If you have advanced kidney disease, your nephrologist might advise you to steer clear from dark-colored soda. Following such recommendations might involve significant lifestyle changes, particularly if you're in the habit of drinking diet colas on a regular basis. Understanding the connections between declining kidney function and soda makes it easier to choose diet sodas that are safer to drink.
Kidneys and Phosphorus
Healthy kidneys regulate the level of phosphorus in the blood. If kidney function has declined, the kidneys are less able to keep phosphorus levels within an appropriate range. If your phosphorus levels exceed 5.5 mg/dl, your nephrologist might suggest a low-phosphorus diet. Limiting dietary phosphorus allows you to regulate the phosphorus levels in your blood if your kidneys no longer can.
Phosphorus Content
Dark-colored diet soda is high in phosphorus. A 12-oz. can of low-calorie cola or pepper-type soda sweetened with aspartame contains 32 mg of phosphorus. A 12-oz can of low-calorie cola sweetened with saccharin has even more, with 39 mg phosphorus. Regular cola falls in the middle, with 37 mg phosphorus.
Light-colored diet sodas have no phosphorus. Drinking these types of diet soda is a healthy alternative if your phosphorus levels are high.
High-Phosphorus Foods
Other high-phosphorus foods to avoid if your phosphorus levels are high include beer, lentils, dried beans, chocolate, organ meats, wheat germ, milk and dairy products. In some instances, nephrologists recommend phosphorus binders to take when you eat. Phosphorus binders prevent some of the dietary phosphorus from entering your bloodstream.
Warning
A low-phosphorus diet is not necessary if your phosphorus levels are normal. If you need such a diet, failure to comply with it has serious consequences. High phosphorus levels cause calcium to be leached out of the bone into the bloodstream. As the blood circulates, the calcium can be deposited in the heart, lungs, muscles and blood vessels. Drinking clear-colored diet sodas makes complying with this diet easier.
References
- Carbonated Beverage, Low Calorie, Cola or Pepper-Types, with Sodium Saccharin, Contains Caffeine
- Carbonated Beverage, Low Calorie, Cola or Pepper-type, with Aspartame, Contains Caffeine
- Carbonated Beverage, Low Calorie, Other than Cola or Pepper, without Caffeine
- National Kidney Foundation: Phosphorus and Your CKD Diet
- National Institutes of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder
