In food after kidney transplant it is important to avoid raw foods such as vegetables, undercooked meat or eggnog, for example, and foods rich in salt and sugar to avoid rejection of the transplanted kidney.
In this way, the diet should be guided by a nutritionist and should normally be maintained strictly until blood test values are stable.
After renal transplantation, the patient needs to take steroid medicines, such as prednisolone, azathioprine, and cyclosporine, for example, to prevent rejection of the healthy new kidney. These medications cause side effects such as increased blood sugar and cholesterol, increased appetite and increased blood pressure, and can lead to loss of muscle mass, and it is essential to make a diet adequate to prevent these complications. Read more in: Kidney transplant.
Kidney transplant diet
The patient who has had a kidney transplant should have a balanced diet that helps control weight, because its control will help the patient not to develop complications such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension.
What to Eat After Kidney Transplantation
After kidney transplantation, care should be taken to reduce the risk of developing infection or even rejecting the kidney, and eat:
- Foods rich in fiber, such as cereals and seeds, every day;
- Increase the amount of calcium and phosphorus foods like milk, almonds and salmon, in some cases take a nutritionist's recommended supplement to keep bones and teeth firm and strong;
- Doing a low sugar diet, such as sweets as they lead to rapid increase in blood sugar, should opt for carbohydrates, found in rice, corn, bread, pasta and potatoes. See more in: Foods rich in sugar.
The patient should seek to maintain a balanced and varied diet to maintain a good functioning of the organism.
What to avoid after kidney transplantation
In order to maintain a good functioning of the transplanted kidney, avoid:
- Foods with fat that lead to an increase in cholesterol and can cause clogging of the arteries and can cause heart attack or stroke in the brain;
- Alcoholic beverages, as they impair the functioning of the liver;
- Do not consume sodium, which is found in cooking salt and canned and frozen foods, helping to control fluid retention, bloating and high blood pressure. Learn tips to reduce your intake in: How to reduce salt intake.
- Limit the amount of potassium found in banana and orange because the medication increases potassium. See potassium-rich foods in: Foods rich in potassium.
- Do not ingest raw vegetables, choosing to bake, always washing with 20 drops of sodium hypochlorite in two liters of water, letting it stand for 10 minutes;
- Do not eat seafood, eggnog and sausages ;
- Store food in the refrigerator only for a period of 24 hours, avoiding eating frozen food;
- Wash the fruit very well and opt for cooked and roasted fruit;
- Do not restrict the amount of liquids, such as water and juices, if there is no contraindication.
Some patients did not undergo kidney transplantation, however, they undergo hemodialysis and should maintain hygiene care, but should follow a diet with a limited amount of fluid, protein and salt control. See more in: Food for hemodialysis.
