Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in numerous tissues of the body including, the liver, intestines, and bones. It plays various important roles in many physiological processes and high levels of Alkaline phosphatase indicate any underlying condition. Therefore, you should know what foods to avoid if Alkaline phosphatase is high!
Highlights:
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is important for many physiological processes.
- Disruption in ALP levels can cause various conditions mainly related to the liver and bones.
- You should avoid foods rich in fats, zinc, oxalates, sugars, and proteins should be avoided.
- Moreover, you should also limit or cut off alcohol consumption if your ALP levels are high.
Your doctor might have told you that your levels of Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are high in the body and you have to follow a diet plan to keep them low.
Now you must be wondering what is Alkaline phosphatase, what are its normal levels, how it affects my body, and what foods to avoid if Alkaline phosphatase is high?
Well, we have the answer to all your questions! For that, give this article a full read.
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)
Alkaline phosphatase also known as ALP is an enzyme (protein) that is present in all tissues of the body. ALP plays a crucial role in many functions such as liver function, bone development and mineralization, elimination of certain unwanted substances with the help of gall bladder, etc.
Certain foods can raise the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the blood which can cause health issues. Moreover, increased levels of ALP in the blood tests show that there is some sort of underlying medical condition.
Normal Levels of Alkaline Phosphatase
The normal range of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is 44-147 international units per liter.
Any change, particularly high levels, indicates liver or bone complications or any other underlying health condition.
The levels of alkaline phosphatase are checked by running some blood tests.
When is ALP a Trouble?
If your liver or bone is damaged, Alkaline phosphatase can leak into the bloodstream.
If you have any signs or symptoms of high alkaline phosphatase, then your doctor may recommend a routine ALP Blood Test.
Some other medical conditions, for which the doctor may prescribe an ALP test are as follows:
- Alcoholic liver disease, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis
- Abnormal narrowing of the bile duct
- Alcoholism
- Giant cell arteritis, or inflammation of the lining of your arteries
- Gallstones
- Pancreatitis
- Tumor of endocrine glands
- Renal cell carcinoma or kidney cancer
What Do the Results Indicate?
A normal ALP level indicates that everything’s fine with ALP levels and functioning.
However, higher-than-normal alkaline phosphatase levels can indicate that the liver has been damaged or you might have a condition that is causing elevated bone cell activity.
Moreover, if you have a B or O blood type, and you eat a fatty meal before the test, then your test might indicate a high reading.
Some other medical conditions that can indicate high ALP levels are as follows:
- Blockage of bile ducts
- Bone tumors, softening of the bones, a healing bone fracture
- Bone diseases and conditions (Rickets, Paget disease)
- Liver disease or Hepatitis
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Lymphoma
- Leukemia
- Sarcoidosis
On the other hand, if the results indicate low levels of ALP, then it might be the result of a heart bypass surgery, a blood transfusion, or it’s just temporary. Some of the other causes of low ALP levels are as follows:
- Hypophosphatasia (A rare genetic bone disorder)
- Protein Deficiency
- Zinc Deficiency
- Malnutrition
- Wilson Disease (caused by abnormal copper metabolism)
If your tests have indicated a low level of ALP, then following a balanced and healthy diet plan provided by a professional nutritionist can help restore the normal levels of ALP.
7 Foods to Avoid If Alkaline Phosphatase is High
If you have high levels of alkaline phosphatase, then you should avoid certain foods which are as follows:
Intake of various fish oils, vegetable oils, and fatty, and fried foods can cause an increase in the level of Alkaline phosphatase (ALP).
For example, Cod liver oil can increase alkaline phosphatase production in humans. Moreover, some other oils such as coconut oil and corn oil can help increase the ALP levels in the blood.
Many Indian researchers conducted animal studies to determine the effect of numerous fish and vegetable oils on the ALP levels. An article published in March 2007 in Digestive Diseases and Sciences reported that the ALP release into the blood of lab rats appears to vary with the makeup of fatty acids in the various oils they tested.
Fried and fatty foods can cause liver dysfunction and also put a strain on the liver which causes increased enzyme production.
Foods such as deep-fried items, processed snacks, fast food, and fatty cuts of meat shouldn’t be consumed.
Beverages and food with high sugar levels can cause metabolic disturbances and also contribute to weight gain.
Moreover, they also cause other medical conditions such as diabetes, negative impact on the health of the liver, etc.
Therefore, one should avoid foods with high sugar content and beverages to get their ALP levels back to normal.
Foods rich in sugar are pastries, sodas, candies, desserts, etc. One should go for natural sugars and limit the intake of processed sugars. Natural sugars can be consumed via fruits, etc.
- Oysters
- Dungeness Crabs
- Beef
- Fruit
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Cashews
- Dark-Meat Turkey and Chicken
- Pork
- Baked Beans
Processed foods contain additives, unhealthy fats, preservatives, etc which are not good for the overall health. Moreover, these preservatives, unhealthy fats, and additives can also cause liver dysfunction, and inflammation, and increase the alkaline phosphatase levels.
Processed foods can also put a strain on the liver and affect the normal function of the liver.
Hence, avoid processed food if you have high alkaline phosphatase levels in the blood.
Some of the processed foods that you should avoid if you’ve high ALP levels are as follows:
- Fast Foods
- Packaged Snacks
- Ready-to-eat Meals, etc
You should go for unprocessed and whole foods, such as:
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Whole Grains
- Lean Proteins
Protein is a vital nutrient and most of the enzymes in the body are made up of proteins; however, as said excess of everything is bad.
Therefore, consuming foods rich in proteins such as protein supplements and red meat can put pressure on the liver and can elevate alkaline phosphatase levels.
So, it is advised to moderate red meat and foods high in protein consumption.
Some of the foods that are high in phosphorus and proteins and can cause high ALP levels in the blood are as follows:
- Beef
- Salmon
- Yogurt
- Skimmed milk
- Eggs
- Mozzarella
- Whole wheat bread
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Nuts
- Lentils