The Official Newsletter of Bodyfatguide.com
updated February 23, 2012
Dietary
Phosphorus Restrictionwith a Raw Vegan Diet
by Ron Brown, Ph.D., author of The Body Fat Guide
Dietary
Phosphorus Restrictionby Ron Brown, Ph.D., author of The Body Fat Guide
"Ron Brown is a certified fitness trainer who doesn't have an inch of flab on his body. He'll tell you what you can do to become fit and trim too."
TALK TO AMERICA, Washington DC
|
CAN a
low-phosphorus diet commonly used to manage chronic kidney disease also prevent other chronic diseases that are associated with dietary
phosphate toxicity like osteoporosis, cardiovascular
disease, and tumors (Razzaque, 2011)? High intake of dietary phosphorus has been found to
stimulate tumor growth (Camalier et al., 2010; Jin et al.,
2009). Cancer growth and regression in lab animals is associated with dietary
intake of casein, a phospho-protein in cow milk (Campbell & Campbell, 2006). The Encyclopedia Britannica reports that cancer cells accumulate
more phosphorus than normal cells. As tumors break apart during
conventional medical therapy they release high amounts of their accumulated
phosphorus back into the blood stream, causing a toxic condition known as tumor
lysis syndrome. These facts support the hypothesis that tumor growth occurs
as the body removes and stores excess phosphorus out of normal circulation.
During a fast or an eliminating diet, the body may gradually breakdown the tumor
through cellular autolysis (Shelton, 1978) and eliminate the excess phosphorus through the kidneys. Restricting dietary phosphorus
would not only prevent new tumor growth, it may also allow the body to eliminate
excess phosphorus through tumor autolysis, as in fasting.
Strategies for dietary phosphorus restriction used in chronic kidney disease patients include eliminating inorganic phosphorus from food additives and selecting grain sources with lower phosphate bioavailability (Gutierrez & Myles, 2010). Limitations of such strategies include lack of food additive information and awareness, and reduced bioavailability of essential nutrients from grain consumption (Gutierrez & Myles, 2010). A raw vegan diet has potential as an efficacious dietary phosphorus restriction strategy to meet the needs of kidney patients and anyone interested in preventing kidney disease with associated bone disorders (osteodystrophy) and vascular problems (calcification). For more information on dietary phosphorus and bone disorders, see: How Dairy Products Cause Osteoporosis. Vegetarian and vegan diets “are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases” (Craig & Mangels, 2009, p. 1266).
Vegan diets are used to proscribe animal-based foods including flesh from mammal, fish, and fowl, eggs, and dairy products, thus reducing dietary phosphorus intake significantly. A raw vegan diet eliminates cooked plant-based foods as well, such as grain, corn, legumes, and starchy tubers like potatoes that contribute significant amounts of dietary phosphorus per calorie, especially in the large amounts they are consumed.
Ross Horne (1988), who worked closely with Nathan Pritikin, described how
patients who followed Pritikin's grain and starch-based vegan diet developed
cancer and arthritis. A raw vegan diet that consists predominately of uncooked, low-phosphorus plant-based foods may be used as an effective dietary phosphorus restriction strategy while providing essential nutrients and energy.
A phosphorus restricted raw vegan diet also has potential to increase patient compliance through the diet’s convenience, palatability, and satiety.
Adapted from USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Retrieved from http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ Protein in coconut has been found to exceed meat, milk, and eggs in promoting tissue growth (Johns, Finks, & Paul, 1919). Concerns about saturated fat and overall fat levels in coconuts and other nuts as a cause of dyslipidemia and chronic disease have been refuted by numerous investigators (Assunção, Ferreira, dos Santos, Cabral, & Florêncio, 2009; Griel et al., 2008; Prior, Davidson, Salmond, & Czochanska, 1981; Sabaté, Oda, & Ros, 2010). Coconuts and macadamia nuts are higher in phosphorus when measured by weight than by calories (see Table 1) and should be used in strictly controlled amounts to maintain low absolute dietary phosphorus levels. Nut milks made by blending coconut or macadamia nuts with water are versatile replacements for dairy products and can be used in soups, dressings, toppings, smoothies, and dips. |
 |
Avocados are another example of a low-phosphorus plant-based food that can be used to supply a concentrated energy source in a raw vegan phosphorus restricted diet (see Table 1). Dates and other dried fruit also have low amounts of phosphorus measured by calories (see Table 1) and are a rich dietary source of energy and nutrients (Vinson, Zubik, Bose, Samman, & Proch, 2005). Oils processed from nuts, seeds, and other foods, although lacking phosphorus, are not whole foods and should be used discriminately. The balance of the phosphorus restricted raw vegan diet should consist of an abundance of fresh raw fruit and vegetables, particularly raw dark leafy greens with high calcium: phosphorus ratios such as collards, kale, and bok choy, which may be made more palatable blended in a green smoothie with sweet fruit (Boutenko, 2009). Patients should keep a spreadsheet of their daily nutrient intake to ensure compliance with phosphorus restriction while maintaining an overall nutrient balance on a raw vegan diet. See Diet Analyzer. A sample diet includes blended soups, salads, and smoothies made with:
According to the USDA nutrient database, this diet supplies 2,178 calories, 6% protein, 35% fat, 59% carbohydrates, 1277 mg calcium, and 638 mg phosphorus with a calcium-phosphorus ratio of 2:1. References Assunção, M. L., Ferreira, H. S., dos Santos, A. F.,
Cabral Jr., C. R., & Florêncio, T. M. M. T. (2009). Effects
of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women
presenting abdominal obesity. Lipids, 44,
593–601. doi:10.1007/s11745-009-3306-6 Boutenko, V. (2009). Green
smoothie revolution: The radical leap towards natural health. Berkeley, CA:
North Atlantic. Camalier, C. E., Young, M. R., Bobe, G., Perella, C. M.,
Colburn, N. H., & Beck, Jr, G. R. (2010). Elevated phosphate activates N-ras and promotes cell Campbell,
T. C., & Campbell, T. M., II (2006). The
China study: Startling implications for diet, weight loss, and long-term health.
Dallas, TX: BenBella. Craig, W. J., & Mangels, A. R. (2009).
Position of the American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian diets. Journal
of the American Dietetic Association, 109, 1266–1282. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2009.05.027 Griel,
A. E., Cao, Y., Bagshaw, D. D., Cifelli, A. M., Holub, B., & Kris-Etherton,
P. M. (2008). A macadamia nut-rich diet reduces total and LDL-cholesterol in
mildy hypercholesterolemic men and women. Journal
of Nutrition, 138, 761–767. Retrieved from http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/reprint/138/4/761 Gutiérrez,
O. M., & Myles, M. (2010). Dietary phosphorus restriction in advanced
chronic kidney disease: Merits, challenges, and emerging strategies. Seminars
in Dialysis, 23, 401–406. doi:10.1111/j.1525-139X.2010.00750.x Horne, R. (1988). Improving on Pritikin: You can do better. Happy Landing Pty: N.S.W., Australia.
Jin, H., Xu, C. X., Lim, H.T., Park, S.J., Shin, J.Y., Chung, Y.S.,...& Cho, M. H. (2009). High dietary inorganic phosphate increases lung tumorigenesis and alters Akt signaling. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 179, 59–68. doi:10.1164/rccm.200802-306OC
Johns,
C. O., Finks, A. J., & Paul, M. S. (1919). Studies in nutrition: I. The
nutritive value of coconut globulin and coconut press cake. The
Journal of Biological Chemistry, 37, 497–502. Retrieved from http://www.jbc.org/content/37/4/497.full.pdf
Prior, I. A., Davidson, F., Salmond, C. E., &
Czochanska, Z. (1981). Cholesterol,
coconuts, and diet on Polynesian atolls: A natural experiment: The Pukapuka and
Tokelau Island studies. American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition, 34, 1552–1561. Retrieved from http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/reprint/34/8/1552 Razzaque, M. S. (2011). Phosphate toxicity: New insights into an old problem. Clinical Science, 120, 91–97. doi:10.1042/CS20100377
Sabaté,
J., Oda, K., Ros, E. (2010). Nut consumption and blood lipid levels: A pooled
analysis of 25 intervention trials. Archives of Internal Medicine, 170,
821-827. Retrieved from http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/170/9/821 Shelton, H. M. (1978). The science and fine art of fasting. Natural Hygiene Press. Vinson, J. A., Zubik, L., Bose, P., Samman, N, & Proch, J. (2005). Dried fruits: Excellent in vitro and in vivo antioxidants. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 24, 44–50. Retrieved from http://www.jacn.org/cgi/reprint/24/1/44 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
