The food pyramid color codes food items similar to a traffic light: greens for go, yellows for slow, and reds for stop.
It consists of 6 levels with foods arranged by their phosphorus content, phosphorus to protein ratio (no more than 12 mg/g is favorable) and phosphorus bioavailability. Here's an overview of each level from 1 (low phosphorus) to 6 (high phosphorus):
Green: Foods with a very low phosphorus content include protein-free foods, fruit, vegetables, egg white, olive oil, and sugar. These items are not limited, unless a patient is overweight, diabetic, or receiving dialysis.
Light green: Foods with phytate, a less absorbable form of phosphorus, include cereal, rice, pasta, white bread, and legumes. 2–3 servings per day.
Yellow: Among meats, choose lamb, rabbit, ham, or fish (e.g., trout, tuna, cod, hake, and sole). Avoid farmed fish because it has been fed with phosphorus to promote growth. Also choose milk and yogurt. No more than 1 serving per day.
Orange: Foods with a higher phosphorus to protein ratio include turkey, offal, shrimp, squid, salmon, and soft cheeses. No more than 1 serving per week.
Orange-Red: Foods with a very high phosphorus content include nuts, egg yolk, and hard cheeses. No more than 2-3 servings per month.
Red: Processed foods with phosphorus-containing additives include colas, processed meat, and processed cheese. Avoid as much as possible.
Renal dietitians can help patients understand and use the pyramid. “How the dietitian interacts with the patients is as important as the dietary prescription: an understanding and nonjudging relationship is crucial for the patient to successfully adhere to the suggestions…” the researchers noted.
It consists of 6 levels with foods arranged by their phosphorus content, phosphorus to protein ratio (no more than 12 mg/g is favorable) and phosphorus bioavailability. Here's an overview of each level from 1 (low phosphorus) to 6 (high phosphorus):
Green: Foods with a very low phosphorus content include protein-free foods, fruit, vegetables, egg white, olive oil, and sugar. These items are not limited, unless a patient is overweight, diabetic, or receiving dialysis.
Light green: Foods with phytate, a less absorbable form of phosphorus, include cereal, rice, pasta, white bread, and legumes. 2–3 servings per day.
Yellow: Among meats, choose lamb, rabbit, ham, or fish (e.g., trout, tuna, cod, hake, and sole). Avoid farmed fish because it has been fed with phosphorus to promote growth. Also choose milk and yogurt. No more than 1 serving per day.
Orange: Foods with a higher phosphorus to protein ratio include turkey, offal, shrimp, squid, salmon, and soft cheeses. No more than 1 serving per week.
Orange-Red: Foods with a very high phosphorus content include nuts, egg yolk, and hard cheeses. No more than 2-3 servings per month.
Red: Processed foods with phosphorus-containing additives include colas, processed meat, and processed cheese. Avoid as much as possible.
Renal dietitians can help patients understand and use the pyramid. “How the dietitian interacts with the patients is as important as the dietary prescription: an understanding and nonjudging relationship is crucial for the patient to successfully adhere to the suggestions…” the researchers noted.
