Top Low-Phosphorus Food Choices for a Kidney Diet
By DaVita dietitian Jackie Termont, RD
What You'll Find on This Page
What is phosphorus?
Phosphorus is a mineral that your body uses for many important jobs. These jobs include building strong bones and teeth, and keeping our body's natural balance (pH level) just right. Learn more about how phosphorus helps the body here.
Phosphorus and chronic kidney disease
We get phosphorus from the foods we eat. When you have CKD, your kidneys can't get rid of extra phosphorus in your blood as well as they used to. This means the phosphorus levels can build up. To manage this, it's important to work with a kidney dietitian who can guide you on your diet. They may recommend a daily phosphorus intake between 800 and 1,200 milligrams, depending on your specific needs.
Limiting high protein foods in early stages of CKD can slow the progression. Many high-protein foods are also higher in phosphorus, which may help limit the amount of phosphorus that may start to build up in the body.1
What foods are low in phosphorus?
To help guide you in knowing which foods are low in phosphorus, here are seven lists of low-phosphorus food choices for a kidney diet.
1. Low-phosphorus meat and poultry choices
Fresh or frozen red meats are better choices for a kidney diet if you are on dialysis. Avoid packaged red meats that have breading, pre-made marinades or sauces, which could contain unwanted phosphorus additives. On average, fresh meat contains 65 mg of phosphorus per ounce and 7 grams of protein per ounce.
Phosphorus content for a 3-ounce portion, cooked2:
| Meat or Poultry | Phosphorus Content |
| Beef, pot roast | 155 mg |
| Beef, sirloin steak | 195 mg |
| Chicken breast, skinless | 190 mg |
| Chicken thigh, skinless | 150 mg |
|
Hamburger patty, 90 percent lean |
170 mg |
| Lamb chop | 185 mg |
| Pork chop | 200 mg |
| Pork roast | 190 mg |
| Turkey breast meat, skinless | 185 mg |
| Turkey thigh meat, skinless | 170 mg |
| Veal chop | 200 mg |
2. Low-phosphorus seafood choices
Seafood is an excellent source of high-quality protein and healthy fats.3
Phosphorus content for a 3-ounce portion, cooked:
| Seafood | Phosphorus Content |
| Mahi Mahi | 155 mg |
|
Salmon, Atlantic farmed |
215 mg |
| Yellowfin tuna | 210 mg |
| Sea bass | 210 mg |
| Tuna, canned | 130 mg |
| Rockfish | 195 mg |
| King crab | 192 mg |
| Lobster | 160 mg |
| Oysters, Eastern | 120 mg |
| Shrimp | 120 mg |
| Snow crab | 120 mg |
3. Low-phosphorus bread choices
Bread is a good source of carbohydrates and calories needed for energy production. Although whole grain bread is a healthy source of fiber, it also has more phosphorus and potassium than white flour bread.
Phosphorus content for a 1-ounce portion unless stated otherwise2:
| Bread | Phosphorus Content |
|
Bagel: cinnamon raisin, blueberry, plain, onion |
53-70 mg |
| Corn tortilla, 6-inch | 75 mg |
| English muffin | 52-76 mg |
| Flat bread | 48 mg |
| Flour tortillas, made without baking powder | 20-37 mg |
| French or Italian bread or rolls | 28-29 mg |
| Light wheat bread | 38 mg |
| Pita bread, white | 58 mg |
| Sourdough bread | 30 mg |
| White bread | 25 mg |
4. Low-phosphorus pasta and rice choices
Pasta, rice and other grains are excellent sources of carbohydrates, calories and B vitamins, plus zinc, copper and iron. Whole grains are part of a kidney- friendly diet, and provide fiber and other vitamins that contribute to a healthy diet.
Phosphorus content for a 1/2 cup portion, cooked2:
| Pasta or Rice | Phosphorus Content |
| Couscous | 20 mg |
| Egg noodles | 50-60 mg |
| Macaroni | 40 mg |
| Pearled barley | 43 mg |
|
Plain white rice, short, medium or long grain |
35 mg |
| Rice noodles | 14-28 mg |
| Spaghetti | 42 mg |
5. Low-phosphorus dairy, dairy substitutes, and egg whites
Milk and milk products are high in calcium and phosphorus. A half cup of milk (4 ounces) contains 111-138 mg of phosphorus. Some liquid dairy substitutes can be used in cooking to replace milk. Read ingredient lists to look for phosphate additives, such as calcium-phosphate. Eggs are a great protein source but also contain 95 mg phosphorus in a large egg; consider this when planning meals. Whole eggs can still fit into a healthy diet. Remove the yolk and phosphorus is only 5 mg for each egg white.
Phosphorus content for a 1/2 cup portion, unless stated otherwise2:
| Dairy, Dairy Substitutes and Egg Whites | Phosphorus Content |
| Almond milk, Almond Breeze®, original | 50 mg |
| Nondairy creamer without phosphate additives | 40-53 mg |
| Nondairy whipped topping, 2 tablespoons | 0-10 mg |
| Sherbet | 38 mg |
| Sour cream, 2 tablespoons | 20-40 mg |
| Soy milk | 50-125 mg |
|
Unenriched rice milk without calcium-phosphate |
29 mg |
| Egg whites, pasteurized | 15 mg |
6. Low-phosphorus snacks
Looking for low-phosphorus, kidney-friendly snacks? Try these fruits, vegetables and more.2
| Snack Food (Plus Serving Size) | Phosphorus Content |
| Apple, 1 medium | 10 mg |
| Applesauce, 1/2 cup | 6 mg |
| Baby carrots, 9 pieces | 25 mg |
| Blueberries, 1/2 cup | 9 mg |
| Celery, 1 stalk | 10 mg |
| Cherries, 1/2 cup | 15 mg |
| Fig bar, 2 bars | 10-25 mg |
|
Fruit candies: hard, chews or gummy |
0 mg |
| Fruit cocktail, 1/2 cup | 17 mg |
| Low-sodium crackers, 1 ounce | 20-35 mg |
| Peach, 1 medium | 10 mg |
| Pineapple, fresh, 1/2 cup | 6 mg |
| Radishes, 1 | 9 mg |
| Strawberries, fresh, 1/2 cup | 18 mg |
| Unsalted popcorn, 1 cup | 8 mg |
| Unsalted pretzels, 1 ounce | 20-40 mg |
7. Lower phosphorus cheese choices
All cheese contains phosphorus ranging from 35-250 mg per ounce; some contain more than 300 mg per ounce. The suggested portion for a dialysis diet is usually one ounce of cheese, two to three times a week if phosphorus is controlled. Check with your dietitian for individual recommendations.
Low-phosphorus cheese choices2:
| Cheese | Phosphorus Content |
| Blue cheese, 1 ounce | 110 mg |
| Cottage cheese, 1/4 cup | 92 mg |
| Cream cheese, 2 tablespoons | 20-40 mg |
| Feta cheese, 1 ounce | 96 mg |
| Neufchatel cheese, 1 ounce | 39 mg |
| Parmesan cheese, grated, 2 tablespoons | 72 mg |
Get help with a low-phosphorus diet from DaVita.com
DaVita.com’s Diet & Nutrition section has free tools and resources to help you stick to a kidney-friendly diet. Search for tasty, low-phosphorus recipes and save your favorites. Here are a few to help you get started:
- Are You Kidding Me Artichoke Dip
- Frosted Grapes
- Stuffed Green Peppers
- Egg and Sausage Breakfast Sandwich
- Philly Chicken Sandwich
You can also use the Food Analyzer tool to look up nutrient information (such as potassium and phosphorus) for thousands of foods.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment. Consult your physician regarding your specific diagnosis, treatment, diet, and health questions.
1 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3369467/ (accessed 4/8/2024)
2 Nutrient content according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) database https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/
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