Is Dipotassium Phosphate Bad For You?

Dipotassium phosphate is a common food additive.  The chemical is most commonly created by a reaction between potassium hydroxide and phosphoric acid. But is dipotassium phosphate bad for you?

Is Dipotassium Phosphate Bad For You?

While the FDA considers it safe in moderate amounts, it is still best for your health to try to avoid too much of it in your diet.

In What Kinds of Food is Dipotassium Phosphate Commonly Found?

Dipotassium phosphate is commonly found in some powdered drink mixes and in non-dairy creamers (where it is included to help prevent coagulation).  It is also frequently found in cheeses and sometimes found in mineral supplements.

You should be aware that dipotassium phosphate is sometimes marketed as a workout supplement.  You should tread very carefully when considering whether or not to use this chemical in this (or any other) way.  Remember that both short-term and long-term health effects can be the consequence.

Possible Health Effects of Dipotassium Phosphate

In 2012, a number of researchers indicated their opinion that products containing a high level of phosphate contents should be required by law to be labelled as such, to help consumers avoid the potentially negative health effects of too much phosphate exposure.

Excessive intake of dipotassium phosphate can result in long-term side effects such as phosphorus overload, arterial stiffening, heart disease, and kidney disease.

Phosphorus Overload

Phosphorus overload occurs when one ingests more phosphorus than is needed by the body.  Some of the issues caused by phosphorus overload can include bone loss, enlargement of the heart and depositing of calcium in the blood vessels.  People who have kidney disease might suffer further progression of that condition, as well.

Arterial Stiffening

While arterial stiffening (stiffening of the walls of the arteries) does happen naturally with age, it is important that we take steps to delay it as long as we can. Unfortunately, ingesting too much phosphorus in our diets can lead to stiffening of the artery walls.

It is the arteries that we depend on to deliver all the oxygen and essential nutrients needed by the body’s organs and peripheries.  It is important that the artery walls be properly elastic, so that there is less pressure as the blood travels through.  When the walls are too stiff, the heart is forced to work harder to get the blood through the arteries.  It is because of this that arterial stiffening puts us at greater risk of cardiovascular issues and stroke.

Heart Disease

A variety of different cardiovascular conditions fall under the label of heart disease.  Such conditions can include, for example, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); coronary artery disease; and blood vessel diseases and disorders.  It can even include heart defects that people can be born with, which are called congenital heart defects.

When we talk about heart or cardiovascular disease in the context of this article, however, we are generally talking about conditions where patients have blocked or narrowed blood vessels that put one at greater risk of a heart attack, stroke, or chest pain (angina), as well as conditions that adversely impact your heart’s valves or rhythm or your heart muscle as a whole.

Symptoms of heart disease can include pain in the back, upper abdomen, throat, jaw, or neck; coldness, weakness, numbness, or pain in the arms or legs; shortness of breath; and/or angina (chest pain).  If you have abnormal heart rhythm/heartbeat, you may have dizziness; fluttering in the chest; lightheadedness; racing heartbeat (tachycardia); shortness of breath; slow heartbeat (bradycardia); chest discomfort or pain; and/or fainting or near fainting.

How to Avoid Preservatives in Your Daily Diet

If you want to be healthier, you might consider trying to cut down on the amount of preservatives in your daily diet.  There are several different ways that you can do this. One of them is to make the effort to eat organic foods more often.  Try to eat more organic vegetables, fruit, fish, grains, and meat.  You can also find organic poultry, sauces, pasta, juice, bread, milk, ice cream, and cereal.  Avoid eating fast food and processed or packaged food as much as possible.

You should be aware that companies are not required to meet any sort of special requirements to put an “all natural” label on their product.  You need to do the research yourself, and actually read the ingredients lists.  Become an educated consumer, and do research on individual ingredients as well as the companies and manufacturers that make the products you eat.

Eating more healthfully can benefit many different aspects of your life.  It will improve your general mood, making you a happier and more upbeat person.  Related to this is its ability to impart a higher level of energy, rendering daily life easier to deal with and making you feel more accomplished at the end of a busy day.

Having a healthier diet will also assist in keeping your weight under control, and in decreasing the risk that you will suffer from a number of different medical conditions and diseases.  Finally, eating more healthfully is likely to increase your longevity and support you through a long and happy life.

 

References:

“Is Dipotassium Phosphate Bad for You?” https://www.isitbadforyou.com/questions/is-dipotassium-phosphate-bad-for-you

“Phosphate in food is ‘health risk’ that should be labelled, claims researchers”, http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science/Phosphate-in-food-is-health-risk-that-should-be-labelled-claim-researchers

“Does Your Diet Deliver Too Much Phosphorus”, http://www.nutritionletter.tufts.edu/issues/10_3/current-articles/Does-Your-Diet-Deliver-Too-Much-Phosphorus_1406-1.html

“What is Arterial Stiffness”, http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Arterial-Stiffness.aspx

“Heart Disease”, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/basics/definition/con-20034056

“Are dipotassium phosphate http://www.ochef.com/answers/1642.htm

“No Preservatives Diet”, http://www.livestrong.com/article/324884-no-preservatives-diet

“The Benefits of Healthy Habits”, http://www.healthline.com/health/5-benefits-healthy-habits#controls-weight2