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Corn, flour, cauliflower—when it comes to tortillas, there are so many options out there! How do you know which tortillas are kidney-friendly and suitable for those with chronic kidney disease? Let’s dive in deeper to find out!
Tortillas with Chronic Kidney Disease
Tortillas are considered a carbohydrate food, similar to bread or rice. They will sometimes contain small amounts of protein as well. These delicious wraps can definitely fit into a kidney-friendly diet. They can pair well with a protein source like chicken, beans, or tofu, plus some healthy fats and vegetables. Tortillas can be a nice part of a balanced CKD-friendly meal.
Two of the most common tortilla types are corn and flour. Because these tortillas are made with different grains, they will contain different amounts of nutrients like protein, potassium, sodium, and phosphorus. This also depends on the brand and size of the tortilla too. Corn tortillas are often lower in sodium compared to flour tortillas. Below you will find the generic nutrition information for corn and flour tortillas according to the USDA food nutrient database.
Nutrition Information for Corn and Flour Tortillas
Serving size - 1 small corn tortilla
- Calories - 39 kcal
- Protein - 1 g
- Fiber - 1 g
- Carbohydrates - 8 g
- Potassium - ~33.5 mg
- Sodium - 8 mg
- Phosphorus - ~57 mg
Serving size - 1 medium flour tortilla
- Calories - 120 kcal
- Protein - 3 g
- Fiber - 1 g
- Carbohydrates - 19 g
- Potassium - ~100-200 mg
- Sodium - ~200-500 mg
- Phosphorus - ~50-100 mg
Phosphate Additives
Many store bought tortillas contain phosphate additives. Phosphate additives are additives that have been added to foods to help preserve them. These additives have been shown to contribute more to high phosphorus levels in those with CKD, than compared with naturally occurring phosphorus found in plant and animal foods.
It’s important to keep your phosphorus levels within the normal range as high phosphorus levels can be detrimental to those with chronic kidney disease. Therefore, choosing tortillas made without phosphate additives can be helpful when it comes to managing your phosphorus intake. To spot the phosphate additives on the tortilla nutrition label, check the ingredients list. If you see any ingredient that contains the word “PHOS”, this is a phosphate additive.
Sodium
Store-bought tortillas can also be high in sodium. Sodium is a nutrient you may need to limit if you have CKD. Too much sodium can lead to increased blood pressure and proteinuria, both of which can exacerbate the progression of chronic kidney disease. When checking the nutrition label of your tortillas, be sure to look at the sodium content.
Your sodium intake can increase if you enjoy your tortillas with a meal. If you enjoy your tortillas as a snack, you might want to consider lowering your sodium intake. A good rule of thumb is to keep the sodium content of your tortillas to less than 300 mg of sodium per serving so that you can better stick to a low-sodium diet with CKD.
Recipes for Tortillas with Chronic Kidney Disease
Making your own tortillas can be easy to ensure that you have low-sodium and phosphate additive-free tortillas at home. This low-sodium tortilla recipe is easy to make and tastes delicious, too. If making tortillas homemade is not your thing, check out some of my favorite kidney-friendly store-bought tortillas.
- Food for life brown rice tortillas
- Food for life ezekiel tortillas
- Angelic bakehouse whole grain tortillas
- Angelic bakehouse kale and spinach tortillas
- La tortilla factory cauliflower tortillas
- La banderita corn tortillas
The Bottom Line
Overall, tortillas can be a great carbohydrate option for those with CKD. Be sure to pay attention to the sodium content of your tortillas and if they contain any phosphate additives. Enjoy them with beans, vegetables, or even tofu for a well-balanced, kidney-friendly meal. You could also try making your homemade tortillas to ensure they fit your overall nutrient needs.
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