Nuts for Phosphorus

Written by: Julia D’Amico, Dietetic Student

Edited by: Emily Campbell, RD CDE MScFN

may need to limit depending on your bloodwork, speaking with the dietitian can help to determine your needs. Some lower potassium nuts include: pecans, walnuts and macadamia nuts.

If your phosphorus is low, here are some tips to incorporate more phosphorus-rich foods in your day:

• Sprinkle pumpkin seeds onto a salad or steel cut oatmeal

• Bread your favourite meat in crushed walnuts mixed with breadcrumbs

• Have peanut butter and whole grain crackers as a snack in between meals

Phosphorus is the second most abundant mineral in the body. This mineral is an important nutrient that occurs naturally in many foods, and has several vital functions. Phosphorus is needed for the production, growth, maintenance, and repair of all tissues, cells, DNA and RNA. Your kidneys remove excess phosphorus from your blood, and this is much more effective with your new kidney after a transplant. Phosphorus also helps the body use and store energy, as well as works closely with other vitamins and minerals. Phosphorus works very closely with vitamin D, calcium and magnesium to aid in bone strength - about 85% of the body’s Phosphorus is in bones and teeth1.

After a kidney transplant, it is common to experience low levels of phosphorus, affecting up to 90% of patients after surgery2. Some symptoms of low phosphorus, also called hypophosphatemia, include: loss of appetite, anxiety, bone pain, fatigue, irregular breathing, numbness, weakness, weight loss. It is important to speak with your transplant team if you experience any of these symptoms.

Phosphorus is found in many foods. A great source of phosphorus is nuts and seeds. This includes pecans, macadamia nuts, walnuts, peanuts, pumpkin seeds. These may have been foods that you needed to limit before your transplant, but remember your nutrition needs may change with your new kidney and you may be asked to include some of these now. While nuts and seeds are a great source of phosphorus, after a kidney transplant you may be instructed to limit your potassium intake - some phosphorus-rich foods, like nuts and seeds are also rich in potassium, which you

• Add pecans to your Greek yogurt

Another excellent and delicious way to get more phosphorus is by making a trail mix. This is a great low sodium snack that you can enjoy at home or on the go. Try making a trail mix like the one below at home.

Trail Mix Recipe

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp roasted unsalted pecans

• 2 Tbsp roasted unsalted Macadamia nuts

• ¼ cup Rice Chex cereal

• ½ cup unsalted popcorn

• 1 Tbsp unsweetened, dried cranberries

Steps:

1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Want to make extra? For multiple servings, multiply each ingredient by two or more as necessary.

Per serving: 10.6g NET carbohydrates, 3.5g protein, 93.3mg phosphorus, 153.1mg potassium, 63.9mg sodium

References:

1: Phosphorus Information. Available form: https://www.mountsinai org/health-library/supplement/phosphorus

2: Recovery of Hyperphosphatoninism and Renal Phosphorus Wasting One Year after Successful Renal Transplantation. Pieter Evenepoel, Bjorn K.I. Meijers, Hylke de Jonge, Maarten Naesens, Bert Bammens, Kathleen Claes, Dirk Kuypers, Yves Vanrenterghem.