If you're about to have a kidney transplant, you're not alone: Kidney transplants represent one of the most common transplant operations performed in the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine. Before your transplant, you've probably been on kidney dialysis. You've also most likely been following a very restricted diet, which likely means that after your transplant, you won't have as many dietary restrictions.
Causes
Your kidneys work hard to clean waste products, including urea, from your blood. People need kidney transplants because both of their kidneys have stopped working, a condition known as kidney failure, according to the National Library of Medicine. Kidney failure results from a number of conditions, but top causes include high blood pressure and diabetes.
Function
As your kidneys were failing, your physician most likely placed you on a diet that severely restricted the amount of protein you could eat, according to the Medical College of Wisconsin. That's because your kidneys, which help to digest protein, couldn't handle large amounts of it. But after the kidney transplant, you'll need to boost your protein intake because protein provides the nutrition your body needs to heal.
Instructions
After your transplant surgery, you should eat a variety of foods rich in protein, including fish, poultry and lean meats, low-fat milk and cheese products, eggs and egg substitutes, legumes and nuts, and soy foods such as tofu, according to the University of California-Davis Medical Center. These foods will help you fight off any post-surgical infections and also provide the building blocks your body needs to heal.
Considerations
Following your kidney transplant, you may be taking medications that can increase the level of potassium in your blood, according to Columbia University Medical Center. Because of this, you'll need to cut back on potassium-containing foods in your diet. Watch out for dried fruits such as apricots, bananas, avocados, leafy greens, nuts and dairy products. Your physician and your nutritionist can help you determine how much potassium you can eat.
Warning
Long-term, many kidney transplant patients gain weight, in large part because of the steroid medications they need to take to prevent their bodies from rejecting their new kidney, according to Columbia University Medical Center. To avoid this problem, you should try to eat a "heart-healthy" diet that steers clear of high-fat foods and emphasizes whole grains, vegetables and fruit. This diet also will increase the fiber you consume, which can help your cholesterol level.
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