Phosphorus is a mineral that is present naturally in many foods and also added to many processed foods. When you consume foods that contain phosphorus in them, most of the phosphorus enters your blood. Healthy kidneys perform to remove extra phosphorus from the blood.
If your kidneys don’t function well, you can develop a high phosphorus level in your blood, putting you at higher risk of heart disease, weaker bones, joint pain, and even death.
Nutritionist Avni Kaul says your phosphorus intake depends upon your kidney functioning. If one has an early-stage kidney problem or dialysis you need to limit phosphorus intake. Almost every food contains phosphorus. Thus, it becomes difficult.
In this article, Delhi’s top dietitian and nutritionist Avni Kaul talks about low phosphorus diet to counter kidney disease.
Firstly, the ideal way to reduce phosphorus in your diet is to restrict foods highest in phosphorus. They are:
- Fast foods, foods and other packaged and convenience foods
- Processed cheeses, and cheese spreads
- Fresh or frozen meats that have added flavor and fluids to keep them moist
- Cola and pepper-type sodas, flavored drinks, bottled teas, energy or sports drinks, several powdered drinks, beer, and wine.
You can also, refer the list given below which are lower in phosphorus and you can replace them with the foods which are higher in phosphorus. Though some food may be low in phosphorus you still need to check the portion size.
Fast foods, and restaurant meals (Higher Phosphorus Foods), Homemade foods made from fresh ingredients (Lower Phosphorus Foods).
Fat-free cream cheese (Higher Phosphorus Food), regular low-fat cream cheese (Lower Phosphorus Food).
Ice cream (Higher Phosphorus Foods), Sharbat (Lower Phosphorus Food).
Chocolate or chocolate drinks (Higher Phosphorus Foods), Fruits, in moderation (Lower Phosphorus Food).
Colas, soda, flavored drinks (Higher Phosphorus Foods), lemon juice, plain water, freshly brewed coffee made from beans, and tea from tea bags (Lower Phosphorus Foods).
Please Check Food Labels Carefully
Food manufacturers might add phosphorus when processing foods to thicken them, improve taste, avoiding discoloration or preserve them. Check food labels to carefully and look at whether any ingredients contain “phos” in the packs. When trying to reduce phosphorus, look for foods that don’t mention “phos” among the ingredients.
Some instance of food containing Phosphorus
- Calcium phosphate
- Disodium phosphate
- Phosphoric acid
- Monopotassium phosphate
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate
- Sodium tripolyphosphate
Consult A Professional For Help
For help developing a meal plan that meets your needs, consult with a registered dietitian. A dietitian can make sure that you get sufficient nutrition while following your doctor’s medical recommendations.
Since it’s difficult to lower phosphorus in your diet, your doctor could recommend a phosphate binder medication to help manage the amount of phosphorus your body absorbs from foods.
In Buenos Aires, 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games Nutritionist Avni Kaul was the Advisor (Nutrition) from India. She is a Gold-medallist master’s science graduate from the University of Delhi in the subject of Food and Nutrition. Avni Kaul is a diet and nutrition columnist in some of India's leading newspapers and magazines like -
Columnist at TimesNow
Columnist at NDTV Food
Columnist at Grazia
Columnist at Deccan Herald
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