Kidney Disease: Balancing Calcium and Phosphorus

Calcium and phosphorus are minerals found in many foods. Your body works best when these minerals are in balance. But if you have kidney disease, phosphorus may build up in your blood. This can weaken your bones over time. To help keep your bones strong, control the amount of phosphorus in your body. This sheet tells you how.

Take phosphate binders

Phosphate binders are medicines that stick to the phosphorus in the food you eat. This keeps the phosphorus from being absorbed into your body. Instead, the phosphorus passes from your body with stool (solid waste). For best results, keep these tips in mind:

☐ Use only the type of phosphate binder that your healthcare provider recommends. The type of binder that you should be taking is ___________________________

☐ Always take phosphate binders as directed.

☐ With meals

☐ Other _________________________

☐ Phosphate binders can cause constipation. You may need to eat more fiber or take stool softeners.

Limit these foods		Do not eat these foods
To keep calcium and phosphorus in balance, limit the amount of phosphorus you eat. To do so, eat less of the following foods: Milk Chocolate Cheese Beer Yogurt Soybeans Ice cream		Some foods are so high in phosphorus that you may need to stop eating them. Talk with your dietitian before eating these foods: Cola drinks Dried or baked beans Nuts and seeds of all kinds Peanut butter Split peas Whole-grain cereals