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A TO Z HEALTH GUIDE
Foods to Avoid After Transplantation
Will I have to watch my diet after a transplant?
Yes, your diet still plays a big role after a kidney transplant. It is important to keep a healthy weight and exercise regularly. A healthy, balanced diet will help prevent high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess weight gain and promote overall wellness and health.
After a kidney transplant, plan to follow a diet low in salt and high in fiber. A balanced diet includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, reduced-fat dairy products, whole grains, and plenty of water.
Additionally, you may need to avoid eating certain types of foods. Your healthcare team can help you understand which foods you should avoid – and why. The dietitian at your transplant center can help you find a diet that is right for you.
Why do I need to avoid certain foods?
After your kidney transplant, you will need to take special medicines, called “immunosuppressive drugs” or “anti-rejection medicines.” These medicines help lower the chances of your new kidney being rejected by your body. However, these medicines also weaken your body’s ability to fight infection. Taking these medicines increases your risk for getting sick from germs, such as bacteria.
Some germs cause bacterial infections. Some bacterial infections can be picked up from food. You can help lower your chances of infection from food by:
Handling foods safely, like washing your hands often, especially after touching raw chicken or eggs.
Being careful when eating out.
Avoiding certain ‘high-risk’ foods because they are more likely to have bacteria that can cause an infection.
You may also need to take steroids, which can cause increased:
Appetite, causing unwanted weight gain
Increased blood fat levels (cholesterol & triglycerides)
Increased blood sugar levels
Salt and fluid retention (too much fluid in the body)
It can also cause a breakdown in muscle and bone tissue
Due to unwanted weight gain, it’s important to make healthy food choices and stick to appropriate portion sizes. It may be good to avoid fatty foods and foods high in simple sugar. Check with your doctor before exercise. Most often, you may need to exercise 3-4 times a week for 20-30 minutes each time.
What are some of the ‘high-risk’ foods to avoid?
It is recommended to avoid foods that are spoiled, moldy or past its “use by” date, as well as avoid the foods listed below. If you have any questions, talk to your healthcare team.
Meat, fish and poultry
Raw or undercooked:
Meat, poultry and fish
Prawns or shrimp
Crayfish
Crab
Squid
Clams, oysters, and mussels
Sushi
Dairy products
Unpasteurized milk, cheese or yogurt
Uncooked or undercooked eggs and any products containing them
Fruits and vegetables
Grapefruit or grapefruit juice and pomegranate or pomegranate juice; especially if you are taking cyclosporine or prograf (specific immunosuppressive medicines)
Unwashed raw fruits and damaged fruits
Unwashed raw vegetables and unwashed salads
Unpasteurized juices or ciders
Salad from salad bars or delicatessens
Sprouts (like alfalfa or bean sprouts)
If you have questions or need more information about a healthy eating plan after your kidney transplant, ask your transplant team to refer you to a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Acknowledgment: Reviewed by the Council on Renal Nutrition (04/2019)
Date Reviewed:
April 17, 2019
The information shared on our websites is information developed solely from internal experts on the subject matter, including medical advisory boards, who have developed guidelines for our patient content. This material does not constitute medical advice. It is intended for informational purposes only. No one associated with the National Kidney Foundation will answer medical questions via e-mail. Please consult a physician for specific treatment recommendations.
Read related articles
Antibodies and Transplantation: Everything You Wanted to Know and More
BK Virus: What Transplant Patients Need to Know
Blood Tests for Transplant
Care After Kidney Transplant
Common Organ Donation and Transplantation Terms
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The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is the largest, most comprehensive and longstanding organization dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease.
The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance Charity Seal provides the giving public with an easily recognizable symbol which certifies that the National Kidney Foundation meets the comprehensive standards of America's most experienced charity evaluator.