Chocolate

Potassium: HigherPhosphorus: HigherSodium: Lower

The bottom line

Cocoa carries both potassium and phosphorus — an ounce and a half or more lands on the National Kidney Foundation higher list for both.

A healthier swap

Sugar sweets, jelly sweets or a lower-phosphorus dessert such as pound cake or sugar cookies — watching sugar if you have diabetes.

Understand the nutrients

Frequently asked questions

Is dark chocolate worse than milk chocolate?

For kidney minerals, generally yes per bite: more cocoa means more potassium and phosphorus. Small amounts of whichever you enjoy, occasionally, beat large amounts of either.

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.