Phosphorus and your kidneys: the hidden additive in processed food
Dr. Joan J. Morales Lappot, MD3 min read · Leer en español
In briefPhosphorus is a mineral your bones need. Healthy kidneys remove the extra. When kidney function falls, phosphorus can build up quietly, and over time that pulls calcium from bones and stiffens blood vessels.
Where phosphorus comes from
Phosphorus is found naturally in protein foods such as meat, dairy, beans and nuts. But the biggest problem is added phosphate in processed foods: deli meats, fast food, frozen meals, processed cheese, many dark colas and some bottled drinks.
Your body absorbs only part of the natural phosphorus in plant foods, but it absorbs almost all of the added kind.
How to spot it
- Read the ingredients, not just the nutrition label. Look for any word containing "PHOS": sodium phosphate, phosphoric acid, calcium phosphate.
- Choose fresh meat over processed or "enhanced" meat, which is often injected with phosphate solutions.
- Pick clear sodas or water over dark colas.
- Cooking at home gives you control. My cookbook has three weeks of ideas.
When medicine helps
If diet alone is not enough, phosphate binders taken with meals hold on to phosphorus in the gut so it leaves in the stool. They only work when taken with food. Not everyone with kidney disease needs to limit phosphorus; it usually matters in later stages or when the blood level is high.