of the hormone FGF-23, renal disease and cardiovascular was still unclear. High blood pressure is a public health problem worldwide. We can prevent this terrible situation by paying mind of what we eat. Eating a healthy diet consisting of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, is the simplest way to sustain good health. Apart from that, getting proper sleep can reduce the risk of hypertension.