Cheese

Potassium: ModeratePhosphorus: HigherSodium: Higher

The bottom line

A triple-header: high phosphorus, high sodium, and concentrated — a small cube carries more of both than its size suggests.

A healthier swap

Cottage cheese (lower phosphorus) or a thin slice of strong-flavoured cheese, where a little goes further, instead of mild cheese in thick slabs.

Understand the nutrients

Frequently asked questions

Which cheeses are worst?

Processed slices, spreads and cheese sauces are the worst combination of phosphates and sodium. Hard natural cheeses are still high in phosphorus and salt, just without the additives — portion is the control.

These pages are general education about eating with kidney disease, dialysis or a kidney transplant. They are not medical advice and do not replace your own care plan. Kidney diets are individual: what is right for you depends on your stage, your blood tests, your medicines and your other conditions. Always talk to your care team or renal dietitian before changing what you eat, and never stop or change a medicine because of something you read here.