Not aging fast enough? Drink a soda!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Tom Laskaway, Grist

Hoo boy. The American Beverage Association isn't going to like this news one bit. Food companies now add significant amounts of phosphates to soda and other processed foods. And now researchers have found evidence that phosphates may accelerate aging (via Science Daily):

High phosphate levels may also increase the prevalence and severity of age-related complications, such as chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular calcification, and can also induce severe muscle and skin atrophy.

"Humans need a healthy diet and keeping the balance of phosphate in the diet may be important for a healthy life and longevity," said M. Shawkat Razzaque, M.D., Ph.D., from the Department of Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. "Avoid phosphate toxicity and enjoy a healthy life."

"Soda is the caffeine delivery vehicle of choice for millions of people worldwide, but comes with phosphorous as a passenger" said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the

FASEB Journal

. "This research suggests that our phosphorous balance influences the aging process, so don't tip it."

This has nothing to do with sweeteners, food coloring or any other previously established badness associated with soda and processed food -- it's a "new and improved" risk.

And what, pray tell, are these phosphates doing there in the first place? According to other scientists, food companies starting adding them at high levels only in the last 20 years:

...[W]hile a moderate level of phosphate plays an essential role in living organisms, the rapidly increasing use of phosphates as a food additive has resulted in significantly higher levels in average daily diets. Phosphates are added to many food products to increase water retention and improve food texture.

"In the 1990s, phosphorous-containing food additives contributed an estimated 470 mg per day to the average daily adult diet," he said. "However, phosphates are currently being added much more frequently to a large number of processed foods, including meats, cheeses, beverages, and bakery products. As a result, depending on individual food choices, phosphorous intake could be increased by as much as 1000 mg per day."

"Increase water retention and improve food texture"?! That's worth shaving years off our lives for sure! We're all lab rats now.

link

[Peikko 1,575]

Not enough information in terms of how one can find out what foods contain high levels of phosphates. Also, aren't fertilizers primarily phosphates, or am I thinking of something else?

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Yeah yeah... every breath we take, we get one step closer to death.

The sun hits me when I walk outside... I'm going to die.

I get into my car... I'm going to die.

I'm putting gas into the car... I'm going to die.

I climb the stairs to my home... I'm going to die.

I eat not fully cooked meet... I'm going to die.

I drink water from the faucet... I'm going to die.

etc.....

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Not enough information in terms of how one can find out what foods contain high levels of phosphates. Also, aren't fertilizers primarily phosphates, or am I thinking of something else?

You are sort of correct. Fertilizers have three numbers, N-P-K. Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium. Phosphorus is the element, phosphates are the molecules that are made up of Phosphorus and Oxygen atoms. Meats are high in phosphorus and other high protein foods. People with kidney disease really have to deal with this on a daily basis. :cry: :cry: :cry: Most kidney websites have a list of what foods are high in phosphorus but since it is part of DNA, RNA, cellular structures and the like, proteins have plenty of phosphorus.

[Peikko 1,575]

Ah, so if you eat a lot of 'red' meat? and also drink a lot of the types of soda that are heavily phosphated, as well as a bunch of other processed foods that we can't know about because there is no labeling that monitors these things you can cause yourself phosphate associated problems?

What concerns me more, is not that this exists in soda or heavily processed foods, for the most part I believe one should avoid them - but that they area also present in what one might term 'every day' foods like bread or even some of our staple ingredients like flour. It's really annoying having to negotiate this minefield when what we should really be doing as a species is developing diets, ingredients and products that promote health. It's absurd.

Edited April 27, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Ah, so if you eat a lot of 'red' meat? and also drink a lot of the types of soda that are heavily phosphated, as well as a bunch of other processed foods that we can't know about because there is no labeling that monitors these things you can cause yourself phosphate associated problems?

What concerns me more, is not that this exists in soda or heavily processed foods, for the most part I believe one should avoid them - but that they area also present in what one might term 'every day' foods like bread or even some of our staple ingredients like flour. It's really annoying having to negotiate this minefield when what we should really be doing as a species is developing diets, ingredients and products that promote health. It's absurd.

As noted in the OP, there was a report in Science Daily that you can read here:

Early Death by Junk Food? High Levels of Phosphate in Sodas and Processed Foods Accelerate the Aging Process in Mice

[Heracles 417]

I live on Pepsi Max.

[Peikko 1,575]

It's more or less the same as your OP article.

I am very frustrated with the food business in the US. It's better in the UK where people seem to be more informed on additives and substitutions (for example there are no hfc's in most products) but it's still not good. People should demand that we concentrate more on producing products and ingredients that promote health not that satisfy artificial cravings. It's mad.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I live on Pepsi Max.

Well that explains a lot...

[Heracles 417]

"In the 1990s, phosphorous-containing food additives contributed an estimated 470 mg per day to the average daily adult diet," he said. "However, phosphates are currently being added much more frequently to a large number of processed foods, including meats, cheeses, beverages, and bakery products. As a result, depending on individual food choices, phosphorous intake could be increased by as much as 1000 mg per day."

This is why I laugh when others tell me what is wrong with the quality of US food and produce. There are a number of chemicals and growth hormones that are permitted here but banned in other countries. This is also why I buy organic here.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is why I laugh when others tell me what is wrong with the quality of US food and produce. There are a number of chemicals and growth hormones that are permitted here but banned in other countries. This is also why I buy organic here.

Where do you buy organic Pepsi Max?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I live on Pepsi Max.

I've been brewing ice tea and trying to drink that instead of soda. Tea is good for you and depending on what kind you get, has as much caffeine in it as soda.

[Heracles 417]

Where do you buy organic Pepsi Max?

Well excluding that one. But in all seriousness, I had two Pepsi max cans, one from the US another from AUS and they had different chemicals in it. Soft drink in the US actually contain a preservative that is said to breakdown DNA; which is apparently being 'phased out'.

Then again what should I drink? Tap water. Our dams are surrounded by factories and other agriculture. At least the water supply in places like Melbourne are sourced from dams in mountains that have no industry for miles and miles. You can drink water straight out of the tap there without any filter.

I've been brewing ice tea and trying to drink that instead of soda. Tea is good for you and depending on what kind you get, has as much caffeine in it as soda.

I do like tea myself, but am a little lazy to brew it.

Black and green tea is great for the body.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's more or less the same as your OP article.

I am very frustrated with the food business in the US. It's better in the UK where people seem to be more informed on additives and substitutions (for example there are no hfc's in most products) but it's still not good. People should demand that we concentrate more on producing products and ingredients that promote health not that satisfy artificial cravings. It's mad.

IMO, it's the nature of processed foods. If you want to eat healthier, avoid processed foods. On the other hand, I know that doing isn't easy for many people with busy schedules. If you are going to eat packaged goods, you have to be a savvy consumer and read the labels.

Edited April 27, 2010 by El Buscador

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well excluding that one. But in all seriousness, I had two Pepsi max cans, one from the US another from AUS and they had different chemicals in it. Soft drink in the US actually contain a preservative that is said to breakdown DNA; which is apparently being 'phased out'.

Then again what should I drink? Tap water. Our dams are surrounded by factories and other agriculture. At least the water supply in places like Melbourne are sourced from dams in mountains that have no industry for miles and miles. You can drink water straight out of the tap there without any filter.

You'd be better off drinking the tap water.

You do realise that these sodas are little more than tap water with a bunch of added chemicals.