During the early stages after a transplant, while you're on higher doses of immunosuppressant medicine, you should avoid eating foods that carry a high risk of food poisoning, including: unpasteurised cheese, milk or yoghurt. foods containing raw eggs (such as mayonnaise) undercooked or raw meats, fish and shellfish.
Limit high-calorie foods such as fatty foods, sweets, pastries, and other foods high in fat or sugar. You can help control your calories by eating: Foods high in fiber, such as vegetables and fruits. Lean meat, skinned poultry and fish.
Most transplant centers recommend that transplant recipients avoid all forms of grapefruit if they are taking cyclosporine or tacrolimus (Prograf®). Grapefruit is the only type of fruit that interacts with these medications. Other citrus fruits and juices do not affect cyclosporine or tacrolimus.
Successful transplants should mean that your previous potassium restriction is relaxed. Your dietitian and doctor can further advise you about how to reintroduce high potassium foods, such as bananas, coffee, nuts and chocolate.
Candy not recommended on a kidney diet
Chocolate and nuts contain high amounts of phosphorus and potassium.
Most people with early-stage CKD or a kidney transplant do not have to limit tomatoes because of potassium. If your laboratory results show higher levels of potassium, your doctor or kidney dietitian may talk with you about how much to eat. Potassium can be a concern depending on the amount you eat.
All cheese is safe to eat if cooked until piping hot or pasteurised. Hard cheeses are generally a safer option (pasteurised or unpasteurised), e.g. cheddar, red Leicester, edam, gouda, pecorino, parmesan.
To help meet your protein needs, the following foods are recommended: Meats (beef, pork, poultry, turkey, seafood) Fish. Dairy products (mild cheese, yogurt)
Alcohol, drugs and medicines
Regularly drinking alcohol above the maximum recommended limits can raise your blood pressure, which can be dangerous for people with a kidney transplant. To keep your risk of alcohol-related harm low, the NHS recommends: not drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
Eat plenty of foods rich in starch and fibre e.g. wholegrain breakfast cereals, granary or wholemeal bread. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least 5 portions a day). With no potassium restriction you can enjoy a greater variety of fruit and vegetables. Don't eat too many foods that contain a lot of fat.
Although you'll be able to participate in a variety of activities as you recover, most transplant units advise patients to avoid activities that risk direct hits to your body such as boxing, football or ice hockey.
Chronic Rejection
This is the most common reason that kidney transplants fail. It is the long-term damage done by the body's immune system for a lot of different reasons.
There is a higher risk of some types of cancer following a transplant. Skin cancers are particularly common in kidney transplant patients. Other cancers, such as lymphomas, are also more common in kidney transplant patients.
Infection. Minor infections, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), colds and flu, are common after kidney transplants. You can also get more serious infections, such as pneumonia and cytomegalovirus (CMV), which may require hospital treatment.
Greek yogurt is high in phosphorus and potassium, which some people with kidney disease need to limit in their diet. However, it is also a good source of protein, which people on dialysis need. Protein sources contain phosphorus naturally, so a good guide to use is the phosphorus-to-protein ratio.
Avoid raw or rare meat and fish and uncooked or undercooked eggs.
Breakfast is a favorite meal in many households, with staples like fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, and oatmeal that can all fit nicely in a kidney-friendly diet.
A balanced diet
You can help prevent excessive weight gain after a transplant by making sure your child eats a healthy, balanced diet, which includes: fruit and vegetables – at least five servings a day. starchy foods, such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta – use wholegrain varieties where possible.
You can use vegetables, grains and pasta as the main dish and small pieces of meat, poultry or fish as the side dish. You can also add low-protein pastas to help keep protein within limits.
Strawberries are a low potassium food, containing 130 mg for ½ cup. They are also low in sodium and phosphorus making them a good choice for all the following kidney conditions and treatments: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)/Transplant. Hemodialysis (3 times/week)