Phosphorus - Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms and Food Sources

What is Phosphorus?

Phosphorus is a key element in all known forms of life either it is for humans or animals. Most of the Phosphorus inside the body can be found in the teeth and the bones. Phosphorus is almost always a limiting nutrient to plant growth in a lake, meaning that plant growth increases at the same rate as phosphorus is added to the system.

Uses and Benefits of Phosphorus

Phosphorous is a mineral which helps to build strong bones and teeth. Phosphorous is already has a great advantage in human body to the release of energy from fat, protein, and carbohydrates during metabolism, and in the formation of genetic material, cell membranes, and many enzymes.

It speeds up to recover of broken bones and other injuries and functions are to metabolize fats and starches for energy. It is also necessary for proper nerve impulses and for niacin assimilation. Phosphorus is also play an important role for the growth, maintenance, and repair of all tissues and cells, and for the production of the genetic building blocks like DNA and RNA. Phosphorus is also needed to balance and metabolize other vitamins and minerals, including vitamin D, calcium, iodine, magnesium, and zinc.

Recommended Dosage of Phosphorus

• 700 milligrams of phosphorus per day in adults ages 18 years and older, including pregnant or breastfeeding women.
• The recommended adequate intake in infants 0 to 6 months old is 100 milligrams per day
• The recommended adequate intake in infants 7 to 12 months old is 275 milligrams per day
• The recommended daily intake in children ages 1 to 3 years old is 460 milligrams per day.

Deficiency Symptoms of Phosphorus

Phosphorus deficiencies are very rare since many foods, even those that are processed, contain this all-important mineral. A deficiency in the calcium-phosphorus balance can lead to diseases like rickets, arthritis, pyorrhea, and tooth decay. Antacids, too much iron or magnesium depletes phosphorus levels.

Rich Food Sources of Phosphorus

The rich food sources of phosphorus are tuna, mackerel, pike, sardines, whitefish, scallops, shad, smelt, anchovies, bass, bluefish, carp, caviar, eel, halibut, herring, trout,  liver, rabbit, sweetbreads, turkey, beef brains, chicken, eggs, egg yolk, pinon nuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, filberts, hickory, peanuts, chickpeas, garlic, lentils, popcorn, soybeans, wheat bran and germ, wild rice, buckwheat, millet, oats, oatmeal, brown rice, chocolate, kelp, yeast, bone meal.

Cautions and side effects of Phosphorus

Excessively high levels of phosphorus in the blood, although rare, can combine with calcium to form deposits in soft tissues such as muscle. High levels of phosphorus in blood only occur in people with severe kidney disease or severe dysfunction of their calcium regulation.