[ad_1]
Is it difficult to get motivated to get out of the couch and exercise?
Well, a common food additive that you unknowingly consume in large quantities could be to blame.
New research is highlighting inorganic phosphate – an additive and preservative that's found in up to 70% of the current diet foods in the United States – and its potential impact on your health.
The study, published in the journal Circulation, aimed to examine the harmful effects of excessive dietary phosphate consumption by examining laboratory mice fed a diet rich in phosphates.
Researchers measured rodents' oxygen consumption during exercise, revealing not only less movement capacity, but also their inability to produce enough fatty acids to feed their muscles.
While the mice were observed for a period of 12 weeks, the researchers wanted to make a comparison with humans. So they looked at data from Dallas Heart Study registrants.
These people were between 18 and 65 years old, taking no medication, and had no history of kidney or heart problems.
Learn more Healthline: 1 in 10 adults have a food allergy, but twice as many think
They wore physical activity monitors for seven days, which combined high levels of phosphate in their diet with reduced time spent on moderate to vigorous exercise.
As in mice, inactivity increased when phosphate levels were higher.
Lead researcher Dr. Wanpen Vongpatanasin, Professor of Internal Medicine and Director of the Hypertension Research Fellowship Program at the Southwestern Medical Center of UT, told Healthline that she had been struck. by the proximity of the phosphate response to humans.
"The study in humans supports animal studies by showing that people with high levels of phosphate in the blood tend to spend less time training and more time sedentary activities." , she writes in an email.
What exactly are phosphates?
According to the Merck Manual, a phosphate is a charged particle that contains the mineral phosphorus that your body needs to repair and rebuild your teeth and bones, to contract your muscles and to help with nerve function.
Phosphates are naturally found in a wide range of healthy foods such as meat, fish, dairy products, fruits and vegetables.
However, it is the inorganic form, saturated in many processed foods and drinks that Americans consume, which is the problem.
"The average consumer would not know about the existence of this commercial food additive," said Dana Hunnes, PhD, MPH, Dt.P., a dietitian at the University of California Medical Center in Los Angeles ( UCLA). "It is commonly used to extend the shelf life of many foods and can also improve the taste of others. This is probably a very inexpensive ingredient / additive that would explain its almost ubiquitous use. "
It is estimated that between 40 and 70 percent of the top selling grocery products, such as cola-based beverages and frozen foods, contain these inorganic phosphates, she told Healthline.
"It's a huge proportion of the foods that many Americans buy. In fact, I remember a recent Nutrition Action Newsletter article that said even bottled orange juice – such as "Simply Orange" – contains added inorganic phosphates, "said Hunnes. "In many cases, food additives are used to provide a nutrient (such as a vitamin or mineral), a flavor (such as MSG or salt), or some other non-nutritive property, including inorganic phosphates."
She added, "We do not know anything about them because phosphates are not usually a nutrient that concerns us. Most people, unless they suffer from kidney disease, tend to be aware of calories, fats and types of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, or worry about it. .
Tamika Sims, PhD, director of food technology communications at the Foundation's International Council of Food Information (Food Information Council), said that although inorganic phosphates might not be familiar to a lot, they should be what people should have in their radar.
"In healthy adults, inorganic phosphate is metabolized when needed, but phosphate is also used in the body for nerve, bone and muscle functions. The amount of phosphate in the body is regulated by the kidneys. People with kidney disease or kidney dysfunction may be exposed to an irregular rate of phosphate, "Sims told Healthline.
Regarding the study, Vongpatanasin wrote that while it is necessary that our body processes energy in normal amounts, if this energy is used too much, it can limit the ability to burn fat Useful fuel needed during exercise.
Learn more Healthline: No energy drink to harm the blood vessels, harmful to health for other reasons
The average consumer may not know that an overabundance of these particles is even found in many of the foods served at his table. They might be annoyed to learn that food regulators do not provide a lot of complete information.
On current food labels, check for "phos", such as "calcium phosphate," for example.
Vongpatanasin added that there is no formal mandate or regulation for the food industry to accurately indicate the amount of inorganic phosphates circulating in the food chain.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture are the ones who have defined the requirements for food labels across the country, and Vongpatanasin said it was clear that much research was going on. more in-depth were needed.
"Although it is well known that a high phosphate diet is dangerous in patients with kidney failure, the impact of a phosphate-rich diet on cardiovascular health of a normal population without renal failure has not been widely studied nor recognized until now, "she wrote.
What you can do
If you're reading this and hearing about inorganic phosphates for the first time, what should you do when shopping for this week's grocery store?
"In general, if you can buy fresh or unwrapped food, all the better – you will not have to worry that inorganic phosphates have been added to foods," Hunnes said. "Otherwise, like everything else, it seems like we have to be aware of this ingredient in food. Look at food labels and look for anything that contains added phosphate. You will find it in the list of ingredients, with all the word "phos" or "phosphate". "
She added that it would warn consumers about the consumption of this type of food, especially if it is about athletes or people who wish to maintain an exercise regime.
"It could hinder your progress, hurt you and make your workout much more difficult," she said.
Ms. Vongpatanasin stated that similar thoughts were also present to her when she was going ahead with her research.
She pointed out that a person should not consume more than 700 mg of inorganic phosphates a day.
She and her team plan to then conduct a randomized study to determine if lowering the daily dose of 700 mg phosphate could be helpful in lowering blood pressure and stimulating physical activity.
The bottom line
A new study published in the journal Circulation aimed to determine how the prevalence of inorganic phosphates in diets rich in processed foods in America could reduce a person's willingness to remain physically active.
Over a 12-week period, laboratory mice received a diet rich in phosphates, with their activity decreasing as inorganic phosphates increased. This was compared to data on healthy adults enrolled in the Dallas Heart Study.
As in mice, adults with a diet richer in phosphates saw physical activity decrease as phosphate levels increased.
Experts recommend that people look for the words "phos" or "phosphate" on food labels, avoid processed foods and instead choose fresh, unpackaged foods.
Source link
