Foods to Avoid: What Foods Are High in Phosphorus?

November 11, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the American Kidney Fund, elevated phosphorus levels are a common issue for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), as damaged kidneys struggle to filter the mineral. For these individuals, understanding what foods are high in phosphorus to avoid is crucial for managing their health and preventing serious complications.

Quick Summary

This guide provides a comprehensive list of foods and beverages to limit or avoid due to high phosphorus content, with special attention to processed items containing readily absorbable phosphate additives. It offers practical tips for dietary management, label reading, and choosing lower-phosphorus alternatives to support kidney health.

Key Points

Check Labels for 'Phos': Always read ingredient lists on packaged foods for phosphate additives, which are highly absorbed by the body.
Limit Processed Foods: Avoid processed meats, fast food, convenience meals, and most colas, as they are major sources of hidden phosphates.
Control Dairy Intake: Dairy products like milk, yogurt, and cheese contain naturally high levels of phosphorus and should be limited.
Moderate Protein Sources: Foods like nuts, seeds, legumes, organ meats, and certain fish are naturally high in phosphorus and should be portion-controlled.
Use Boiling as a Cooking Method: Boiling foods like meat and vegetables can reduce their phosphorus content, especially if you discard the water afterward.
Choose Whole, Fresh Foods: Opt for fresh fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed meats, which contain less and less absorbable phosphorus than processed alternatives.

Understanding Phosphorus and Kidney Health

Phosphorus is an essential mineral vital for building strong bones, teeth, and cellular energy production. For healthy individuals, the kidneys effectively regulate phosphorus levels, but for those with chronic kidney disease (CKD), this process is impaired, leading to a dangerous buildup called hyperphosphatemia. High phosphorus levels can cause calcium to be pulled from bones, making them weak, and lead to calcium deposits in blood vessels, eyes, and heart, increasing the risk of cardiovascular events. Proper dietary management is a key strategy for controlling phosphorus intake.

The Challenge of Phosphorus Additives

Perhaps the most significant challenge in limiting phosphorus intake is the widespread use of phosphate additives in processed foods. These inorganic phosphates are almost completely absorbed by the body, unlike the naturally occurring organic phosphorus found in whole foods, which is only partially absorbed. This means that a processed item with moderate 'natural' phosphorus can deliver a far more significant load than a whole food with the same or even slightly higher natural phosphorus content.

Processed and Packaged Foods to Avoid

To effectively manage your phosphorus intake, it is critical to limit or eliminate processed foods containing these additives. Look for ingredients that include "phos" in the name, such as phosphoric acid, disodium phosphate, and monopotassium phosphate.

Processed Meats: Cured hams, deli meats, hot dogs, sausages, and chicken nuggets often have phosphates added to preserve moisture and flavor.
Processed Cheeses: American cheese slices and canned or jarred cheese spreads contain high amounts of added phosphate.
Fast Food and Convenience Meals: A high percentage of fast-food menu items and many frozen dinners and instant noodle packs contain added phosphates.
Carbonated and Bottled Drinks: Cola and pepper-type sodas, bottled iced teas, flavored waters, and sports drinks frequently contain phosphoric acid.
Baked Goods: Many pancake mixes, biscuits, muffins, and frozen baked goods use phosphate-based leavening agents.

Naturally High-Phosphorus Foods to Limit

While the phosphorus from natural sources is less readily absorbed, certain foods still contain high concentrations and should be consumed in moderation, especially by those with impaired kidney function.

Dairy Products: Milk, yogurt, and most hard cheeses are significant sources of phosphorus.
Nuts and Seeds: These are highly concentrated sources. Examples include Brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and peanuts.
Legumes: Beans (such as lentils, chickpeas, and kidney beans) are rich in plant-based phosphorus.
Whole Grains: Brown rice, whole wheat bread, and bran cereals contain more phosphorus than refined grains.
Organ Meats and Certain Seafood: Liver, kidney, and certain types of fish like sardines and salmon are naturally high in phosphorus.

High vs. Low Phosphorus Food Choices: A Comparison

To make informed choices, compare typical high-phosphorus foods with their lower-phosphorus counterparts. This can help guide your meal planning.


High Phosphorus Food	Lower Phosphorus Alternative
Cola or Pepper Sodas	Lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, or plain water
Processed American Cheese	Small amounts of Swiss or cheddar cheese
Processed Lunch Meats	Fresh, unprocessed meat or poultry
Whole Grain Bread	Refined white or sourdough bread
Regular Milk	Unenriched rice or almond milk
Baked Beans	Fresh green beans or peas
Canned Salmon with Bones	Fresh or rinsed canned tuna

Practical Strategies for Lowering Phosphorus

Beyond simply avoiding certain foods, specific cooking methods can further reduce phosphorus content in your diet. Boiling, for instance, can effectively decrease the mineral content in meats, vegetables, and legumes, especially if the cooking water is discarded afterward. Portion control is also essential, as a large serving of even a moderate-phosphorus food can contribute significantly to your daily intake. The best approach is to focus on a diet of fresh, whole foods, which naturally contain less phosphorus and are free of highly-absorbable phosphate additives. Consulting a registered dietitian, especially one specializing in renal diets, is recommended for personalized guidance. For comprehensive information on phosphorus management, the National Kidney Foundation is an authoritative source.

Conclusion

For individuals with kidney disease, managing phosphorus intake is a critical component of overall health management. This involves being vigilant about reading food labels to spot and avoid highly-absorbable phosphate additives, which are prevalent in processed and packaged foods. By also limiting naturally high-phosphorus foods like certain dairy products, nuts, and legumes, and adopting cooking strategies like boiling, you can effectively control your dietary phosphorus load. Making these informed dietary choices helps prevent hyperphosphatemia and reduces the associated health risks to bones and cardiovascular health.

Frequently Asked Questions

High phosphorus levels can pull calcium from bones, making them weak, and cause calcium deposits to form in blood vessels and organs. This increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and bone fractures.

Look for ingredients containing the word 'phos,' such as phosphoric acid, disodium phosphate, sodium tripolyphosphate, or calcium phosphate.

Whole grains generally contain more phosphorus than refined grains. However, the phosphorus in plant-based foods is less absorbable than that from animal sources or additives, so moderation is key rather than outright avoidance.

Yes, many unenriched non-dairy milks like almond or rice milk have significantly less phosphorus than cow's milk. However, it's still crucial to check the ingredient list for added phosphates.

Yes, it is generally better. Processed meats like hot dogs and deli meats often contain added phosphate preservatives, while fresh, unprocessed meats do not.

Boiling foods like meat and vegetables can help reduce their phosphorus content. Discarding the water after boiling is key to removing the leached-out phosphorus.

No, you don't need to avoid all nuts and seeds completely. The phosphorus they contain is less absorbable, but they are still a concentrated source. A dietitian can help you determine an appropriate portion size for your specific needs.