What is phosphorus?
Phosphorus is a mineral found in foods such as milk and milk products. It works with calcium and vitamin D to keep your bones strong and healthy.
Phosphorus and the kidneys
Although phosphorus is needed to keep your body healthy, too little phosphorus can be dangerous. When the level of phosphorus in your blood is too low, your bones won’t get enough calcium to stay strong.
Keeping your phosphorus levels in a normal range
There are two ways to change the amount of phosphorus in your blood: diet (what you eat) and supplements.
Diet
All foods contain phosphorus. To have more phosphorus in your diet, you simply need to eat more foods that are high in phosphorus. Eating more high-phosphorus foods also means higher phosphorus levels in your blood.
Supplements
Sometimes it isn’t possible to get enough phosphorus from your diet. In this case, you may need to take phosphorus supplements.
Read food labels
Some food labels will show the amount of phosphorus in a food. But remember, even if phosphorus is not marked on the label, it may still be in the food.
Choose foods that have more than 100 mg of phosphorus per serving.
| Food labels: Nutrition Facts (one serving) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Amount | % Daily Value | |
| Phosphorus | More than 100 mg | More than 10% |
High-phosphorus food choices
Vegetables and fruit
| Best choices | |
|---|---|
| Artichoke, asparagus, avocado, corn, heart of palm, lotus root, mushrooms | Vegetable dishes made wtih cream sauces or cheese sauces |
| Potato | Coconut meat; coconut milk |
| Figs, jujube, longan | Lychee, peaches (dry), tamarind |
Breads and cereals
| Best choices | |
|---|---|
| Whole wheat bread, bran, dark rye bread, soda bread, multigrain bread, corn bread, scone, pumpernickel bread | Whole wheat English muffins, whole wheat bagels, whole wheat rolls |
| Chapatti, roti, pittu, pita, tortilla, papseco | Flours made from quinoa, soy, corn (cornmeal, masa), chickpeas, barley, brown rice, rye or whole wheat |
| Crackers made from whole wheat flour (brands include Wheat Thins, Breton, Triscuit) | Ritz Bits sandwiches with cheese or peanut butter |
| Whole grain cereals (brands include Life, Shreddies, Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Mueslix, Vive, Vector, Cinnamon Toast Crunch) | Bran cereals (brands include Bran Flakes, Raisin Bran, Fruit and Fibre, All Bran, Bran Buds) |
| Oat cereals; instant oatmeal | Porridge |
| Buckwheat | Bulgur |
| Wheat germ | Whole wheat pasta; macaroni and cheese |
| Brown or wild rice | Bulgur |
| Granola and granola bars | Cookies, cakes, muffins made with whole wheat flour, bran, peanut butter, chocolate, molasses, nuts, seeds or cheese |
| Store-bought biscuit mixes, waffles and pancakes | Frozen waffles and pancakes |
Milk and milk alternatives
| Best choices | |
|---|---|
| Milk (homogenized, 3.2%, 2%, 1% or skim) | Goat milk |
| Fortified soy or rice drinks | Evaporated milk, powdered milk |
| Pudding, custard, flan, rice pudding | Yogurt |
| Processed cheese, cheese strings, cheese sauces | Paneer, queso fresco |
| Frozen yogurt | Butter |
| Soups made with milk or cream | |
Meat and meat alternatives
| Best choices | |
|---|---|
| Organ meats such as kidney, liver, heart | Sausages, bologna, packed luncheon meat with crackers (such as Kids Lunchables or Lunchmates)* |
| Canned salmon or sardines with bones included | Smelt, fish eggs (such as fish roe or caviar), carp, flounder, clams, oysters, mussels |
| Peas, beans, chickpeas, lentils (canned or dry); dal; hummus; baked beans; pork and beans | Firm tofu |
| Nuts (except chestnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans) | Seeds (sesame, poppy, amaranth) |
| Whole eggs (including yolk) | |
*These are high in sodium (salt), so only eat them now and then.
Drinks
| Best choices |
|---|
| Tea |
| Drinks made with milk, buttermilk, coconut milk, chocolate milk, malted milk |
| Sports drinks such as Gatorade |
| Chocolate- and malt-based drinks such as hot chocolate, Milo, Horlicks and Ovaltine; coffee substitutes such as Postum and Caflib |
Servings of high-phosphorus foods
I am allowed _______ servings of high-phosphorus foods each day.
Examples of serving sizes
| Food or drink | Recommended single serving |
|---|---|
| Milk | 125 mL (half cup) |
| Yogurt | 125 mL (half cup) |
| Cottage cheese | 125 mL (half cup) |
| Egg, whole | 1 egg |
| Peanut butter, smooth | 30 mL (2 tbsp) |
| Beans or lentils | 125 mL (half cup) |
| Hard cheese (such as cheddar, mozzarella, brick, Swiss) | 30 g (1 oz.) |
| Pizza | 1 small slice |
| Pudding or custard made with milk | 125 mL (half cup) |
| Ice cream | 250 mL (1 cup) or 1 medium scoop |
