Healthy Eating Guide After Liver Transplant

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Medical Video: Liver Transplant - What to Expect Video

After a liver transplant, good eating habits are one of the important things for successful recovery after a liver transplant. Now you have a new heart and you must make sure to keep it healthy. The best way is to add heart-friendly foods to your diet. Here are some good nutrition tips after liver transplantation:

Nutrition tips after your transplant

Your heart will be vulnerable for the next 4-6 weeks. Your body still needs time to adjust to the new heart. It also takes some time to restore your strength and appetite. Here are some tips for healthy eating:

  • Rest for around 20 to 30 minutes before and after you eat.
  • Remember not to drink more than 1/2 cup of juice every day if you are a diabetic or have been warned that you have high blood sugar.
  • Eat healthy protein foods such as lean meat, poultry and fish. Protein will help you to recover from surgery faster.
  • Divide your food portions into smaller ones. 6 - 8 small meals per day is the best for you.
  • Have enough fiber in your daily diet.
  • Eat whole wheat bread and other grains.
  • Drink low-fat milk or eat other low-fat dairy products to provide enough calcium for your bones.
  • Maintain a low salt and low fat diet.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking enough water and other fluids every day.

You must follow these rules along with the instructions given by your doctor. Even though your daily diet will be tight and it will be difficult for you in the early stages of implementation, this will help you to recover quickly after a liver transplant if you continue to follow it. You can ask your family to help.

Foods that must be avoided after a liver transplant

There are some foods that you should avoid because they can cause negative effects on your new liver. You should tell your family about these restrictions to make sure they can remind you if you forget or they can prepare your food safely.

  • Red Bali Orange (grapefruit): You must avoid grapefruit and all products that contain this fruit. The reason is because grapefruit contains substances that interfere with the CYP3A4 enzyme, which breaks down the drug. In addition, oranges can interact with several anti-rejection drugs, including tacrolimus and cyclosporine. You may not be able to absorb this drug because of the lack of the CYP3A4 enzyme.
  • Sweet food: After a liver transplant, in the first few weeks, most patients must take corticosteroids along with other drugs to suppress the immune system so as not to attack new liver. One of these drugs is corticosteroids. Corticosteroids can increase your blood sugar if you use it in high doses. After a liver transplant, 31 percent of patients may develop diabetes, according to a report in a French study in June 2003 in the edition "Transplant Proceedings." So limiting eating sweet foods and your sugar intake will help you keep your blood sugar levels low and support your recovery process better.
  • Soft or unpasteurized cheese, and raw food: These foods can contain bacteria called listeria. Listeria can cause brain infections and sometimes uterine infections at a rate of 26.7 percent (reported in a Spanish study in September 2009 in the edition "Clinical Infectious Diseases") Because after a liver transplant, you have to take anti-rejection drugs in high doses, which suppress your immune system, and you get infections easily.
  • Alcohol: You must always remember that alcohol is an enemy of people who have liver disease. Especially if you need a liver transplant because you have cirrhosis caused by alcohol, you should avoid alcohol for the rest of your life. This can really make your new heart damaged and increase the risk of infection.

A healthy diet is very important after a liver transplant. But the most important thing is if you can be patient to follow and implement your diet plan. In essence, keep trying slowly and apply a healthy lifestyle for you.

Healthy Eating Guide After Liver Transplant
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