Hey there! If you’ve been wondering about shrimp and its phosphorus content, especially if you’re dealing with kidney issues, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re gonna break down everything you need to know about shrimp and phosphorus in simple terms.
The Quick Answer
Shrimp contains a moderate amount of phosphorus – about 120-160mg per 3-ounce serving This puts it in the “moderate phosphorus” category, making it a reasonable choice for most people watching their phosphorus intake.
Breaking Down the Numbers
Here’s what you’ll find in a 3-ounce serving of different types of shrimp
| Type of Shrimp | Phosphorus Content |
|---|---|
| Pink shrimp | 120 mg |
| White shrimp | 144 mg |
| Mixed species | 161 mg |
How Does Shrimp Compare to Other Proteins?
Let’s see how shrimp stacks up against other common protein sources (per 3 ounces):
- Chicken breast: 200 mg
- Salmon: 250 mg
- Beef: 210 mg
- Pork tenderloin: 185 mg
As you can see, shrimp actually has LESS phosphorus than many other protein sources! Pretty neat, right?
Why Should You Care About Phosphorus?
If you’re dealing with kidney disease, here’s why phosphorus matters:
- Your kidneys help control phosphorus levels in your body
- When kidneys aren’t working properly, phosphorus can build up
- Too much phosphorus can lead to:
- Bone problems
- Heart issues
- Other health complications
Tips for Enjoying Shrimp on a Low-Phosphorus Diet
Here’s how you can make shrimp work for you:
-
Watch Your Portions
- Stick to 3-4 ounces per serving
- Use a food scale if needed
-
Choose Fresh When Possible
- Raw shrimp has less phosphorus than pre-cooked
- Avoid processed shrimp products
-
Smart Cooking Methods
- Grill
- Sauté
- Bake
- Avoid breading or heavy sauces
-
Balance Your Plate
- Pair with low-phosphorus sides like:
- Rice
- Most vegetables
- Pasta
- Bread
- Pair with low-phosphorus sides like:
Bonus: Benefits of Shrimp for Kidney Disease
Shrimp isn’t just okay for a kidney diet – it’s got some awesome benefits:
- Low in Potassium (only 135mg per 3oz)
- Low in Sodium (about 50mg per 3oz when fresh)
- High-Quality Protein
- Heart-Healthy Omega-3s
- Low in Saturated Fat
Yummy Ways to Enjoy Shrimp
Try these kidney-friendly shrimp dishes
- Lemon garlic shrimp with rice
- Simple grilled shrimp skewers
- Shrimp stir-fry with veggies
- Cold shrimp salad
- Shrimp tacos on corn tortillas
The Bottom Line
Look, we get it – managing phosphorus in your diet can be tricky! But here’s the good news: shrimp can totally be part of your kidney-friendly diet. With its moderate phosphorus content and tons of other benefits, it’s often a better choice than many other protein sources.
Just remember:
- Keep portions reasonable
- Choose fresh when possible
- Talk to your kidney dietitian about what works for YOU
A Quick Note
While we’ve done our homework on this topic, everyone’s different! What works for one person might not work for another. Always check with your healthcare team about what’s best for your specific situation.
Remember: Your health journey is unique to you. Use this info as a starting point for conversations with your healthcare team!
Claudia D’Alessandro1Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy Find articles by
Received 2014 Oct 24; Accepted 2015 Jan 12; Collection date 2015. © D’Alessandro et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2015
This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
Phosphorus retention plays a pivotal role in the onset of mineral and bone disorders (MBD) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Phosphorus retention commonly occurs as a result of net intestinal absorption exceeding renal excretion or dialysis removal. The dietary phosphorus load is crucial since the early stages of CKD, throughout the whole course of the disease, up to dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease.
Agreement exits regarding the need for dietary phosphate control, but it is quite challenging in the real-life setting. Effective strategies to control dietary phosphorus intake include restricting phosphorus-rich foods, preferring phosphorus sourced from plant origin, boiling as the preferred cooking procedure and avoiding foods with phosphorus-containing additives. Nutritional education is crucial in this regard.
Based on the existing literature, we developed the “phosphorus pyramid”, namely a novel, visual, user-friendly tool for the nutritional education of patients and health-care professionals. The pyramid consists of six levels in which foods are arranged on the basis of their phosphorus content, phosphorus to protein ratio and phosphorus bioavailability. Each has a colored edge (from green to red) that corresponds to recommended intake frequency, ranging from “unrestricted” to “avoid as much as possible”.
The aim of the phosphorus pyramid is to support dietary counseling in order to reduce the phosphorus load, a crucial aspect of integrated CKD-MBD management.
Keywords: Phosphorus, Diet, Food pyramid, dietary counselling, CKD, ESRD, Education, renal diseases
Increasing the intake of foods with low phosphorus content and/or low phosphorus bio-availability
An analysis of phosphorus content (mg/100 g edible part) in the various food groups shows that the highest load comes from nuts, hard cheeses, egg yolk, meat, poultry and fish. Reporting the phosphorus content as mg per gram of protein (mg/g protein) is especially useful for identifying which foods supply less phosphorus with the same amount of protein. Based on the relationship between phosphorus and proteins, we assumed an upper limit of 12 mg/g to identify foods with a “favorable” phosphorus to protein ratio [6].
Besides the absolute content, a crucial point is the net intestinal absorption of phosphorus. In general, intestinal absorption is lower for phosphorus of plant origin than for phosphorus of animal origin, such as from meat, fish, poultry and dairy products [7, 8].
As previously mentioned, added phosphorus is almost completely absorbed: phosphoric acid is usually added to soft drinks (cola-drinks in particular) [7]. There is large variability in type and content of phosphorus-containing preservatives, depending on the manufacturer: for example, most orange and lemon sodas do not contain phosphorus-based additives, but phosphoric acid is added to some brands.
Boiling causes demineralization of food, thus reducing phosphorus as well as sodium, potassium, and calcium content in both vegetable and animal-derived products. The degree of mineral loss is proportional to the amount of boiling water that is used, the size of the pieces, the cooking time and the absence of the peel for plants. Jones et al. reported a phosphorus reduction of 51% for vegetables, 48% for legumes, and 38% for meat after boiling [9].
It is noteworthy that boiling reduces the phosphorus content with a negligible loss of nitrogen [10], leading to a more favorable phosphorus to protein ratio.
Phosphorus Intake and Chronic Kidney Disease
FAQ
Is shrimp high or low in phosphorus?
| Serving Size: 3oz | Protein (g) | Phosphorus (mg) |
|---|---|---|
| King Crab | 15 | 192 |
| Snow Crab | 20 | 109 |
| Shrimp | 17 | 120 |
| Lobster | 14 | 160 |
What seafood is lowest in phosphorus?
- Cod, Atlantic, 117.
- Grouper, 122.
- Oysters, Eastern, Raw, canned, 118.
- Oysters, Pacific, raw, 138.
- Scallops, breaded & fr4ied, 2 large, 73.
- Shrimp, moist heat, 116.
- Tuna, light, canned in water, 139.
Is shrimp ok for kidney patients?
Shrimp is low in phosphorus, making it a good choice for those with kidney disease. Try these shrimp tacos for your next Taco Tuesday, or any night of the week! Shrimp is low in phosphorus, making it super beneficial for your kidneys.
Is meat a good source of phosphorus?
Meat (and most proteins) are a major source of phosphorus in our diet. A high phosphorus diet can damage your heart and bones. Importantly, high phosphorus levels are also associated with faster progression of kidney disease and higher mortality. (6) Eating low phosphorus meats can help keep phosphorus levels in check!
Which fish is low in phosphorus?
Your kidneys have a difficult time filtering phosphorus. Some fish, like sardines, are high in this nutrient. Fish like salmon, sea bass, and tuna tend to be lower in phosphorus. Consider this when choosing your kidney diet. If you’re buying canned fish or packaged fish or fish sticks for example, you’ll want to make sure it’s low sodium.
Is fish high in potassium & phosphorus?
The potassium and phosphorus content of fish varies (see the chart below). Choose fresh fish when possible because it is lower in sodium. Canned fish can be high in sodium. Always talk to your kidney dietitian to find out how you can include fish in your diet.
Is shrimp high in potassium?
Sodium Alert: Pre-packaged or seasoned shrimp can be high in sodium. Always check labels and opt for fresh or frozen varieties without additives like seasonings. Potassium Levels: Shrimp is relatively low in potassium, making it a suitable choice for those monitoring potassium intake. Looking for kidney-friendly recipes? Here are some ideas:
Is shrimp good for kidneys?
Promotes Bone Strength: The combination of phosphorus and vitamin D in shrimp contributes to healthy bones and teeth. Shrimp can be kidney-friendly when prepared mindfully. Here are some things to keep in mind while you enjoy shrimp: Protein Intake: For individuals with kidney disease, managing protein intake is crucial.
What foods have low phosphorus?
Remember, all kinds of meat, poultry, fish and seafood have phosphorus in them. Most natural meats have about 200mg of phosphorus in a 3 oz portion. Any kind of unprocessed, natural animal protein can likely fit into a low phosphorus diet. The keys to eating low phosphorus meats are: Eat the right portion size. All meat has some phosphorus in it.