You have recently been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease and your doctor has told you that you must follow a kidney friendly diet. The pamphlets and lists online can seem overwhelming and confusing as they list out foods you have to avoid. While we have a printable low phosphorus foods list pdf available below, we also want to explain whether or not it is appropriate for you and your specific needs.

Kidney disease can be very scary, and very complicated. Nutrition needs can vary greatly among individuals so it is best to discuss your specific needs with your care team.

Navigating Nutrients for CKD

There are four components that we want you to get familiar with when it comes to the renal diet. Some you may be familiar with and others may be completely new to you.

There are four vital components to a kidney-friendly diet:

1. Phosphorous
2. Potassium
3. Sodium
4. Protein

What do I need to know about these nutrients?

You need to discuss with your care team which nutrients are applicable to you right now. For most people, monitoring and reducing sodium and protein is going to be necessary. However, do you need to eat low potassium and low phosphorus foods? When it comes to potassium and phosphorus, we rely on your blood work to determine if your kidneys are managing your levels. When potassium and/or phosphorus start to climb to above normal limits, that is when we need to limit them in the diet.

Easy CKD Food Swaps

Here is an overview of which foods are high in each nutrient and some swaps to incorporate if you need to reduce that nutrient in your diet.

Let’s focus on Phosphorous and Kidney Disease

It is important to balance phosphorus levels because patients with CKD cannot remove phosphorus well from the kidneys. When phosphorus levels become too high changes begin to occur in the body such as weak bones, calcium depositing in the blood vessels, and overtime could lead to increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or death.

For these reasons, it is important to keep track of your phosphorus levels. Asking your doctor what your phosphorus levels are is a great way of keeping track. Normal phosphorus level is between 2.5 to 4.5 mg/dL.

Phosphorus is a tricky mineral, as it is hidden in several food additives typically under a more complex name. Phosphorus is also a naturally occurring mineral. It is important to distinguish between the two because absorption can vary greatly. Naturally occurring phosphorus is absorbed at a lower rate than the phosphorus added into foods. When a patient has high phosphorus, my first recommendation is to avoid phosphorus additives in food.

Check Labels For Phosphorus Additives

Phosphorus will not always be listed in the top section of the nutrition facts label with an amount provided. That can be very frustrating for those with high phosphorus in their blood work. Fortunately, companies are required to list phosphorus additives in the ingredients list. Make sure to check labels for the following names: dicalcium phosphate, disodium phosphate, monosodium phosphate, phosphoric acid, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and several others.

Low Phosphorous Foods

If you have eliminated phosphorus additives and your phosphorus is still elevated in your blood work, you may need to choose more low phosphorus foods. Generally, nuts, seeds, beans, whole grains, and dairy can be high in phosphorus while fruits, veggies, meats, and refined grains are lower in phosphorus.

For a detailed list on phosphorus content of typical foods, you can grab our free printable pdf list  below!