Phosphorus The Body Energiser

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Phosphorus is a mineral colleague of calcium within the body. Calcium by itself cannot be responsible for good teeth and bones or nourish the brain and nerves. A proper balance of phosphorus must be present in the bloodstream for the effective performance of these tasks.

An adult human body contains about 400-700 g of phosphorus as phosphates. At least two-thirds of this amount is found in chemical combination with calcium in the bones and teeth, and the rest in other tissues. Phosphorus is essential for the proper utilization of not only calcium but also other minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, and sodium.

The inorganic phosphorus content of blood serum in normal human adults ranges from 2.5 to 4.0 mg/ 100 ml, and in children from 4.0 to 5.0 mg/100ml. In individuals suffering from rickets, the level of phosphorus is reduced to less than 3 mg/1oo ml.

Phosphorus is a soft, non-metallic element found in the body only in combination with other substances. As a result, it is neither luminous nor inflammable. In the human body, phosphorus is a part of the ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and ADP{adenosine diphosphate) - the energy transporting systems in the cells, and is also a component of the phospholipids. Too much iron, aluminium, and magnesium can render phosphorus ineffective.

Phosphorus is absorbed in the small intestine as inorganic phosphates. Phosphorus present in an organic combination such as phytic acid, is hydrolysed to inorganic phosphate before absorption. Since the enzyme, phytase, is not present in human digestive juices, phytin phosphorus is absorbed only to a very slight extent in human beings. Phosphorus present in animal foods such as milk, meat, and eggs is absorbed to a greater extent than that present in cereals and legumes, as the latter exists mostly in the form of phytic acid.

The kidneys are the major pathway of excretion of the absorbed phosphorus. The retention of phosphorus in children on different diets has been reported to vary from 10 to 40 per cent. The retention of phosphorus depends on various factors like the quantity of phosphorus ingested the calcium content of the diet, the form in which phosphorus exists in the diet, and vitamin D intake.

Phosphorus Deficiency symptoms, Sources and Healing properties 

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