Encyclopedia of Diets - A Guide to Health and Nutrition

Milk, yogurt, and cheese
Most dairy foods are very high in phosphorus and
intake of milk, yogurt, and cheese should be limited to
1/2 cup milk or yogurt or 1 ounce of cheese per day.
Dairy foods low in phosphorus include:

Butter and tub margarine

Cream cheese

Heavy cream

Ricotta cheese

Brie cheese

Non-dairy whipped topping

Sherbet

Fruits and juices
All fruits have some potassium. Some fruits how-
ever, have more than others. Star fruit (carambola)
should be always avoided. Other fruits that should be
limited or totally avoided are:

Oranges and orange juice

Kiwis

Nectarines

Prunes and prune juice

Raisins and dried fruit

Bananas

Melons (cantaloupe and honeydew)

2–3 servings of the following low potassium fruits
should be eaten each day. One serving = 1/2 cup or
1 small fruit or 4 ounces of juice.

Apple (1)

Berries (1/2 cup)

Cherries (10)

Fruit cocktail, drained (1/2 cup)

Grapes (15)

Peach (1 small fresh or canned, drained)

Pear, fresh or canned, drained (1/2)

Pineapple (1/2 cup canned, drained)

Plums (1 or 2)

Tangerine (1)

Watermelon (1 small wedge)

Drinks may include:

Apple cider

Cranberry juice cocktail

Grape juice

Lemonade

Vegetables

All vegetables contain some potassium, but some

have more than others and should be limited or totally

avoided. Examples are:

Potatoes (including French fries, potato chips and

sweet potatoes)

Tomatoes and tomato sauce

Winter squash

Pumpkin

Asparagus

Avocado

Beets

Beet greens

Cooked spinach

Parsnips and rutabaga

Patients are advised to eat 2–3 servings of the

following low-potassium vegetables each day. One

serving = 1/2 cup.

Broccoli

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower

Celery

Cucumber

Eggplant

Garlic

Green and wax beans

Lettuce–all types (1 cup)

Onion

Peppers–all types and colors

Radishes

Watercress

Zucchini and yellow squash

Desserts

Depending on calorie needs, the dietitian may rec-

ommend high–calorie deserts such as pies, cookies,

sherbet, and cakes.

Dairy-based desserts and those made with chocolate,

nuts, and bananas should be limited.

Precautions

The special diet followed by kidney patients

requires taking several precautions. The National

Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearing-

house (NKUDIC)of the National Institute of Diabetes

Renal nutrition