If I take enough calcium… my bones will be strong! … Right?
WRONG! Well… MOSTLY wrong. Have you ever tried to eat a PB & J sandwich without Jelly? Have you ever tried to watch a 3D movie with only the red side of the glasses? Hahaha… sorry. My point is that there are things that will only work in conjunction with another. That is the case with calcium and phosphorus.
Phosphorus is the unsung hero. It carries with it so many important health benefits, and is more and more proving to be a neglected part of the American diet. Phosphorus not only helps build bone matter, it also aids in transmissions of nerve impulses, gives you stable and plentiful energy, and research shows may even help block cancer. Both calcium and phosphorus are found naturally in dairy products, but most supplements containing calcium and calcium fortified foods/beverages don’t contain phosphorus. This is making it more and more unavailable to the body.
Required by the body for bone and teeth formation, phosphorus makes up more than half of all bone matter. Calcium alone cannot build strong bones and tissues. As new research emerges, it is becoming quite evident that calcium needs phosphorus to maximize its bone-strengthening benefits, and taking several calcium supplements without adequate phosphorus could actually be a waste of money and interfere with phosphorus absorption.
Women who are trying to prevent or treat osteoporosis usually take 1,000-1,500 mg of calcium daily in supplements. However, studies are showing this amount of calcium can bind up to 500 mg of phosphorus, making it unavailable to the body. These women won’t see the full benefits of calcium because the bones are made up of both calcium AND phosphorus, and the normal calcium supplement (calcium carbonate) may actually block most of the phosphorus from being absorbed by the body. The recommended dietary intake of phosphorus set by the FDA is 1000-mg (matching the intake of calcium).
There are so many more uses of phosphorus in the body than just maintaining healthy bones. Having problems with your energy level? Want to have speedier recoveries from injury? Do you have problems focusing on- OH LOOK! A CHICKEN! … haha… What I am getting at, is that phosphorus is the team player. It has shown signs of improving energy levels, speeding up healing, and helping to keep your mind alert and active. Not only that- there have been other studies showing that it can even prevent stunted or slow growth in children and can keep your muscles and heart contracting regularly and smoothly.
I know that this is a LOT of information to take in, but I think that phosphorus has flown under the radar for long enough. It’s time to give credit where credit is due! SO! The next time that you go to your vitamin cabinet and pull out the calcium… make sure to grab his faithful sidekick: Phosphorus.
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