What is a low phosphate diet?
You may have been told by your medical team that you need to follow a low phosphate diet.
But, what is a low phosphate diet? Let’s start with the basics!
This short video provides basic information about phosphate, including:
- What happens to phosphate when your kidneys aren't working well.
- How to reduce your intake of phsosphate (including phosphate addiitves).
- How to make lower phosphate dietary choices.
What is phosphorus?
Phosphorus is a mineral and makes up parts of the cells in our bodies. It is found in almost all foods - sometimes in small amounts, sometimes in big amounts.
Phosphate helps our bodies to work normally, use energy and forms part of our bones and teeth!
What happens when the kidneys aren't working well?
Most children get much more phosphorus than they need as it is in so many foods. This is usually okay because the kidneys just get rid of the extra phosphate that we don’t need. But, when the kidneys are not working well, it's hard to get rid of the extra phosphorous. Too much phosphorus in the body can cause problems with the bones, skin, heart and other muscles, and it can even make you itch!
Too much phosphorus can cause problems when your kidneys are not working well
How do I get the right amount of phosphorus?
There are two types of phosphorus:
- Naturally occurring phosphorus in foods.
- Phosphorus which is added to foods.
The amount of phosphorus that is absorbed by the body from foods will affect your blood phosphate level.
Naturally occurring phosphorus in foods
The naturally occurring phosphorus found in fresh meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and grains is
only partly absorbed by the body. This is called a low to moderate bioavailability.
Phosphorus that is added to food
Why is phosphorus added to foods?
- When phosphorus is added to food the term that is used is phosphate additives. Phosphate additives are added to avoid spoilage of foods. Whilst this can be a good thing, it means that extra phosphorus is put into everybody’s diet, including those whose kidneys are not working very well.
- Almost 100% of the phosphorus that is added to foods is absorbed, giving these foods a high bioavailability. Therefore, eating a lot of foods with added phosphorus may cause your blood phosphate levels to rise.
- It can be hard to know if a food contains phosphate additives. However, you can sometimes figure it out if you do some detective work! Look out for the words PHOS in the ingredients list.
- However, even with the best detective work, it can still be a challenge as phosphate additives are not always listed on the label. The best thing to do is to try to limit your intake of processed foods and try to make meals using fresh ingredients if possible.
What else can I do to reduce my intake of phosphorus?
Another important way of reducing the amount of phosphorus in your diet is to reduce the amount of those foods which are rich in phosphorus. Here are some ideas to help you with this:
As mentioned above, limit any foods that may contain added phosphorus such as cheese, processed chicken, meats, sausages, frozen products such as fish fingers, chicken nuggets and cola-based fizzy drinks.
Limit foods made with baking powder – such as waffles, pancakes, or biscuits. This is because baking powder has an ingredient called sodium phosphate in it to help foods rise when they are baked. So foods made with baking powder have a lot of phosphorus.
Limit your intake of dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Having a small amount of these foods is usually ok, but try to only have one serving per day.
A serving is a cup of milk, a small container of yogurt, a slice of cheese or ¼ cup of grated cheese. Your Dietitian can tell you what servings sizes are best for you!
Meat – although fresh meat will provide us with protein which our bodies need, it is rich in naturally occuring phosphorus. Your Dietitian may advise you to reduce your portion sizes of meat or replace meat with other foods in some meals.
How can I still eat a healthy diet?
Eating a diet with a variety of foods is best. As previously mentioned, try to make homemade meals using fresh ingredients and avoid using packaged or convenience foods. Ask your parents or guardians if they will show you how to make some of your favourite meals from fresh ingredients; try preparing some fruit or vegetables for the family meal or learn to cook simple meals with only a few ingredients.
It is important to speak to your healthcare professional about your diet and which foods and drinks are suitable for you.
