Phosphorous is like the younger brother of calcium in our body.
Phosphorus, an essential mineral, ranks second to calcium, 80% of which is present in the skeleton and teeth and 20% distributed in the body fluids.
Know Your Nutrient:
- It couples with Calcium to build strong, healthy bones and teeth.
- It helps the body to make energy and is part of the energy-storing molecule.
- It is important in the synthesis of proteins required for growth, maintenance, repair, and genetic material like DNA and RNA.
- Helps in the filtration of wastes from the kidneys and is vital in maintaining an acid-base balance in the body.
- Helps in muscle contraction, and the use of B vitamins and vitamin D.
Deficiency of phosphorus can occur due to imbalanced diets, alcoholism, diabetes, or eating disorders. It is manifested in the form of fractures, weakness, irritability, loss of appetite, irregular breathing.
Phosphorus Friendly Foods:
In general, good sources of protein are also high in phosphorus.
Meat, fish, and eggs rank as excellent sources. Milk and milk products are good sources, as are nuts and legumes, cereals, and grains. Vegetables and fruits are poor sources of phosphorus.
So the next time you feel feeble or your bones seem to ache, you know what’s missing on your plate!
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