Phytates: antinutrients or health food?

[Guest guest]

I was researching phytates and found some conflicting information that

actually says that phytates are good for you:

http://www.environmentalnutrition.com/pub/27_4/asken/150961-1.html

And on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates

" Phytic acid may be considered a

phytonutrient<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytonutrient>,

providing an antioxidant <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant> effect.

[4]

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-2>[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/\

Phytates#_note-phytochemicals>Phytic

acid's same mineral binding properties may also prevent colon

cancer <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_cancer> by reducing oxidative

stress <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_stress> in the

lumen<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_%28anatomy%29>of the

intestinal

tract <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestinal_tract>. It may also reduce

the risk of colon cancer.[5]

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-3>Researchers now believe

that phytic acid, found in the

fiber <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber> of

legumes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legume>and grains, is the major

ingredient responsible for preventing colon cancer

and other

cancers.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-phytochemicals>

[6] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-4>

Phytic acid's chelating effect may serve to prevent, inhibit, or even cure

some cancers by depriving those cells of the minerals (especially iron) they

need to

reproduce.[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-phytochemicals>The

deprivation of essential minerals like iron would, much like other

broad

treatments for cancers, also have negative effects on non-cancerous cells.

It is unknown if this would affect other cells in the body that require iron

(such as red blood cells <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cells>) or

if the deprivation of minerals is more localized to the internal colon

region.[*citation needed<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>

*] "

Can someone on this list dispute this information? My sister is questioning

whether she really needs to soak her flour and nuts and buy sprouted bread.

Thanks -

Ann Marie

[Guest guest]

Hi Ann Marie

Phytic acid and phytase need to be considered as they go hand-in-hand in

germination. Germination of seeds/grains/legumes INCREASES phytase (an

enzyme) that breaks down phytic acid (storage system for phosphorous).

Organic phosphorous in dry, non-germinated cereal grains, is an

anti-nutrient harmful to people, animals and is very difficult to digest.

Germination pre-digests phytic acid (phosphorus) because of phytase, among

many other elements in seeds/grains/legumes, making it more

easily-digestible in humans, as well as releasing nutrients. Yes, your

sister needs to soak grains/seeds/legumes and nuts. Phosphorus is

essential to all of life, but the correct form is required.

One of the links you sent mentioned animal and human nutrition. In the

animal nutrition world, there are some intriguing patents and research being

done on germinated grains/seeds, etc. in order to increase phytase activity

to break down phosphates:

Cereal which are the source of raw materials supplying starch for animal

feed contains large quantity of organic phosphate. Mono-gastric animals,

such as chicken, pig and dog, lack enzymes which hydrolyse the organic

phosphates in their digestive tracks. Therefore, *organic phosphate cannot

be digested in these animals*. In order to compensate this

disadvantage, *inorganic

phosphates are supplemented for the production of mixed feed.* This causes

increased cost of feed and* environmental contamination due to excessive use

of the inorganic phosphate*. Since these animals cannot utilize organic

phosphates, the *use of phytase, which hydrolyze organic phosphate, in the

mixed feed would contribute enhancement of feed utilization by these

animals, and would maximize the productivity and reduce the cost of animal

meat production and also reduce environmental contamination by organic

phosphates. http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6063431-description.html

*

Phosphorous is equally common in cereal grains eaten by humans. And like

the above, humans have a difficult time ingesting organic phosphorous:

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1375699 - so

another way to view germination is that it is a natural method of

hydrologizing organic phosphate for better digestibility, etc.

Therefore, I see phytase, an enzyme, being beneficial WHEN it comes from a

GERMINATED cereal.

IMO, healthy eating is all about germination and fermentation.

Sharon

On Jan 2, 2008 1:24 AM, < inasnit@...> wrote:

> I was researching phytates and found some conflicting information that

> actually says that phytates are good for you:

>

> http://www.environmentalnutrition.com/pub/27_4/asken/150961-1.html

>

> And on Wikipedia:

>

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates

>

> " Phytic acid may be considered a

> phytonutrient<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytonutrient>,

> providing an antioxidant <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidant>

> effect.

> [4]

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-2>[1]<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/\

Phytates#_note-phytochemicals

> >Phytic

> acid's same mineral binding properties may also prevent colon

> cancer <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colon_cancer> by reducing oxidative

> stress <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative_stress> in the

> lumen<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lumen_%28anatomy%29>of the

> intestinal

> tract <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intestinal_tract>. It may also reduce

> the risk of colon cancer.[5]

> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-3>Researchers now believe

> that phytic acid, found in the

> fiber <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiber> of

> legumes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legume>and grains, is the major

> ingredient responsible for preventing colon cancer

> and other cancers.[1]<

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-phytochemicals>

> [6] <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-4>

>

> Phytic acid's chelating effect may serve to prevent, inhibit, or even cure

> some cancers by depriving those cells of the minerals (especially iron)

> they

> need to reproduce.[1]<

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytates#_note-phytochemicals>The

> deprivation of essential minerals like iron would, much like other

> broad

> treatments for cancers, also have negative effects on non-cancerous cells.

> It is unknown if this would affect other cells in the body that require

> iron

> (such as red blood cells <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_blood_cells>)

> or

> if the deprivation of minerals is more localized to the internal colon

> region.[*citation needed<

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>

> *] "

>

> Can someone on this list dispute this information? My sister is

> questioning

> whether she really needs to soak her flour and nuts and buy sprouted

> bread.

>

> Thanks -

> Ann Marie

>

>