Phosphorus is a mineral that is mainly found in your bones, but it also has other functions in the body like energy production, muscle movement and hormone production, as noted on DaVita.com. The kidneys help maintain the proper balance of phosphorus in your body; if you have significant kidney disease, you may not be able to eliminate excess phosphorus from your body. Too much phosphorus in the body can cause a loss of calcium from the bones and bone weakening. To reduce the amount of phosphorus in the blood, you can start a low phosphorus diet.
Alternatives for Dairy Products
Most dairy products from animal sources contain high levels of phosphorus, as noted by the University of Maryland Medical Center. Some soy milks may be high in phosphorus as well, according to MayoClinic.com. Some acceptable alternatives for milk include nondairy creamers or rice milks; your dietitian should be able to tell you which soy milks are lower in phosphorus, as noted on DaVita.com. As a substitute for hard cheeses, you can eat cream or cottage cheese; you can also eat sherbet or sorbet as an alternative for ice cream. Your dietitian suggest low-phosphorus choices for your dairy intake.
Alternatives for Cola Drinks
Dark cola carbonated drinks contain phosphorus, too, according to DaVita.com. Instead of drinking colas, you can select other types of beverages such as cream sodas, lemon-lime sodas, grape soda or root beer. You can also drink iced tea or lemonade that you make at home; you can control the content of your beverage if you make it yourself.
Alternatives for Whole Grain Products
Whole grain products have significant amounts of phosphorus, as reported by the University of Maryland Medical Center. In a low-phosphorus diet, whole grain breads, crackers and cereals should be avoided; brown or wild rice should be eliminated as well. Good low-phosphorus substitutes for whole grain breads include refined breads like French or white breads; more processed cereals made with corn or rice have less phosphorus content, as noted by DaVita.com. White rice, pasta and macaroni can all be substituted for whole grain products.
Alternatives for Processed Meats and Beans
On a low-phosphorus diet, you may have to adjust your intake of meat and other protein sources; these foods contain high levels of phosphorus, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. You should avoid processed meats, poultry and fish, as noted on DaVita.com. Fresh and frozen meat, poultry and fish are acceptable choices; however, you will need to be mindful of portion sizes to limit your phosphorus intake. In place of dried beans or peas, you can eat green beans or wax beans, as noted on MayoClinic.com.
Alternatives for High-Phosphorus Vegetables
Some vegetables have high phosphorus levels; corn, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, asparagus, mushroom and spinach should be limited in a low-phosphorus diet, as reported on MayoClinic.com. Lower phosphorus choices include white potatoes, winter squash, beets, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and eggplant. More vegetable substitutions are available; your dietitian can give you a list of low-phosphorus vegetables with serving sizes to make sure your diet is varied and well-rounded.
