What Foods to Avoid if Alkaline Phosphatase is High?

What to eat and What foods to avoid if alkaline phosphatase is high. Explore the connection between your diet, overall health, and managing elevated alkaline phosphatase levels effectively. Read more!

Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme in all bodily tissues and organs. It plays an essential role in liver function and bone growth. Normal levels of Alkaline phosphatase in the blood are 44-147 international units per liter. Abnormal levels of ALP can affect the blood test and cause liver complications.

Some food items are rich in Zinc, phosphorus, and vitamin B12, increasing alkaline phosphatase levels in the body. Thus, leaving these food items out of your diet is important. 

Let's dive deep to learn about the foods to avoid if alkaline phosphatase is high.

What foods to avoid if alkaline phosphatase is high? 

Following are the Foods that should be avoided if alkaline phosphatase levels are high-

1. Zinc-Rich Foods

Optimal blood levels with balanced alkaline phosphatase levels can also help maintain healthy bone strength. To check the alkaline phosphatase levels, many tests are available to help ensure good levels of ALP production and activities that can keep the bones healthy. However, if you have higher alkaline phosphatase levels, consuming zinc-rich foods can increase these levels, causing bone disorders. So, avoid some food items rich in zinc that may include:

• Oysters

• Crabs

• Beef 

• Pork 

• Dark meat chicken

• Turkey and fruits

• Yogurt

• Cashew

• Baked beans

2. Fats and Oils

Consumption of various vegetables and fish oils can help with increased levels of alkaline phosphatase. For example, cod liver oil can help increase ALP secretion production in humans. Some other oils, like corn and coconut oil, can also help elevate alkaline phosphatase levels in the blood.  Thus, one should not take cod liver oil, corn, and coconut oil in their diet as they can cause elevated alkaline phosphatase levels. It is best to avoid any other kinds of fats. 

3. Foods high in phosphorus

While phosphorus is an essential mineral, its intake should be monitored and adjusted when alkaline phosphatase levels are elevated. Consulting with a healthcare professional is essential for proper management and dietary recommendations. Below are some foods rich in phosphorus that should be avoided:-

• Yogurt

• Skimmed milk

• Mozzarella

• Eggs

• Chicken

• Beef

• Salmon

• Turkey

• Whole wheat bread

• Nuts

• Lentils

• Carbonated cola drinks

It is essential not to eat these food items as they are phosphorus-riched, which can increase the levels of alkaline phosphatase in the blood.

4. Food rich in Vitamin B-12

Clams, egg, mussels, brie cheese and crab are examples of foods rich in Vitamin B12. The study found that these products can increase ALP production leading to bone marrow issues. Do not eat any of these food items so as to not have any foods that cause alkaline phosphatase levels to rise.

Instead include the foods in your diet that will help you control low ALP. These kinds of food can develop healthy ranges for alkaline phosphatase. Consult an expert if you have dietary restrictions so that they may give you advice on how best to manage your eating habits through balancing enzyme intake. You may choose from herring, tuna, and mushrooms.

Comparison: Foods to Avoid vs. Foods to Include

When your alkaline phosphatase levels are high, what you eat really matters. Some foods can make the situation worse, while others can actually help improve your health. So, it's important to know which foods to avoid and which ones to include in your diet. By making smart choices, you can help keep those levels in check and feel better overall. 

Let’s break it down with some examples.

Why is it important to manage high alkaline phosphatase levels?

A high level of ALP can damage a liver. Through blood flow proteins leakage it induces jaundice which affects livers. Ask your physician about high-alkaline phosphatase blood tests to check its levels. The higher level may also indicate alcoholism, gallstones, arthritis or inflammation in vessel walls as well as endocrine glands tumors. It can also cause kidney problems or renal cancer.

However lower ALP levels might mean hypophosphatasia cases, malnutrition’s effects, protein deficiency symptoms, Wilson’s disease or lack of zinc element in the body system. Failure to balance within this range could lead to either extremely low/high alkaline phosphatase levels. Hence, maintaining the required amount of ALP is very important.

Research says normal ALP levels vary with factors such as age, sex and race. For adults above 18 years old the range is 30-130 IU/I. Low alkaline phosphatase levels start at 30 IU/I. So be sure about keeping up the right amount of ALP.

Final Thoughts 

This article answers the question " what foods to avoid if alkaline phosphatase is high". We learn Alkaline phosphate can cause severe problems for the liver up to a level where cirrhosis and hepatitis can become prevalent. This happens when alkaline phosphatase levels are high, but even lower levels of the ALP can suggest malnutrition. Thus, it is important to keep the levels constant and in check. 

We have mentioned all the foods to avoid if the levels of alkaline phosphatase are too high in the blood, and also some exercises to keep them in balance. So, avoid the foods mentioned in the article if you have high alkaline phosphatase levels. In case of any difficulty, consult a dietitian to help you with a customized diet tailored according to your needs and health conditions.