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Flourine Foods List

The chemical fluorine is a naturally occurring element. In the human body, fluorine turns to fluoride, which has many health benefits, including prevention of tooth decay and osteoporosis. Humans take in fluoride through their diet, as all food has trace amounts. But there are certain foods that are high in fluoride.

  1. Water

    • Water is the most common source of fluoride intake in the United States, where water fluoridation has been official health policy since the 1950s. Fluoridation is accomplished through a simple process of adding a chemical compound to the water. This addition does not change the scent, look or taste of water. Lakes, springs and rivers normally contain less than 0.5 milligrams per liter of fluoride, but when fluoridated, water contains anywhere from 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter. Only a small amount is added because not much is needed to achieve the health benefits, and because in very large quantities, fluoride can be detrimental to health.

    Beverages

    • Tea is another good source of fluoride, which naturally concentrates in the tea leaves. The actual amount of fluoride in tea varies, based on factors such as how much fluoride was in the leaves, how much was in the water, and how long the tea was brewed. Some fruit juices have high amounts of fluoride, particularly white and red grape juices, cranberry, pear, and prune juices. In certain regions of Russia, the United Kingdom, and Chile, milk is fluoridated instead of water. Fluoride has also been found in breast milk.

    Foods

    • Certain fish are high in fluoride, especially fish eaten with their bones, such as sardines and canned salmon. Mechanically-separated meat, a product formed when chicken, pork, beef or turkey meat and bones are forced through a sieve under high pressure, is a good source of fluoride, as is food made with this product, including hot dogs and canned meats, such as Spam, Vienna sausages and deviled ham. Chicken is also a good source of fluoride. The fluoride level of most foods is less than .05 milligrams per 100 grams, a 3.5-ounce serving of chicken contains twice that amount. In Colombia, France, and Jamaica, salt instead of water is fluoridated, a practice that is as effective as water fluoridation.

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