Salt and your kidneys
Potassium, phosphorus, protein and salt in salt, per 100 grams and per portion, and what it means when you have kidney disease. The figures come from the Norwegian food composition table.
How much salt can you have with kidney disease?
With chronic kidney disease the advice is under 5 grams of salt a day. A teaspoon of salt weighs around 7 grams, more than the whole day's amount. Most salt still comes from bread, cold cuts, meat products and ready meals, not from the salt shaker. Low sodium salt and other salt substitutes contain potassium and should not be used with kidney disease unless your doctor has said yes. Read more in Salt and the kidneys.
Per 100 grams
- Potassium
- 89 mgLow potassium
- Phosphorus
- 1 mg
- Protein
- 0 g
- Salt
- 98.3 gHigh salt
Per portion
| Portion | Potassium (mg) | Phosphorus (mg) | Protein (g) | Salt (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 ml (130 g) | 120 | 1 | 0 | 127.8 |
| Teaspoon (7 g) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6.9 |
How much potassium is in salt?
Salt: 89 mg of potassium per 100 grams, which is low by Metodebok's grouping: under 150 mg per 100 grams is low, 150 to 300 mg medium, and over 300 mg high. What you eat is the portion, so see the numbers per portion above.
How much phosphorus is in salt?
Salt: 1 mg of phosphorus per 100 grams. Phosphorus from plants is absorbed less than phosphorus from meat, milk and additives. Phosphate added to processed food (E338 to E341, E450 to E452) is absorbed almost completely and is not in the table, so check the ingredient list.
What does this mean for you?
How much potassium, phosphorus and protein you should eat depends on your blood tests, your stage and whether you are on dialysis. Many people with kidney disease do not need to limit potassium at all. Do not cut out fruit and vegetables unless your doctor or a clinical dietitian has asked you to.
Salt applies to everyone with kidney disease: under 5 grams a day helps blood pressure and the kidneys.
Compared with other sweets, snacks and sauces
All figures per 100 grams. Tap a food to see it.
Sweets, snacks and sauces (10)
| Food | Potassium (mg) | Phosphorus (mg) | Protein (g) | Salt (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salt | 89, low potassium | 1 | 0 | 98.3 |
| Milk chocolate | 444, high potassium | 321 | 8.1 | 0.2 |
| Dark chocolate | 560, high potassium | 230 | 8.4 | 0 |
| Popcorn | 240, medium potassium | 275 | 10.1 | 2 |
| Marie biscuits | 141, low potassium | 76 | 6.6 | 1.1 |
| Ketchup | 265, medium potassium | 22 | 1 | 1.7 |
| Soy sauce | 180, medium potassium | 47 | 3 | 16.9 |
| Stock powder | 1,500, high potassium | ? | 17 | 55 |
| Mayonnaise | 7, low potassium | 31 | 1 | 0.6 |
| Frozen pizza | 241, medium potassium | 184 | 10.9 | 1.2 |
Source: the Norwegian Food Composition Table 2026 (Matvaretabellen), from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority, the Directorate of Health and the University of Oslo. The potassium levels follow Metodebok. Salt is calculated from sodium (1 gram of sodium is 2.5 grams of salt).
Read more
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