Milk

Potassium: HigherPhosphorus: HigherSodium: Lower

The bottom line

A cup of milk appears on the National Kidney Foundation higher list for both potassium and phosphorus — nutritious, but it spends two budgets at once.

A healthier swap

Unenriched rice milk or almond milk (the National Kidney Foundation lower-phosphorus alternatives), or smaller amounts of milk used as an ingredient rather than a drink.

Understand the nutrients

Frequently asked questions

Do plant milks automatically beat milk?

For phosphorus, usually — unenriched rice and almond milks are much lower. But check labels: many plant milks are fortified with calcium and sometimes phosphate additives, and they contain far less protein than milk.

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.