Phosphorus and Sodium

In such a case, the strategy is not to increase someone's salt intake (which would otherwise cause more dehydration), but to boost aldosterone levels, which will subsequently increase sodium retention. Nutritional factors such as choline, licorice, iron, Vitamin B1, and - to a small extent - Vitamin E can be used for that purpose, which should be matched to individual requirements.

Occasionally Dr. Ronald Roth saw patients exhibiting very low sodium and medication-resistant high blood pressure, in which case sodium-raising supplements - by normalizing blood viscosity - resolve their hypertension.

Since an individual's Renal Capacity declines over a lifetime, it may be prudent for anyone - especially those with a family history of kidney problems - to avoid drugs, medications, or foods and nutritional supplements that have a tendency to compromise kidney functions and accelerate that process. Most prescription drugs, particularly blood thinners and NSAIDs, and many OTC drugs (Aspirin, Ibuprofen...) have a detrimental effect on renal functions, so patients and their practitioners have to carefully weigh a drug's benefits against those negative aspects.

Dietary factors that - in excess - have an unfavorable impact on kidney functions include foods with a high Oxalic Acid content _[1] such as found in rhubarb, Swiss chard, spinach, parsley, cocoa products, and beets (especially beet greens), very high protein diets that are followed for longer periods of time, high phosphorus containing foods or beverages (meats, seafood, eggs, grains, dairy, nuts, soft drinks), excessive amounts of alcohol, creatine supplements, as well as real (glycyrrhizin-containing) licorice.

The same applies to insufficient intake of calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, Vitamin K, Vitamin C with bioflavonoids, Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), and other essential nutrients. Of course a single, major kidney infection (e.g. from E. Coli) may cause enough kidney damage to result in early hypertension, or even require dialysis.

Foot odor is almost entirely related to kidney functions, and only to a lesser degree to tight, enclosed shoes. Similarly, Fungal Infections such as Athlete's Foot (tinea pedis), can only take place when the "terrain" allows the spread of a fungus - with the terrain being determined by the chemical make-up of the foot sweat of people with reduced or impaired kidney functions.

Anyone with healthy kidneys can walk across a wet gym floor and will not end up with athlete's foot. Normalizing renal chemistry (i.e. sodium, protein / phosphates) will normalize the chemical composition of someone's foot sweat, followed by the disappearance of any fungal infections, as well as foot odor.

Phosphorus, when high in ratio to calcium, is well established as being a contributing factor with osteopenia or osteoporosis, and many articles have been published on the risks of consuming too many soft drinks due to their high phosphorus content. A similar message is being preached regarding protein, supposedly having the same effect on calcium loss. Forgetting about the hype or agenda for a moment, any viewpoint can be correct for specific individuals, but it cannot be applied for everyone, as there are as many people who exhibit below-normal protein / phosphates, as are those who are above-normal, so only individual assessments are valid.
Osteoporosis and arthritic complaints can develop with high and low protein / phosphate levels, which subsequently rules out any "one-size-fits-all"- types of recommendations.

Long-term monitoring of patients shows high / low sodium-related cases being more right-sided in regard to joint damage, while high / low protein + phosphate-related cases are generally more left-sided in regard to joint damage, so striking a happy medium goes a long way in the prevention of many of these problems.

Phosphorus and calcium metabolism is linked, and requires Vitamin D for adequate uptake. Blood levels of phosphorus are increased by parathyroid hormone, and decreased by the thyroid hormone calcitonin. The kidneys excrete phosphates if blood levels rise, and they excrete less when dietary phosphate intake is low.

Phosphorus is present as Phytates in grains and cereals, so if bread is made from unleavened flour, the phytic acid will bind to iron, calcium, zinc and other minerals and reduce their rate of absorption.

Phosphorus aids muscle contraction, acts as a buffer for acid-base balance in the body, helps regulate the heartbeat, and supports proper nerve conduction. It is also necessary for the conversion of niacin and riboflavin to their active coenzyme forms.

Hormonal control of sodium (as well as chloride and potassium) balance is regulated by the adrenal cortex hormones as well as by the anterior pituitary gland. Addison's Disease is a life-threatening disease _[2] caused by partial or complete failure of the adrenal cortex and involves the loss of sodium and potassium. Symptoms include weakness, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, weight loss, cold sensitivity, and salt craving.

Other sodium deficiencies can result from heavy sweating, or with severe dietary restriction, i.e. low sodium formulas fed to infants caused their brains to swell, causing death. Sodium plays a vital role in controlling osmotic pressure, which develops between the blood and cells due to ionic concentration differences, and it assists in maintaining the proper acid-base balance by balancing charges of negatively charged ions such as chloride, phosphate and bicarbonate.

The total volume of extracellular fluid is determined by sodium levels, while sodium concentration and water balance are controlled by the interplay of the kidneys and a number of hormones. When the level of sodium drops, the kidney releases the enzyme renin.
Renin catalyzes the conversion of a blood protein to angiotensin, which in turn stimulates the adrenal gland to release aldosterone, a hormone that causes the kidney to increase the rate of sodium reabsorption to correct the original sodium depletion. When dietary sodium intake is high, the kidneys rapidly excretes sodium, but its retention can lead to edema / water retention.