Phytate is a compound found in many plant-based foods, particularly whole grains, nuts, beans and other foods that are high in fiber. Phytate, also referred to as phytic acid, has been linked to the prevention of colorectal cancer and might play a...
Eating beans and whole grains can be very healthy, since these foods provide fiber and other essential nutrients. However, these foods also contain phytates, or phytic acid, which can decrease the absorption of certain minerals contained in these...
IP6, otherwise known as phytate -- or more properly myo-inositol hexaphosphate -- occurs in blood, urine and many of your body's fluids. Experiments with phytate, as with many other types of salts, have been performed to determine the effect on...
Phytic acid is the major storage form of phosphorous in plants. Phosphorus is an essential mineral required for normal cellular function in humans. Phytic acid is not a source of phosphorous for humans, however, because it is not absorbed in the...
Inositol is a simple carbohydrate that belongs to a class of compounds called polyols. It has a six-membered carbon ring with six chemical groups called hydroxyl groups attached to it. Inositol with six phosphate groups attached is called inositol...
Calcium is an important mineral in the maintenance of good health. It's the mineral that is most abundant in the human body. According to the National Library of Medicine, the body stores more than 99 percent of the calcium in bones and teeth to...
Kidney cancer, medically known as renal cancer, is a progressive disease with limited treatment options. Although kidney cancer effects are devastating, recent studies have concluded how renal cancer can be prevented or reduced by eating certain...
Phytic acid, called phytate in the salt form, serves as the phosphorus source for the germination and growth of plants. Phytic acid is often referred to an anti-nutrient because it chelates and decreases the body's ability to absorb essential...
Soybeans, like other legumes, are high in phytates, often referred to as antinutrients because they may inhibit the absorption of some nutrients. This has initiated concerns about the health effects of soy, especially in vegetarians, vegans or...
Phosphorus is a mineral that occurs in every cell in your body, primarily your bones and teeth. It is important for the production of healthy bones and teeth, metabolism of carbohydrates and fat, and formation of protein for proper growth, repair...
Nutrient bioavailability impacts the quality of your health and risk of disease. Bioavailability is defined as absorption and utilization of a nutrient, according to research by scientists at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver...
Phytic acids (also known as phytates) are present in many kinds of beans and grains, including wheat, flaxseed, soy products, peanuts, rice and most cereals. Phytates bind to certain minerals, such as iron and magnesium, and "chelate" these...
Kidney or renal cancer is a deadly disease with limited treatment options. While the effects of kidney cancer are devastating, a number of recent studies have shed light on how kidney cancer can be prevented. Diets that include fruits and...
Soy protein is often substituted for animal protein since it is low in fat and cholesterol. In addition, it contains dietary fiber, minerals and vitamins. Most of soy's benefits are due to estrogen-like compounds called isoflavones. Research...
Phytic acid, a chemical substance found naturally in plants, stores phosphate, the salt form of the nutrient phosphorus, as a source of energy for the plant. Plant seeds accumulate phytic acid during development until it accounts for between 60...
Osteoporosis affects 10 million Americans, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and almost 34 million others may be at risk. A disease of weakened bones, osteoporosis leaves you susceptible to bone breaks and fractures. A diet rich...
The body absorbs only a limited amount of iron from foods and supplements. We absorb a higher percentage of heme iron, found in meat proteins, than we do nonheme iron, found in plant-based foods, and a variety of food components, including...
Minerals are inorganic elements, found in foods or supplements. There are major and trace minerals essential for optimum health. Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, chloride, magnesium, sodium and sulfur are major minerals, as they are required in...
Iron deficiency is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world, occurring with relatively high frequency even in developed nations. Anemia due to iron deficiency causes poor exercise tolerance, fatigue, decreased school and work performance...
Calcium is a mineral essential to the health of the human body. It plays a role in many processes including muscular contraction as well as the expansion and contraction of blood vessels. It is also essential in bone development. Calcium intake...
The FDA allows foods rich in soy to claim that they reduce the risk of heart disease. However, scientists like Weston A Price aren't convinced that soy should be part of a heart healthy diet -- or any healthy diet for that matter. Price and others...
Osteoporosis is a disease that occurs when bone loss exceeds bone growth. Your bones are constantly being broken down and replaced by new bone cells. In the case of osteoporosis, the old bone cells are not being replaced fast enough, which leaves...
Both phosphates and potassium compounds are necessary for proper functioning of the body. Phosphates usually combine with either potassium, calcium or sodium to create phosphorous, which carries out many bodily processes. Phosphorous is the most...
Phosphorus is a nonmetallic mineral that is present in the body. With the exception of calcium, it is the most plentiful mineral found in the body--the average person's body contains 1 to 2 lbs. of it. Like calcium, it is present in all the cells...
Everyone needs calcium. It's the most widely used mineral in your body due to the role it plays in hormone production, muscle contraction, nervous system health, and bone and tooth strength, reports the U.S. Office of Dietary Supplements. The...
Phosphorus is an essential mineral found in a variety of foods. The most common form of phosphorus in your body is in the form of phosphates. While there is phosphorus in nearly every cell in your body, about 85 percent of the phosphorus is in...
Like vitamins, minerals are essential and necessary to help your body perform its everyday functions. Phosphorus is a macromineral, meaning it is required in large quantities, needed by every cell in your body to work properly. Knowing your daily...
In a protein crystal, the molecules occur in a regular, repeating pattern. According to Columbia University's School of Computer Science, the Protein Structure Initiative -- started in 2000 and ongoing as of 2010 -- will determine the structure of...
Zinc is an essential mineral important for many bodily processes. It occurs naturally in some foods, and commercial food manufacturers add zinc to others. Most people in the United States obtain recommended amounts of zinc through their diet,...