Organ Transplant, Diet, and Weight Gain

Organ Transplant is a process of removing organs from a person and transplanting them into another person who is suffering from an organ failure issue. Doctors can save the life of the patient by transplanting the organ in the patient’s body. Various organs can be transplanted like lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, pancreas and intestine. 

Tissue can also be transplanted, including ligaments, tendons, bones, heart valves, parts of eyes and skin.  

If you have an organ that is not functioning correctly or in the stage of failure, you may need an organ transplant. This process is used to improve the patient’s quality of life.  

After an organ transplant, your doctor will provide certain medicines such as anti-rejection medicines or immunosuppressive drugs. These drugs help you to decrease the risk of a new organ being rejected by your body. But these drugs decrease your immune system’s ability to fight against infections and increase the chances of getting sick from bacteria and viruses. Some diseases can be caused by unclean food and junk foods. You can decrease the chances of organ infection by:

• Consuming hygienic food

• Managing food safety 

• Balanced diet

• Being careful when eating out

• Avoiding oily and junk foods

• Washing your hand before eating anything 

• Storing raw foods separately

After an organ transplant, it is crucial to manage your diet and do regular exercises. A balanced diet helps you improve the result of your surgery, and everyday activities increase the speed of your recovery. There are different precautions that you should take after your organ transplant. Your doctor will suggest you manage weight and take a balanced diet after your organ transplant. 

Get a balanced diet after an organ transplant

Your diet will play a significant role after an organ transplant. In order to maintain your organ health, it is essential to keep a healthy weight and exercise regularly. A balanced and nutrient-rich diet will help prevent high blood sugar, high blood pressure, avoid excess weight gain and improve overall health and wellness. If your food plan is not managed correctly, it may create a significant issue for your health condition. For a balanced diet, you have to: 

• Add law salt diet to your diet plan

• Eat more vegetables and foods 

• Increase your fibre intake 

• Consume foods with low sugar

• Consume vitamin D and calcium-rich food

Benefits of a proper diet include:

• Controls blood cholesterol

• Offers calcium

• Keeps your blood pressure normal

• Maintains your blood sugar level

• Avoids weakness

• Keeps hydrated 

• Improves the healing process 

• Helps to reduce the risk of infection and organ rejection

Additionally, you have to avoid some junk and unhealthy food after an organ transplant. Unwanted and unhealthy foods can affect the life of a transplanted organ. You can take help from your healthcare provider or doctors to create a proper diet plan. They can assist you to comprehend which food you should avoid and why. A list of food is given the blow that you should avoid after your organ transplant.   

Avoid High-risk foods after an organ transplant.

Your doctor, healthcare provider or dietitian may recommend you to avoid foods that are mouldy and spoiled. They will also recommend you to avoid the following:

Dairy products       

• Undercooked or uncooked eggs, seafood or meat

• Unpasteurized yoghurt, cheese or milk 

Fish, meat and poultry

• Sushi

• Mussels, oysters and clams

• Squid 

• Crab

• Crayfish

• Prawns or shrimp

• Fish, Poultry and Meat 

Vegetables and Fruits

• Sprouts (Such as bean sprouts or alfalfa)

• Unpasteurized ciders or juices

• Unwashed salads

• Unwashed raw vegetables 

• Damaged fruits

• Unwashed raw fruits

• Pomegranate grapefruit, pomegranate juice or grapefruit

After an organ transplant, your doctors may also recommend you avoid herbs. Taking herbal tea or any herbs can react with medication and cause complications. 

Avoid excess weight gain after your organ transplant

Gaining weight is common after an organ transplant. Excess or unwanted weight can lead to heart disease and diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight is an essential thing after your organ transplant. You can manage your weight by the following these points: 

• Keep a healthy eating pattern

• Avoid oily and fried food

• Drink plenty of water

• Stay well-hydrated with water

• Read the food labels before eating

• Ignore your midnight cravings

• Eat lots of vegetables

• Add fruits to your diets

• Avoid the junk foods

• Avoid alcohol 

• Avoid processed food and drinks that are high in sodium, sugar and fat

• Check your weight two times a week

• Do some regular activities such as morning walk

• Do some exercises 

• Add lots of salads to your diet

• Take meal 2-3 times in a day

• Pay attention to portion size

• Join yoga classes  

• Stay away from the fad diet 

• Avoid sugary beverages

• Avoid chips and crackers 

• Create and follow the best diet plan

• Avoid white rice

• Try healthier ways of cooking (Avoid frying)

• Monitor your progress and add some new exercises to your workout plan

• Consult with dietitian and trainer 

You can consult with your dietitian or trainers to prevent excess weight gain.  

They can effectively assist you. Your trainer will offer some strengthening exercises and activities. These exercises will help you to power up your metabolism and improve your quality of life.  

Final words: 

A balanced diet can assist you to decrease or eliminate the risk of complications. It can also help to prevent the condition that can cause your organ failure. Regular exercises and activities can help to increase your strength and maintain your body weight. To stay active and healthy, you should follow a balanced diet and consult with your doctor.