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How can phytic acid in grains and legumes affect mineral absorption?
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nutrition
Vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet.
Phytic acid is a substance found primarily in cereal grains and legumes that can negatively impact the body's ability to absorb essential minerals.
It functions by forming complexes with certain minerals, rendering them insoluble and indigestible. Because these minerals become bound within these complexes, they cannot be effectively absorbed or utilized by the body, which reduces their overall bioavailability compared to minerals found in animal-based foods.1
This interaction is one of several factors, including the presence of fibre and other compounds like oxalic acid, that can interfere with the absorption of nutrients from plant-based sources.1