How to get rid of too much phosphorus in your body?

November 16, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the American Kidney Fund, elevated phosphorus levels in the blood, a condition called hyperphosphatemia, often occurs when the kidneys are no longer functioning properly to filter out excess minerals. Understanding how to get rid of too much phosphorus in your body is a critical step for managing this condition and preventing serious health complications, such as weakened bones and cardiovascular disease.

Quick Summary

This guide provides practical strategies, including specific dietary modifications, medication management, and lifestyle tips, to help lower high phosphorus levels in the body and maintain better overall health. It details the importance of limiting processed foods and understanding how different sources of phosphorus affect your body.

Key Points

Identify the cause: High phosphorus levels are commonly caused by chronic kidney disease, where impaired kidney function prevents proper mineral excretion.
Avoid phosphate additives: Processed foods, fast foods, and dark sodas often contain inorganic phosphate additives that are almost completely absorbed by the body.
Choose fresh foods: Prioritizing fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables over processed alternatives is a key dietary strategy to lower phosphorus intake.
Take phosphate binders: Medications called phosphate binders help reduce phosphorus absorption from food and must be taken with meals as prescribed.
Consider dialysis: For those with kidney failure, dialysis is a primary treatment to remove excess waste and phosphorus from the blood.
Manage protein sources: Be mindful of protein intake, as many high-protein foods are also high in phosphorus. Boiling meats can help reduce their mineral content.
Monitor and consult: Regularly monitoring blood phosphorus levels and consulting with a healthcare team, including a dietitian, is vital for creating and maintaining an effective management plan.

Understanding Excess Phosphorus and Its Dangers

Phosphorus is a vital mineral, playing a key role in bone health, energy production, and cellular function. However, when kidney function declines, the body's ability to excrete excess phosphorus is impaired, leading to a build-up in the blood. This can have severe consequences, including weakening bones by pulling calcium from them and increasing the risk of dangerous calcium deposits in soft tissues and blood vessels. Managing this condition is a multi-faceted process that involves a combination of dietary adjustments, medication, and, in some cases, dialysis.

Reduce Dietary Phosphorus Intake

One of the most effective ways to lower phosphorus levels is to manage your dietary intake. Not all phosphorus is absorbed by the body in the same way. The phosphorus found in additives is absorbed almost completely, whereas naturally occurring phosphorus from plants is absorbed much less efficiently.

Key dietary strategies include:

Prioritize fresh, homemade food: Processed, fast, and convenience foods are often laden with inorganic phosphate additives, which are listed on ingredients labels with “phos” in the name (e.g., phosphoric acid, sodium phosphate).
Choose wisely among protein sources: Animal proteins like meat and dairy are high in phosphorus, but plant-based sources like legumes have lower bioavailability. You may need to moderate your intake of high-phosphorus animal products. For example, some sources suggest using only egg whites instead of whole eggs, as the yolk contains most of the phosphorus. Boiling meats can also help reduce their phosphorus content.
Re-evaluate your drinks: Dark colas, bottled iced teas, and some enhanced waters contain high amounts of phosphorus additives. Opt for water, homemade tea, or clear sodas instead.
Understand plant-based phosphorus (Phytates): While plant foods like nuts, seeds, and whole grains contain phosphorus in the form of phytates, less of this is absorbed by the body. Recent research suggests that for many, these healthy plant-based foods do not need to be completely avoided, though portion control is still important.

Manage Phosphorus with Medication

For many people with advanced kidney disease, diet alone is not enough to control high phosphorus levels. In these cases, a doctor may prescribe medication known as a phosphate binder.

Types of phosphate binders:

Calcium-based binders: These include calcium acetate and calcium carbonate. They bind to dietary phosphate to prevent absorption, but can increase calcium levels in the blood.
Non-calcium based binders: These are often used for patients at risk of hypercalcemia and include medications like sevelamer (Renagel, Renvela), lanthanum carbonate (Fosrenol), and iron-based binders such as ferric citrate (Auryxia).
Phosphate blockers: A newer class of medication, like tenapanor (Xphozah), works by blocking the absorption of phosphorus in the intestine.

Note: It is crucial to take phosphate binders exactly as prescribed, typically with meals or snacks, to maximize their effectiveness.

Comparison of High vs. Low Phosphorus Foods

This table helps illustrate common food choices to make on a low-phosphorus diet.


Food Category	High Phosphorus Options	Low Phosphorus Options
Beverages	Dark colas, chocolate milk, bottled teas with additives	Water, clear sodas (lemon-lime, ginger ale), fresh-brewed coffee/tea
Dairy	Hard cheese, processed cheese, milk, ice cream, yogurt	Unenriched rice/almond milk, small amounts of cream cheese, sorbet
Meats/Proteins	Processed meats (hot dogs, ham), organ meats, bacon	Fresh beef, chicken, fish (not treated with additives), egg whites
Grains	Whole grain bread, bran cereals, muffins with nuts	White bread, rice cereal, unsalted pretzels
Snacks	Nuts, chocolate, caramel candies, packaged snack foods	Apples, berries, hard candy, jellybeans, unsalted popcorn

Conclusion

Controlling excess phosphorus in the body, a condition known as hyperphosphatemia, is a complex but manageable process, especially for those with chronic kidney disease. A combination of dietary control, proper medication, and regular dialysis treatments (for those with kidney failure) can help. By focusing on fresh, whole foods and avoiding processed items with added phosphates, individuals can significantly impact their phosphorus levels. However, working closely with a healthcare team, including a doctor and registered dietitian, is essential to create a safe and effective plan tailored to individual needs. Consistent monitoring and adherence to the treatment plan are key to preventing the long-term complications associated with high phosphorus and maintaining overall health.

Visit the National Kidney Foundation for more information on managing CKD and high phosphorus.

Frequently Asked Questions

Hyperphosphatemia is a medical condition characterized by an abnormally high level of phosphorus (or phosphate) in the blood. It is most commonly associated with chronic kidney disease, as the kidneys are responsible for filtering excess phosphorus from the body.

Excess phosphorus can lead to serious health issues, including the weakening of bones (as it pulls calcium from them) and the development of calcifications (calcium deposits) in soft tissues like blood vessels, lungs, and the heart. This increases the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Phosphate binders are medications taken with meals and snacks. They work by binding to the phosphorus in food, preventing it from being absorbed by the body and helping to excrete it via stool.

Managing your diet is a primary way to control phosphorus levels. This involves limiting processed foods that contain phosphate additives, moderating intake of naturally high-phosphorus foods like dairy and some meats, and choosing fresh foods and low-phosphorus alternatives.

Yes, cooking methods like boiling can help reduce the phosphorus content in certain foods, particularly meats and vegetables. Boiling allows some of the minerals to leach out into the water.

You can identify added phosphorus by checking the ingredient list on food labels. Look for words containing "phos," such as phosphoric acid, sodium phosphate, or dicalcium phosphate. Foods like processed meats, cheese spreads, and dark sodas are common culprits.

Yes, dialysis can help remove some phosphorus from the blood. However, for most patients, dialysis alone is not sufficient to fully control phosphorus levels, and it must be combined with dietary restrictions and medication.