🥚 Dairy, Eggs, Non-Dairy Milks & Nuts
Dairy phosphorus is highly absorbable (70–80 %) — more impactful on serum phosphorus than plant sources. Egg whites are the single best animal protein source for CKD (high biological value, lowest phosphorus per gram of protein). Most nuts are high in potassium and phosphorus — portion sizes are critical.
🥚 Eggs — Per 100 g
✔ Egg Whites — The Gold Standard Protein for CKD
Egg whites provide high biological value protein with the lowest phosphorus per gram of any animal protein. They are commonly recommended in CKD stage 3–5 and even on dialysis. Often limited to 2–4 egg whites per day depending on labs. Avoid cooking in butter or oil with salt — poach, boil or steam.
| Food | Protein Raw (g) | Protein Cooked (g) | K (mg) | Na (mg) | P (mg) | Sugar (g) | GI | Cholesterol | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egg white only | ~11 | ~11 | ~163 | ~166 | ~15 | ~0 | ~0 | ~0 mg | Lowest P per gram protein; high biological value; best egg choice for CKD | ✔ Best egg for CKD |
| Whole egg | ~12.6 | ~13 | ~138 | ~142 | ~198 | ~0 | ~0 | ~372 mg | Often ≤1 whole egg/day; count yolk phosphorus toward daily P limit | ⚠ Limit (count P) |
| Egg yolk only | ~15.5 | ~16 | ~109 | ~48 | ~390 | ~0 | ~0 | ~1,085 mg | Very high P & cholesterol → limit/avoid in CKD 4–5 | ❌ Limit/Avoid CKD 4–5 |
🥛 Dairy Products — Per 100 g
❌ Key Dairy Warning
Phosphorus from dairy is 70–80% absorbed — much more impactful than plant phosphorus. Processed cheeses often contain phosphate additives (polyphosphate), making them the worst dairy choice for CKD. Always count dairy protein toward daily limits.
| Product | Protein As Sold (g) | K | Na | P | Sugar (g) | GI | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butter (unsalted) | ~0.5 | ~24 | ~11 | ~24 | ~0 | ~0 | Mostly fat; very low mineral load — use sparingly for calories | ✔ Safe (small amounts) |
| Heavy cream | ~2 | ~69 | ~29 | ~58 | ~2 | ~0 | High fat; low P & K — small amounts for energy density in underweight elderly | ✔ Safe (small amounts) |
| Cow's milk (whole, 3.5%) | ~3.2 | ~150 | ~44 | ~93 | ~4.7 | ~31 | Moderate K; P highly absorbable (70–80%); limit to ½ cup per day in CKD 3–4 | ⚠ Limit |
| Cow's milk (low-fat, 1%) | ~3.4 | ~150 | ~44 | ~95 | ~4.8 | ~32 | Similar P burden to whole milk; no significant advantage for CKD | ⚠ Limit |
| Goat's milk | ~3.6 | ~204 | ~50 | ~111 | ~4.5 | ~30 | Similar P profile to cow milk; slightly higher K | ⚠ Limit |
| Carabao milk | ~3.8 | ~170 | ~52 | ~120 | ~4.9 | ~30 | Higher protein and P than cow milk; limit in CKD | ⚠ Limit |
| Yogurt (plain, whole) | ~3.5 | ~155 | ~46 | ~105 | ~4.7 | ~36 | Moderate P; probiotic benefit; limit to ½ cup; count toward daily dairy allowance | ⚠ Limit |
| Yogurt (Greek, plain) | ~9–10 | ~141 | ~47 | ~135 | ~3.2 | ~11 | Higher protein and P than regular yogurt; limit strictly in advanced CKD | ⚠ Limit |
| Kefir (plain) | ~3.4 | ~164 | ~40 | ~105 | ~4.5 | ~32 | Similar to yogurt; probiotic benefit; moderate P | ⚠ Limit |
| Cream cheese | ~6 | ~72 | ~321 | ~98 | ~3.2 | ~0 | High Na (salted versions); low P; limit due to sodium | ⚠ Limit |
| Cottage cheese | ~11 | ~84 | ~364 | ~159 | ~3.4 | ~10 | High Na; moderate P; Na is the main concern in CKD | ❌ Limit (High Na) |
| Ricotta | ~11 | ~125 | ~84 | ~158 | ~0.3 | ~27 | Moderate Na and P; lower than aged cheeses; small portions acceptable | ⚠ Moderate |
| Mozzarella (fresh) | ~18 | ~76 | ~373 | ~354 | ~1.0 | ~0 | High Na and P; limit in CKD; processed mozzarella worse than fresh | ❌ Limit |
| Cheddar | ~25 | ~98 | ~621 | ~512 | ~0.1 | ~0 | Very high Na and P; polyphosphate additives likely; limit strictly | ❌ Limit |
| Swiss cheese | ~27 | ~77 | ~192 | ~567 | ~0.5 | ~0 | Very high P; lower Na than cheddar; still limit in CKD | ❌ Limit |
| Parmesan (grated) | ~35 | ~92 | ~1,602 | ~694 | ~0.9 | ~0 | Extremely high Na; very high P; use only as a tiny flavouring | ❌ Avoid / Tiny Use |
| Processed cheese (singles/spread) | ~16 | ~132 | ~1,265 | ~867 | ~2.0 | ~0 | Phosphate additives; highest P absorption of any dairy; avoid in CKD | ❌ Avoid |
| Ice cream (vanilla, regular) | ~3.5 | ~162 | ~80 | ~105 | ~22 | ~62 | High sugar; moderate P; occasional small portion only | ❌ Limit (Sugar + P) |
🌿 Non-Dairy Milks — Per 100 g (Unsweetened, Unflavoured)
💡 Label Reading Tip for CKD
Look for phosphate additives in the ingredients: avoid anything listing "phosphate", "phosphoric acid" or "polyphosphate". These are 100% absorbed and significantly raise phosphorus load. Prefer unsweetened, unflavoured products. Potassium and phosphorus may not always appear in the nutrition panel — the ingredient list is more reliable.
| Product | Protein (g) | K | Na | P | Sugar (g) | GI | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice milk (unsweetened) | ~0.3 | ~27 | ~47 | ~21 | ~9 | ~86 | Very low P and K; highest GI of non-dairy milks — smallest portion for diabetes | ✔ Lowest P |
| Almond milk (unsweetened, unfortified) | ~0.4 | ~67 | ~63 | ~20 | ~0 | ~25 | Very low P; low K; low GI; best non-dairy choice for CKD | ✔ Best Non-dairy |
| Macadamia milk (unsweetened) | ~0.5 | ~55 | ~90 | ~18 | ~0 | ~25 | Very low P; low K; avoid sweetened versions | ✔ Good Choice |
| Cashew milk (unsweetened) | ~0.5 | ~45 | ~120 | ~20 | ~0 | ~25 | Very low P; moderate Na in commercial versions; check label | ✔ Good Choice |
| Hazelnut milk (unsweetened) | ~0.4 | ~60 | ~95 | ~18 | ~0 | ~25 | Very low P; avoid sweetened and chocolate varieties | ✔ Good Choice |
| Coconut milk (carton/beverage, unsweetened) | ~0.5 | ~50 | ~13 | ~15 | ~0 | ~40 | Very low P and Na; use beverage-type (not canned); avoid sweetened | ✔ Good Choice |
| Coconut milk (canned, full-fat) | ~2 | ~263 | ~15 | ~100 | ~3 | ~45 | Higher P than beverage type; high saturated fat; use sparingly in cooking | ⚠ Moderate |
| Oat milk (unsweetened) | ~1 | ~150 | ~100 | ~90 | ~4 | ~69 | Higher GI and P than nut milks; avoid sweetened varieties | ⚠ Moderate |
| Soy milk (unsweetened, unfortified) | ~3.0–3.5 | ~118 | ~51 | ~52 | ~1 | ~34 | Moderate P; fortified versions higher P; check label for phosphate additives | ⚠ Check Label |
| Pea milk (unsweetened) | ~3.0–4.5 | ~270 | ~130 | ~90 | ~0 | ~30 | Higher protein than most non-dairy milks; moderate P; check label | ⚠ Moderate |
🥜 Nuts — Per 100 g (Raw, Unsalted)
❌ Portion Warning for All Nuts
Typical CKD portions are 10–15 g (1 small handful or 6–10 nuts) — NOT 100 g. Even 10–15 g provides 1–4 g protein and a meaningful potassium and phosphorus load. Always choose raw or dry-roasted, unsalted. Avoid salted, honey-roasted, BBQ, soy-coated or cheese-flavoured nuts (hidden sodium and phosphate additives). Count nut protein toward daily protein limits.
| Nut | Protein Raw (g) | Protein Roasted (g) | K (mg) | Na (mg) | P (mg) | Sugar (g) | GI | CKD Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peanut (raw, unsalted) | ~25 | ~26 | ~705 | ~5 | ~376 | ~4.7 | ~14 | Very high P & K; limit to 15–20 g max in CKD 3–5 | ❌ Limit (Very High P) |
| Peanut (roasted, unsalted) | ~24 | ~25 | ~658 | ~6 | ~363 | ~4.0 | ~14 | Similar to raw; slightly lower K after roasting; low GI | ❌ Limit (Very High P) |
| Cashew (raw, unsalted) | ~18 | ~19 | ~660 | ~12 | ~593 | ~5.9 | ~22 | Very high P; moderate K | ❌ Limit (Very High P) |
| Cashew (roasted, unsalted) | ~16 | ~17 | ~565 | ~16 | ~490 | ~5.6 | ~22 | Very high P; moderate K | ❌ Limit (Very High P) |
| Almond (raw) | ~21 | ~22 | ~705 | ~1 | ~481 | ~4.4 | ~15 | Very high P; moderate K; low GI | ❌ Limit (Very High P) |
| Pistachio (raw, unsalted) | ~20 | ~21 | ~1,025 | ~1 | ~490 | ~7.7 | ~15 | Very high K; very high P; highest K of common nuts | ❌ Avoid (Very High K & P) |
| Walnut (raw) | ~15 | ~16 | ~441 | ~2 | ~346 | ~2.6 | ~15 | High P & K; high omega-3 but P is limiting in CKD | ❌ Limit (High P) |
| Hazelnut (raw) | ~15 | ~15 | ~680 | ~0 | ~290 | ~4.3 | ~15 | High P & K; low GI | ❌ Limit (High P) |
| Macadamia (raw, unsalted) | ~8 | ~8 | ~368 | ~5 | ~188 | ~4.6 | ~10 | Lowest P of common nuts; low K; lowest GI; best nut for CKD | ⚠ Moderate (Best Nut) |
| Pecan (raw) | ~9 | ~10 | ~410 | ~0 | ~277 | ~4.0 | ~10 | High P; low Na; low GI | ❌ Limit (High P) |
| Chestnut (boiled/steamed) | ~2 | ~2 | ~526 | ~27 | ~93 | ~12 | ~60 | Lowest P of all nuts; higher sugar & GI; high K | ⚠ Moderate |