Phosphorus facts

• Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the body
• The B vitamins need phosphorus to work properly
• Phosphorus in nuts, seeds, grains is less easily absorbed
• Phosphorus in meat, chicken, diary is more easily absorbed
• The bones, teeth and muscles contain high phosphorus levels

While calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, phosphorus comes next, as the second most abundant mineral. The body needs relatively large amounts of phosphorus each day to function effectively.  The B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, cobalamin) need phosphorus to help them perform their various metabolic processes more effectively.

The body can more easily absorb phosphorus from meat, poultry and dairy foods, than form nuts, seeds, grains. The phosphorus in nuts, seeds, grains is about 50% less bioavailable to the body (less easily absorbed) than the phosphorus from meat, poultry and dairy foods.

The bones, teeth and muscles are the organs in the body which contain the highest amounts of phosphorus – these tissues are where phosphorus levels are naturally stored in the body.