Phosphates are commonly found in microwavable meals, soft drinks and other processed and pre-packaged foods. Now, researchers at the University of Sheffield, UK, have demonstrated a connection between the high intake of phosphates and atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, a leading cause of heart disease.

The research shows that cholesterol deposits in the walls of arteries increase following a higher phosphate diet. This leads to narrowing of the arteries, the cause of most heart attacks and strokes.

Source: Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology