Foods Low in Phosphorus for People with Kidney Disease

Written by Daisy Whitbread
BSc (Hons) MSc DipION

Last Updated: April 25, 2024

Foods Low in Phosphorus for People with Kidney Disease

Phosphorus is an essential mineral that makes up around 1% of a person's body weight, most of which is in bones and teeth.

People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) typically have to restrict and monitor their intake of phosphorus. Most refined oils, fruits, vegetables, and refined grains are low in phosphorus. People should avoid eating meat, which typically contain more easily absorbed phosphorus than found in plants. Since meats are restricted in a CKD diet, egg whites can be a good low-phosphorus source of protein. Soymilk may also work.

The National Kidney Foundation cautions people with CKD to avoid preservatives and additives which use phosphorus. Phosphorus is added to a lot of foods, check ingredient labels for anything with the letters PHOS that includes:

Dicalcium phosphate
Disodium phosphate
Monosodium phosphate
Phosphoric acid
Sodium hexameta-phosphate
Trisodium phosphate
Sodium tripolyphosphate
Tetrasodium pyrophosphate

The list below is a sample of foods low in phosphorus that are also low in other minerals (sodium, potassium, etc...) typically restricted on a CKD diet.

Note: The current daily value (DV) for phosphorus is 1250mg. (1) This is a target meant for healthy people and is the %DV you will see on product labels in the United States. People with kidney disease should eat far less phosphorus. Please use the percent daily value in this article only as a guide to compare foods and not as a target!

Table of Contents

Introduction
List of Foods Low in Phosphorus
Lists By Food Group
References

1. Refined Oils (Rice Bran Oil)
Phosphorus
per Tblsp Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
0mg
(0% DV) 0mg
(0% DV) 0mg
(0% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Rice Bran Oil. (Source)

1 tbsp of rice bran oil contains 0mg of sodium, 0mg potassium, 0mg magnesium, and 0mg calcium.
2. Egg Whites
Phosphorus
per Egg White Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
5mg
(0% DV) 15mg
(2% DV) 57.7mg
(6% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Raw Egg Whites. (Source)

1 egg white contains 55mg of sodium, 54mg potassium, 4mg magnesium, and 2mg calcium.

See all dairy and egg products low in phosphorus.
3. Grapes
Phosphorus
per Cup Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
9.2mg
(1% DV) 10mg
(1% DV) 29.9mg
(3% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Grapes. (Source)

1 cup of grapes contains 2mg of sodium, 176mg potassium, 5mg magnesium, and 13mg calcium.

See all fruits low in phosphorus.
4. Lettuce
Phosphorus
per Cup Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
10.4mg
(1% DV) 29mg
(3% DV) 386.7mg
(39% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Green Leaf Lettuce. (Source)

1 cup of shredded lettuce contains 10mg of sodium, 70mg potassium, 5mg magnesium, and 13mg calcium.

See all vegetables low in phosphorus.
5. Apples
Phosphorus
per Cup Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
13.8mg
(1% DV) 11mg
(1% DV) 42.3mg
(4% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Apples. (Source)

1 cup of apples contains 1mg of sodium, 134mg potassium, 6mg magnesium, and 8mg calcium.

See all fruits low in phosphorus.
6. Leeks
Phosphorus
per Leek Cooked Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
21.1mg
(2% DV) 17mg
(2% DV) 109.7mg
(11% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Cooked Leeks (Boiled, Drained). (Source)

1 medium leek contains 12mg of sodium, 108mg potassium, 17mg magnesium, and 37mg calcium.

See all vegetables low in phosphorus.
7. Cornmeal (Grits)
Phosphorus
per Cup Cooked Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
32.6mg
(3% DV) 14mg
(1% DV) 43.1mg
(4% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Yellow Cornmeal (Grits). (Source)

1 cup of cornmeal contains 5mg of sodium, 51mg potassium, 12mg magnesium, and 2mg calcium.

See all grains low in phosphorus.
8. Shiitake Mushrooms
Phosphorus
per Cup Cooked Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
42.1mg
(4% DV) 29mg
(3% DV) 103.6mg
(10% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Cooked Shiitake Mushrooms. (Source)

1 cup of shiitake mushrooms contains 6mg of sodium, 170mg potassium, 20mg magnesium, and 4mg calcium.

See all vegetables low in phosphorus.
9. Pecans
Phosphorus
per Oz Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
78.7mg
(8% DV) 277mg
(28% DV) 80.2mg
(8% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Pecans. (Source)

1 oz of pecans contains 0mg of sodium, 116mg potassium, 34mg magnesium, and 20mg calcium.

See all nuts low in phosphorus.
10. Low-Fat Cottage Cheese
Phosphorus
per Oz Phosphorus
per 100g Phosphorus
per 200 Calories
151.4mg
(15% DV) 134mg
(13% DV) 372.2mg
(37% DV)

Nutrition Facts for Lowfat Cottage Cheese (1%). (Source)

1 oz of cottage cheese contains 115mg of sodium, 17mg potassium, 1mg magnesium, and 17mg calcium.

See all dairy and egg products low in phosphorus.

Phosphorus per Tblsp	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
0mg (0% DV)	0mg (0% DV)	0mg (0% DV)

Phosphorus per Egg White	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
5mg (0% DV)	15mg (2% DV)	57.7mg (6% DV)

Phosphorus per Cup	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
9.2mg (1% DV)	10mg (1% DV)	29.9mg (3% DV)

Phosphorus per Cup	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
10.4mg (1% DV)	29mg (3% DV)	386.7mg (39% DV)

Phosphorus per Cup	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
13.8mg (1% DV)	11mg (1% DV)	42.3mg (4% DV)

Phosphorus per Leek Cooked	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
21.1mg (2% DV)	17mg (2% DV)	109.7mg (11% DV)

Phosphorus per Cup Cooked	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
32.6mg (3% DV)	14mg (1% DV)	43.1mg (4% DV)

Phosphorus per Cup Cooked	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
42.1mg (4% DV)	29mg (3% DV)	103.6mg (10% DV)

Phosphorus per Oz	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
78.7mg (8% DV)	277mg (28% DV)	80.2mg (8% DV)

Phosphorus per Oz	Phosphorus per 100g	Phosphorus per 200 Calories
151.4mg (15% DV)	134mg (13% DV)	372.2mg (37% DV)

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Foods Low in Phosphorus for People with Kidney Disease

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