Phosphates in food: additives affecting kidneys, bones and blood vessels

What are phosphates, and why does the body need them?

Phosphate is an electrically charged particle containing phosphorus. In the human body, most phosphorus combines with oxygen to form phosphate. Approximately 85 % of the body’s phosphate is stored in bones and teeth; the rest is found in cells, blood and other bodily fluids.

Phosphate is involved in building bones and teeth, the production of cellular energy (ATP), the structure of cell membranes and the synthesis of DNA. Life is impossible without phosphate.

Phosphate itself is therefore not the problem. The problem arises when the diet contains too much phosphate, especially from added inorganic sources, while calcium intake or absorption is insufficient.

Where are phosphates found in food?

Phosphorus in food does not always come in the same form. It is important to distinguish between naturally occurring or organic phosphates and added inorganic phosphates.

Naturally occurring or organic phosphates

Natural phosphates occur in ordinary foods, for example in:

• meat
• fish
• dairy products
• legumes
• nuts and seeds
• grains

In these foods, phosphorus is bound within the food’s natural structure, so it is generally absorbed gradually as part of the normal metabolic process. This kind of intake is usually less problematic for the body.

Added or inorganic phosphates

Inorganic phosphates are often added to ultra-processed foods. They are found, for example, in:

• processed meat
• processed cheese
• instant foods
• carbonated beverages
• industrially made baked and frozen foods

These phosphates are often already in a form that is absorbed very efficiently. They can therefore increase total phosphate intake more quickly and more readily disrupt the balance between phosphorus and calcium.

How to identify phosphates on a food label

Phosphate additives are not always listed simply as “phosphates” on packaging. Manufacturers may identify them by an E-number or by name. It therefore makes sense to look for both: E-numbers and Slovenian or English terms such as fosfat, phosphate, fosforna kislina, phosphoric acid, difosfat, diphosphate, trifosfat, triphosphate, polifosfat, polyphosphate, including their sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium forms.

Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio

Phosphorus from natural foods is usually less problematic because it is bound within the food’s natural structure. Added phosphates pose a greater concern: the body absorbs them very efficiently, and they can quickly increase its overall phosphate load.

To help maintain the balance between calcium and phosphorus, adequate calcium intake matters. Calcium comes in both inorganic and organic forms. When there is enough stomach acid, the form consumed makes little practical difference. With too little stomach acid, inorganic forms dissolve and absorb less readily, so the calcium–phosphorus imbalance may become more pronounced.

The approximate target for the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in the body is 1:1 to 1.3:1 in favor of calcium. Eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods with added inorganic phosphates while absorbing too little calcium can disrupt the Ca:P balance.

Forms of calcium

Calcium can also enter the body in different forms. From food, it is obtained naturally, while in dietary supplements it is often in the form of various calcium salts. The most well-known forms are:

• calcium carbonate – we often consider it to be a more inorganic form
• calcium citrate – we often consider it to be a more organic form

Once calcium is absorbed, it is always present in the blood in the same form: as ionized calcium (Ca²⁺). The main difference between forms is how well each one is absorbed.

Why is stomach acid important?

Stomach acid helps dissolve minerals from food and supplements. If there is enough acid, most forms of calcium dissolve and are well absorbed. If there is too little acid, some forms of calcium dissolve less well.

This means that when stomach acid is low, the body may absorb relatively less calcium, while phosphates, especially added inorganic phosphates, continue to be absorbed very efficiently. The calcium-to-phosphorus ratio can therefore become unbalanced more quickly.

Hormonal regulation

When there is too much phosphate or too little calcium, the body activates hormones that attempt to correct the condition. In the short term, this is beneficial, as it helps maintain stable mineral levels in the blood. However, if the body has to do this constantly, the process can begin to burden the bones, mineral metabolism, and eventually even the blood vessels.

When the body detects that the balance between calcium and phosphorus has been disrupted, it primarily activates two hormones:

• PTH (parathyroid hormone)
• FGF23

Where is PTH produced?

PTH is produced in the parathyroid glands, small glands at the back of the thyroid in the neck. It is activated primarily when the body detects too little calcium in the blood.

Where is FGF23 produced?

FGF23 is produced mainly in the bones, specifically in bone cells. It becomes active primarily when phosphate levels are too high.

What do these two hormones do?

These hormones serve a useful purpose: they try to correct the imbalance.

• PTH helps increase calcium in the blood
• FGF23 helps lower phosphate in the blood

One way PTH can do this is by drawing on calcium stored in bones. FGF23, meanwhile, helps the kidneys excrete more phosphate.

These hormones are not harmful in themselves. On the contrary, they are protective mechanisms through which the body tries to maintain balance. A problem arises when the body has to keep correcting that balance for years.

Consequences for the body

A prolonged imbalance between calcium and phosphorus can contribute to vascular calcification, osteopenia and, later, osteoporosis, while also increasing strain on the kidneys and causing metabolic stress in the body.

Mitochondria, ROS and oxidative stress

High phosphate levels can affect the mitochondria, the cellular structures that produce energy. Phosphate can increase their membrane potential, leading to greater production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially superoxide.

An excess of ROS causes oxidative stress. This means the oxidative burden exceeds what cells can safely neutralize. Over time, this matters not only for the cells themselves, but also for blood vessels, the heart and metabolism.

Vascular calcification

Vascular calcification means that minerals begin to accumulate in vessel walls, mainly as calcium phosphates. This is not the same as ordinary fat deposits, although the processes can overlap.

If the body has to correct the calcium-to-phosphorus balance over a long period, processes can begin in vessel walls in which some vascular smooth muscle cells begin to behave like bone cells. The result is a gradual hardening of the blood vessels.

Possible consequences for bones

If the body has to use calcium from the bones for a long time to maintain balance in the blood, this eventually contributes to:

• reduced mineral density of bones
• increased brittleness of bones
• greater risk of osteopenia or osteoporosis

Magnesium and mineral balance

Magnesium also plays a protective role, helping to reduce some effects of phosphate on cellular stress and making unwanted mineral deposits in vessel walls less likely.

The changes listed above are mainly consequences or symptoms, which we often try to address with pills, therapies or other approaches. Understanding their causes matters just as much. If we deal only with the consequences, problems tend to recur until the body’s underlying balance is restored.

Practical steps

The main message is not to fear phosphorus, but to aim for less industrially processed food and a better mineral balance.

The meaningful steps are usually as follows:

• reduction of ultra-processed foods and fast food
• checking declarations for phosphate additives
• sufficient calcium intake from quality sources
• care for sufficient magnesium intake
• regulated vitamin D metabolism and generally balanced nutrition

Rather than seeking a single solution, it is more useful to care for overall dietary balance: fewer phosphate additives, enough calcium and magnesium, and as little processed food as possible.

Frequency therapy as a supportive approach

Frequency therapy may also support efforts to maintain calcium–phosphorus balance. It helps to look beyond any single organ: the body regulates this balance through several interconnected systems, including hormonal, digestive, excretory, vascular and cellular processes.

Support with Zapper-Pro frequencies

Practical approach

In practice, it usually makes sense to begin with the systems that play the greatest regulatory role in this balance: the parathyroid glands, thyroid, stomach, intestines, kidneys and bones. Further support can then be added, if needed, for blood vessels, liver and mitochondria, especially when taking a comprehensive, long-term approach.

The following protocol is recommended as an initial supportive approach: Initial protocol with Zapper-Pro.

ETDFL and single-frequency treatments

In addition to the ETDFL treatments mentioned above, single-frequency treatments, which can provide additional support for specific areas. You can find them here: Single-frequency treatments.

DMSO as a local support before the treatment

Some people also use DMSO before frequency therapy. For kidney support, for example, suitably diluted DMSO may be applied or gently sprayed onto the kidney area before a frequency treatment. The purpose is to prepare the area locally before the session.

Frequency therapy as supportive care

Frequency therapy is primarily a supportive approach: it does not focus on a single number or laboratory result, but supports the functional areas involved in calcium–phosphorus balance. It is most useful alongside a balanced diet, less ultra-processed food, enough calcium and magnesium, and broader metabolic support.

Sources

• Mercola, Joseph. The Harms of Phosphate.
  https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2024/08/28/harms-of-phosphate.aspx
• Mercola, Joseph. Phosphate additives health risks.
  https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2026/01/28/phosphate-additives-health-risks.aspx