After receiving a kidney transplant, your diet will play a big role in managing your new kidney. Karen Greathouse, a kidney transplant dietitian, explains more in this episode of the National Kidney Foundation’s Hot Topics in Kidney Health podcast.* 

https://hottopicsinkidneyhealth.podbean.com/e/should-you-follow-a-special-diet-after-transplant/

What should you expect after the transplant? 

If you’ve been following a restrictive diet with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have, you have likely looked forward to a more liberal diet for a long time. Greathouse says that, for these people, dietary parameters will expand significantly after a transplant. The new diet guidelines will depend on your other health conditions, as well as your reactions to transplant drugs. 

“Diets, medications, and other health conditions (like diabetes or high blood pressure) are all factors in a diet,” says Greathouse. “A lot will be individualized based on your lab values and healthcare needs.”

What are some general nutrition recommendations after the transplant? 

Working with your kidney transplant dietitian is key for a custom approach to fit your needs and lifestyle. There are some general guidelines recommended to most transplant patients, however. These include:

• Using USDA’s MyPlate guidelines to help eat more whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
• Choosing reduced-fat dairy products and lean meats to help reduce intake of saturated and trans fats
• Allowing for some “unhealthy foods” like sweets and salty snacks, in moderation, to help prevent a cycle of restricting and binging 
• Exercising regularly and setting realistic goals for physical activity.

Consult your healthcare professional before starting or increasing your workout regimen. 

Should I avoid any foods? 

After a kidney transplant, you may be prescribed immunosuppressant medications to ensure that your new kidney is not rejected by your body. While these drugs are critical for your health, they may come with side effects such as low or high blood levels of certain nutrients like magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and/or calcium. If any of these arise, you may be instructed to take a supplement, or reduce your intake of foods containing these nutrients. 

Immunosuppressant medications may also weaken your immune system and interact with certain foods, which may cause you to need to limit or avoid those foods. These could include: 

• Grapefruit and grapefruit juice
• Pomegranates or pomegranate juice
• Some herbal teas
• Foods at risk of developing bacteria, including: 
  • Raw or undercooked meat, fish, poultry, and eggs
  • Unpasteurized milk, cheese, or yogurt
  • Unwashed or damaged fruits and vegetables

There can be a lot of nutritional factors to navigate after a kidney transplant. Your transplant center will have a registered dietitian available to you to help you. For more support, you can also join the National Kidney Foundation’s After Transplant, a self-paced program that provides health tips for life after a transplant. 

*Should I Follow a Special Diet After a Kidney Transplant? (2022, November 3). National Kidney Foundation. https://www.kidney.org/newsletter/should-i-follow-special-diet-after-kidney-transplant