Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a mineral found in many foods. When you have kidney

disease, phosphorus may build up in your blood.
This can weaken your bones over time.
Phosphorus works with calcium to build bone. Your
body works best when these minerals are in balance.
When calcium and phosphorus are out of balance
you may run the risk of bone tissue forming in your
heart, liver, and blood vessels. Some common symptoms of high
phosphorus include bone & joint pain, weakness, itching, bone weakness
and red eyes.
Normal phosphorus level for persons on dialysis is: 3.5 6.0
Your phosphorus level is: _______________
To keep your phosphorus under control:
If your Doctor has prescribed a phosphorus binder for you, always
take as directed with every meal and snack.
Avoid eating a lot of high phosphorus foods.
Some foods are so high in phosphorus that you will have to limit your
intake. Phosphorus intake from food and drinks should be less than 900 mg
per day in most people. The following list can help you to help to make
lower phosphorus food choices.
If you have questions or concerns
about lowering the phosphorus
in your diet, or about taking your
phosphorus binders be sure
to talk to your doctor or dietitian.

June, 2005

Phosphorus Content of Foods

Bolded foods are considered High in phosphorus as they have more than
200 mg of phosphorus per serving. Ask your dietitian if these foods are all
right for you to eat.

Meat, Fish & Poultry:

Food Item

Amount

Mg Phosphorus

Beef (80% lean, ground)

(bottom round)
Lamb (leg)
Liver (beef)
Pork (loin)
Veal

3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz

165
217
162
392
200
200

3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz

144
200
175
205
157
172
420
186
116
280
235
139
265
208

3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
3 oz
1 med

180
157
173
184
171
90

Fish:
Clams (raw)
Cod
Crab
Haddock
Lobster
Oysters
Sardines w/bone
Scallops
Shrimp
Salmon (canned w/bone)
(fresh, cooked)
Tuna (light, in water)
(light, in oil)
(fresh, cooked

Poultry & Eggs:

Chicken (white)
(dark)
Duck (domestic)
Turkey (white)
(dark)
Egg

June, 2005

Milk & Dairy Products

Food Item

Amount

Mg Phosphorus

Milk:
Whole
Skim (0 - 1% milk fat)
Evaporated nonfat
Non-fat dry solids
Buttermilk
Chocolate low fat
Eggnog

1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1/3 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup

227
247
499
227
218
255
277

Milk substitutes:
Soy milk
Rice beverage
Vitamite 100

1 cup
1 cup
1 cup

120
34
150

Dairy:
Butter/Margarine
Cheese (American)
(blue)
(cheddar)
(mozzarella)
(swiss)
(parmesan)
(cottage, 1% milkfat)
(cottage, 2% fat)
(ricotta, skim)
Cream cheese
Sour Cream
& cream
Ice Cream (vanilla)
Ice Milk (soft serve)
Sherbert
Yogurt (skim, plain)
(whole)
(fruit)

1 Tbsp
1 oz
1 oz
1 oz
1 oz
1 oz
1 Tbsp
cup
cup
cup
1 Tbsp
1 Tbsp
1 Tbsp
cup
cup
cup
1 cup/13g protein
1 cup/8g protein
1 cup/10g protein

3
211
110
145
149
172
40
151
170
225
15
10
14
69
106
38
356
215
270

June, 2005

Fresh Fruit & Fruit Juices

Food Item

Amount

Apple
Applesauce
Apple juice
Apricot
Banana
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cherries, red, sweet
Cranberries, fresh
Cranberry sauce
Cranberry juice
Figs, dried
Grapes
Grape juice
Grapefruit
Grapefruit juice
Honeydew
Kiwi
Mango
Nectarines
Orange
Orange juice
Peach
Pears
Pineapple
Pineapple juice
Plums
Prunes, dried
Prune juice
Raisins
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Tangerines (mandarin)
Watermelon

1 med
cup
1 cup
1 med
1 med
cup
1/8 melon
10 each
cup
1 slice
cup
2 each
cup
cup
fruit
cup
1/8 melon
1 med
1 med
1 med
1 med
cup
1 med
1 med
cup
cup
1 med
5 each
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
1 med
1 cup

June, 2005

Mg Phosphorus
10
9
17
7
24
8
12
13
7
3
3
26
11
5
11
14
16
30
23
22
18
20
12
18
6
10
7
33
32
71
8
9
16
8
14

Fresh Vegetables
Food Item

Amount

Mg Phosphorus

Artichokes
Asparagus
Avocado
Beans (baked)
(northern)
(kidney)
(lima)
(refried)
(green/yellow snap)
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Corn (kernel)
(creamed in can)
Cucumber
Lettuce
Lentils
Mushrooms
Okra
Onions
Parsnips
Peas (green)
(crowder, blackeye)
Peppers, red or green
Pickle, dill
Potato, baked
Potato, boil/mash
Potato, baked yam
Rutabaga, boil/mash
Spinach
Squash, summer/winter
Tomato
Tomato juice

1 med
4 spears
1 med
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
cup
1 med
1 pickle
1 med
cup
1 med
cup
cup
1 cup
1 med
cup

103
32
105
132
146
126
100
109
21
33
29
8
24
22
15
69
66
11
7
178
37
32
27
47
57
134
23
14
141
101
80
67
8
45
30
23

June, 2005

Grains & Starches

Food Item

Amount

Bagel
Biscuit
Bread

3
2 round
2x2 square
5 bread
1 slice
1 slice
1 slice
1 slice
2x2 square
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
cup
2 biscuits
1 cup
cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
4 crackers
4 crackers
4 crackers
1 croissant
1 muffin
1 cup cooked
1 pancake
cup
cup
1 bun
1 med
1 med
1 med
1 med
1 cup cooked

(corn)
(Indian fry)
(7 grain)
(pumpernickel)
(rye)
(white)
Cake, white, no frosting
Cereals (Cheerios)
(cornflakes)
(raisin bran)
(Rice Krispies)
(All bran)
(shredded wheat)
(bran flakes)
(granola)
(cream of wheat)
(malt o meal)
(oatmeal)
(farina)
Crackers
(saltines)
(whole-wheat)
(graham)
Croissants
English Muffin
Noodles, egg
Pancakes, plain, frozen
Rice (white)
(brown)
Buns, hamburger/hotdog
Muffin (blueberry)
(oat bran)
(plain)
(corn)
Spaghetti
June, 2005

Mg Phosphorus
60
98
110
141
46
57
40
24
69
100
14
259
37
339
168
209
175
100
24
178
28
13
47
29
60
76
110
134
37
81
38
222
424
88
192
76
6

Combination Foods & Others

Food Item

Amount

Alcoholic beverage, beer

Beef Stew, canned
Candy Bar, (chocolate)
Carbonated beverages:
(cola)
(club soda)
(root beer)
(pepper-type)
Cheese Sauce, canned
Chicken Pot Pie
Chili Con Carne w/ Beans
Cocoa mix (made w/milk)
(made w/water)
Coffee/Tea
Gelatin desserts
Granola bar, plain, soft
Gravy, beef/chicken
Honey
Hot Dog on Bun, beef
Jelly/Jam
Macaroni & Cheese (mix)
(homemade)
Mustard/Catsup
Nuts
(almonds)
(cashews)
(macadamia)
(mixed)
(peanuts)
(pecans)
(walnuts)
Oil, any kind
Pastry (fruit danish)
(cake doughnut)
(yeast doughnut)
Peanut Butter

12 fl oz
1 cup
1 bar

43
128
95

12 fl oz
12 fl oz
12 fl oz
12 fl oz
cup
1 sm pie
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
cup
1 bar
cup
1 Tbsp
1 med
1 Tbsp
1 cup
1 cup
1 pkt
1 oz/24 nuts
1 oz/18 nuts
1 oz/10-12 nuts
1 oz
1 oz/28 nuts
1 oz/20 halves
1 oz/14 halves
any amount
1 danish
1 med
1 med
1 Tbsp

44
0
0
40
99
119
193
255
89
5 or less
30
62
17
1
110
1
400
322
5 or less
134
151
56
132
101
79
98
0
63
126
56
55

June, 2005

Mg Phosphorus

Combination Foods & Others

Food Item

Amount

Pies (homemade apple)

(homemade cherry)
(pumpkin)
(lemon meringue)
(pecan)
Potato Salad
Potatoes Au Gratin
Processed Meat:
(bologna)
(ham, lean)
(salami)
Pudding, instant
(chocolate)
(vanilla)
Pudding, homemade
(chocolate)
(vanilla)
Refried Beans, canned
Salad Dressings
Snacks
(popcorn)
(potato chips)
(pretzels)
(nacho chips)
Soup, canned, ready to eat
(bean w/ham)
(beef noodle)
(chicken noodle)
(clam chowder/milk)
(creamed chicken/milk)
(tomato/milk)
Syrup (corn/maple)
(chocolate)
Pasta, canned, w/meat
Toaster Pastries, fruit
Tofu, firm
Trail Mix, nuts, choc chips

1/8 pie
1/8 pie
1/8 pie
1/8 pie
1/8 pie
cup
cup

43
54
152
53
115
75
138

2 slices
2 slices
2 slices

52
124
65

cup
cup

350
279

cup
cup
1 cup
1 Tbsp
1 cup
1 oz
10 pretzels
1 oz

136
116
217
5 or less
24
45
68
69

1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 cup
1 Tbsp
1 Tbsp
1 cup
1 pastry
block
cup

143
46
72
156
151
149
<5
26
116
58
119
282

June, 2005

Mg Phosphorus

Fast Foods
Food Item

Amount

Burrito, bean & cheese

Cheeseburger/condiments
Hamburger/condiments
Chicken Filet, breaded
Chili dog
Croissant, egg, cheese, bacon
Enchilada, w/cheese
Fish Filet, tartar sauce/cheese
French Fried Potatoes
Nachos w/Cheese
Onion Rings
Pies, fruit, fried
Pizza
(cheese)
(pepperoni)
(meat/vegetable)
Shake, chocolate/vanilla
Sub sandwich, cold cuts
Sub sandwich, roast beef
Sundae, hot fudge
Taco
Taco Salad
Tostada, beef/beans/cheese

1 med
1 med
1 med
1 med
1 med
1 med
1 med
1 med
1 med
6-8 nachos
8-9 rings
1 pie
1 slice
1 slice
1 slice
16 fl oz
6
6
1 small
1 small
1 cups
1 med

Mg Phosphorus
90
176
114
233
192
276
134
311
173
276
86
55
113
75
131
340
287
192
228
203
143
173

Primary Resource:
USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference: www.nal.usda.gov
Phosphorus values may differ based on portion sizes, production methods
and information resources.

June, 2005