PHOSPHORUS DIET

Learn how to manage your phosphorus intake with essential tips, serving suggestions, and food examples to support kidney health.

WHAT IS PHOSPHORUS?

Phosphorus is a mineral that helps keep your bones healthy. It also helps keep blood vessels and muscles working. Primarily phosphorus is found naturally in foods rich in protein, such as meat, poultry, fish, nuts, beans, and dairy products. Phosphorus is also added to many processed foods.

WHY IS PHOSPHORUS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE WITH CKD?

When you have CKD, phosphorus can build up in your blood, making your bones thin, weak and more likely to break. It can cause itchy skin, and bone and joint pain. It is also important for normal blood vessels. Most people with CKD need to eat foods with less phosphorus than they are used to eating.

Your health care provider may talk with you about taking a phosphate binder with meals to lower the amount of phosphorus in your blood.

HOW DO I LOWER PHOSPHORUS IN MY DIET?

Eat smaller portions of foods high in protein at meals and for snacks.

Meat, poultry and fish: A cooked portion should be about 2 to 3 ounces or about the size of a deck of cards.

Dairy foods: Keep your portions to ½ cup of milk or yogurt, or one slice of cheese.

Beans and lentils: Portions should be about ½ cup of cooked beans or lentils.

Nuts: Keep your portions to about ¼ cup of nuts.

Eat fresh fruits and vegetables – if you have not been told to watch your potassium.

Many packaged foods have added phosphorus. Look for phosphorus, or for words with PHOS, on ingredient labels. Choose a different food when the ingredient list has PHOS on the label. (ex: Ingredients: Potatoes, vegetable oil, salt, dextrose, disodium dihydrogen pyrophosphate…)