Kidney Friendly Creamer for Your Coffee

For many people, coffee is a daily MUST. And if you’re like me, you need to put some creamer in your coffee to make it drinkable. If you have kidney disease, then you need to find a kidney friendly creamer for your coffee.

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Is coffee creamer bad for people with kidney disease?

Most coffee creamers contain phosphate additives, and people with kidney disease need to limit or avoid phosphorus additives. Phosphorus can build up in the body and cause long term problems with your cardiovascular system. Fortunately, there are many kidney friendly creamer options on the market today.

Some people with kidney disease have been told to avoid dairy products. As a dietitian, I don’t personally believe in cutting out entire food groups. The primary reasons why dairy can be problematic are related to cheese and milk. Cheese is often very high in sodium (and protein, which can be a problem for people with CKD not on dialysis). Milk is high in potassium (and protein). Both cheese and milk can still be included in moderation on a kidney diet.

Cream, however, has virtually zero potassium, sodium, and protein. It does have some naturally occurring phosphorus, but natural phosphorus is not well absorbed and the overall amount that would be used in coffee is low. For these reasons, I do not see any need to avoid dairy based creamers.

That being said, there are tons of plant-based creamers on the market. If you want to choose more plant-based foods and are not attached to dairy-based creamers, then give one a try!

A final note about creamers – we’ve listed out a ton of options for creamers below, but you’ll notice that they are almost ALL liquid creamers. Virtually all powdered creamers that you find in local grocery stores contain phosphorus additives and should be avoided. Choose a liquid creamer with no phosphate, or order one of the few kidney friendly powdered creamers online. For some more detailed information about phosphorus additives, you can watch our video on YouTube.

Potassium in Coffee and Creamer

Coffee Creamers are typically quite low in potassium, with many of the recommended options below even containing 0mg of potassium.

Black coffee contains approximately 124mg of potassium per 8-ounce cup. Many people drink their coffee out of mugs or coffee cups that hold significantly more than 8 ounces, so keep that in mind when determining how much potassium is in your coffee.

Coffee is also a liquid. If your healthcare provider has instructed you to limit fluid intake, which is common for people on dialysis, coffee counts as part of your fluid intake for the day.

Kidney Friendly Dairy Creamer with no phosphorus additives

You can also check out our shopping list on Amazon.

Heavy Whipping Cream

• Calories: 50
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 1g
• Fat: 5g
• Sodium: 5mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 15mg
• Calcium: 0mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 0g

The vast majority of Heavy Cream and Heavy Whipping cream contain no phosphorus additives. I still recommend checking the labels, but out of the 200+ heavy creams in the USDA database, only about 3 of them contained phosphate additives. The rest contain no phosphorus additives. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Land O Lakes Half and Half

• Calories: 40
• Protein: 0.5g
• Carbohydrate: 1g
• Fat: 3g
• Sodium: 15mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Calcium: 40mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 1g

This is the ONLY kidney friendly half and half in the USDA database. Every other half and half has a phosphorus additive. And if you’re shopping specifically for half and half, be sure that you only pick the Land O Lakes Half and Half that says it is 100% real milk and cream. The 100% is key. The singles versions have phosphates as well as all of their other half and halfs in this brand. Generally speaking, I would just avoid half and half altogether, but if you MUST have it, then choose this one. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Chobani Coffee Creamer

• Calories: 30
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 4g
• Fat: 1.5g
• Sodium: 10mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 0mg
• Calcium: 0mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 4g

I thought Chobani only made yogurt, but it seems they have branched out into making kidney friendly coffee creamer too! If you like half and half, but prefer some extra flavor, then these could be a good fit. Made with milk, cream, sugar, and natural flavors and NO PHOSPHATE additives. Be sure you are looking at their dairy based creamer though. Their non-dairy creamers do contain phosphates. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Darigold Creamer

• Calories: 30
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 4g
• Fat: 1.5g
• Sodium: 5mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 16mg
• Calcium: 12mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 4g

This dairy based creamer contains milk, cream, sugar, and natural flavors making it a kidney friendly creamer. It comes in several flavors: French vanilla, Almond Roca, Vanilla Caramel, Hazelnut, and Sweet Cream. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer

• Calories: 140
• Protein: 10g
• Carbohydrate: 4g
• Fat: 9g
• Sodium: 55mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Calcium: 120mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 1g

This is not actually dairy based, but since it isn’t completely plant-based, I’m going to put it here. This is a powdered creamer that contains collagen protein as well. If you are on dialysis, this may be a good way to get in some extra protein. If you are not on dialysis, we do not recommend this creamer. It is too high in protein. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Coffee Mate Natural Bliss

• Calories: 35
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 5g
• Fat: 1.5g
• Sodium: 5mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 0mg
• Calcium: 0mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 5g

While the vast majority of Coffee Mate products contain phosphorus additives, their Natural Bliss line of creamers are all kidney friendly. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Kidney Friendly Non-Dairy Creamer with no phosphorus additives

Califia Farms Almondmilk Creamer

• Calories: 20
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 3g
• Fat: 1g
• Sodium: 10mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 0mg
• Calcium: 20mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 3g

At the time of writing this, all of the Califia Farms CREAMER products contained no added phosphates. I put CREAMER in all caps because many of their other products contain phosphorus additives, so it is just the creamers that I’m talking about here. They come in many different flavors like French Vanilla, Cookie Butter, Hazelnut, Caramel Macchiato, as well as an unsweetened version if you’re trying to limit your sugar. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Califia Oatmilk Creamer

• Calories: 25
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 4g
• Fat: 1g
• Sodium: 10mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 0mg
• Calcium: 20mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 3g

Califia Farms also makes several oat-based kidney friendly creamers. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Silk Almondmilk Creamer

• Calories: 25
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 4g
• Fat: 1g
• Sodium: 15mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 0mg
• Calcium: 0mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 4g

Silk makes several flavors of almond-based kidney friendly creamer including: Vanilla, Hazelnut, Swet & Creamy, Caramel, Creme Brulee, and Pumpkin Spice. These have no phosphorus additives making them low phosphorus coffee creamers. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Silk Oatmilk Creamer

• Calories: 25
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 4g
• Fat: 1g
• Sodium: 15mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 0mg
• Calcium: 0mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 4g

Silk also make oat based kidney friendly creamers that come in several flavors: vanilla, oatmeal cookie, sweet oat latte, and maple brown sugar. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Laird Superfood Creamer

• Calories: 45
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 4g
• Fat: 3.5g
• Sodium: 20mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 50mg
• Calcium: 70mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 2g

This powdered coconut-based kidney friendly creamer comes in several flavors including: Vanilla, Cacao, Original, Pumpkin Spice, Turmeric, and Unsweetened. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Amazing Protein Creamer

• Calories: 80
• Protein: 8g
• Carbohydrate: 3g
• Fat: 3.5g
• Sodium: 120mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 30mg
• Calcium: 20mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 0g

This is a plant-based, high protein creamer that contains no phosphorus additives. This would be a great choice for people on dialysis who need the extra protein. It is NOT appropriate for people with CKD who are not on dialysis. It comes in several flavors, and is sweetened with monkfruit extract, so it contains no added sugar. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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Mooala Plant-Based Creamer

• Calories: 15
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 1g
• Fat: 0.5g
• Sodium: 0mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 27mg
• Calcium: 32mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 1g

This plant based kidney friendly creamer is shelf stable until opened. It comes in three different flavors that contain no phosphorus additives: Vanilla, Banana Nut, and Oats and Cream. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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So Delicious Creamer

• Calories: 15
• Protein: 0g
• Carbohydrate: 0g
• Fat: 1g
• Sodium: 10mg
• Phosphorus
  Additives: None
• Potassium: 0mg
• Calcium: 0mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 0g

This unsweetened creamer is kidney friendly with no phosphorus additives. It also comes in a vanilla flavor. Click the icon below to check prices and reviews for this product.

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A kidney diet that limits or avoids phosphorus additives and keeps sodium less than 2300 mg per day is recommended.

Is Coffee Mate Bad for your kidneys?

Powdered creamers, including Coffee Mate powdered creamers, contain phosphorus additives, which are bad for your kidneys. A teaspoon of powdered creamer contains an estimate 12g of phosphorus. This may not seem like much, but it adds up if you use more than a teaspoon and then add that to the rest of your day, and the phosphorus is highly absorbable. Coffee Mate does make some liquid creamers that do not contain additives. Check the ingredients lists to verify.