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Patients suffering from renal failure have a number of restrictions on the types of food they can eat prior to their transplant. They are therefore curious to know what their post kidney transplant diet plan is going to be like. Most patients are pleasantly surprised to know that a number of the dietary restrictions usually do not apply post surgery. Their post kidney transplant diet plan allows them to indulge in a number of foods. However, post-surgery one has to take care and follow a proper kidney transplant diet to allow proper healing after the surgery. It is advisable that after a kidney transplant a patient’s diet should include more poultry, lean meat, and low-fat dairy products. They should also increase their intake of fruits grains, and vegetables to ensure that they get adequate vitamins, minerals, and calories.

If you plan going in for kidney transplant surgery it is important for you to keep in mind that good nutrition is vital after the surgery. Your diet after the kidney transplant should include the right amount of nutrients, protein, and calories. Most patients tend to put on excessive weight after the kidney transplant surgery and care has to be taken to monitor any weight gain after the surgery. You can take the help of a dietician to design a nutritious kidney transplant diet plan. The dietician will take into consideration your blood work results, your weight, medications, and kidney function while drawing your kidney transplant nutrition plan.

An after kidney transplant diet plan, as mentioned earlier, is customized as per the patient’s personal needs. Here are a few guidelines that you can keep in mind while planning your kidney transplant diet:

• Post-surgery your body starts rebuilding bone mass that you had lost prior to the surgery. As a result of this the phosphorous levels in the body drop. It is, therefore, important that you increase your intake of phosphorous-high foods.
• Chances are that your potassium levels may increase or decrease post surgery. It is, therefore, important to control these levels by eating the foods recommended by your dietician.
• Fluid retention or high blood pressure is experienced by many people post surgery. If you face such problems make sure you incorporate foods with less salt in your diet.

While kidney transplant diet restrictions on potassium and phosphorous can generally be lifted in a couple of months, you may need to follow a low-sodium diet for an indefinite period.

After a kidney transplant, here are a few things you can do to avoid putting on weight:

• Limit your consumption of foods high in calories and fat.
• Add high-fiber foods such as whole grain breads, pasta, vegetables, and fruits to your kidney transplant diet.
• Plan an exercise routine with the help of your dietician.