Eat A Hearty Diet

 

After transplant – diet tips

Since my transplant back in 1987 I have discovered that keeping a healthy diet is the best way in which to keep your heart happy.

Some foods transplants patients should avoid are – though there are always alternatives,

Grapefruit – This is a big NO after your transplant as the fruit effects the cyclosporin levels in your blood.

As Cyclosporin also can damage the kidneys it is important to reduce foods which make the Kidneys work such as.

1.    Full cream Fresh Milk. – (Skimmed is preferred)

2.    Sweet Corn –

3.    White Bread – Whole meal brown preferred

4.Vained Cheese –(Blue stilton ect)

5.shelled Fish

6.Peanuts – salted, dry roasted

7.Roast Potato’s – Boiled are preferred – the

kidneys struggle to rid the starch in roasted potatoes and it is recommended to eat boiled as this is easier on the damaged kidneys or not.

8. Alcohol: Transplant recipients are able to intake alcohol but as this can alter the anti rejection drug levels in the blood it is at there own risk.

What Foods are Healthy?

Eating plenty of fruit – most booklets suggest five portions of fruit and vegetables, this helps reduce the risk of coronary heart disease

1.    Fruit – Vegetables – (See Above)

2.    Fish and Fish Oils – Again this helps prevent heart disease and also helps improve survival after heart Attacks.

3.    White Meats- Chicken, Pork, Turkey ect

4.    Pasta/ Rice.

5.    Water (8 glasses a day- (2-4 bottles my intake)

 

The above lists are only a guide line and of course it is the patients own choice – this has helped me due to the Cyclosporin factor with regards to Kidney function.

 

Most dietitians advice any one not just transplant patients to lower such things as Salt, fatty produce such as dairy products as this reduces the chances of high blood pressure, Heart Attacks, and conery artery disease!

The following is advised by dietitians 

Low Protein Diet

 

Protein is important for good health but, at present, your body cannot cope with large amounts of it in your diet. Excess protein is broken down into waste products which can build up in your blood and make you feel ill.

Reducing the amount of protein in your diet will make you feel better.

The important points to remember are:

Limit protein in your diet.

Many foods contain protein but the foods which contain the most are:

1. Meat

2. Fish

3. Milk

4. Eggs

5. Cheese.

You should take only very small portions of these protein foods each day, but don't cut them out all together.

Avoid Losing Weight.

This is as important as reducing your protein intake. To avoid losing weight you should: 

Take more calories from other foods.

To make up for eating less protein based foods you will need to take more non-protein foods which contain extra sugar and fat. 

Food you can eat freely....

Fruits : All types including tinned in syrup.

Vegetables:  All green, root and salad vegetables.

Starchy foods: Cornflower, arrowroot, custard powder, pudding, rice, sago, tapioca, blancmange.

                        

Fats:  Margarine, butter, vegetable oils, dripping, lard, suet,

         double cream, whipping cream.

Sugary Foods: Jam, honey, marmalade, syrup, glucose, sugar, sweets, e.g. butterscotch, boiled sweets, mints, barley sugars,fruit gums, ice lollies, chewing gum.

 

Others:  Pepper, salt, (Unless advised otherwise) mustard powder, vinegar, herbs, spices, mayonnaise, salad cream, coffee mate and compliment.

 

Drinks:  Tea, coffee, squashes, fizzy drinks (In moderation) fruit juices, oxo, bovril, and marmite can be used in small amounts to make gravy, but do not use to make drinks.

Take Care with the following:

1. Sweetcorn, lentils, broad beans, butter beans, kidney beans.

2. Evaporated and condensed milk, other tinned milk products such as tinned cream, Tip Top.

3. Tinned milk puddings such as rice or semolina.

4. Ready made custard

5. Horlicks malted milk, cocoa powder.

6. Bournvita, Ovaltine, drinking chocolate made with milk, Build up complan.

7. Chocolate, fudge, toffee, marzipan, Nuts, peanut butter.

8. Packet sauces, tinned and packet soups.

 

Watch your weight.

It is important that you do not lose weight. If you start losing weight, you will need to increase your intake of calories by eating extra sugary foods and fats. For example:

+ : Add extra sugar to drinks, cereals and puddings.

+: Spread butter or margarine to potatoes and vegetables.

+: Occasionally  fry foods in oil or butter.

+ Eat boiled sweets, pastilles or mints between meals.

 

How to eat less protein - Some Meal Ideas.

 

Ideas for Breakfast.

+: Pure fruit juice.

+: Porridge made with 1/3rd pint milk.

+: 1 slice of toast (wholemeal) with honey, jam ect.

 

+: Pure fruit juice

+: Weetabix with 1/3rd pint milk

+: Toast with plenty of butter, honey or jam.

 

+: Small glass of milk.

+: 2 slices of toast (Wholemeal) with honey or jam

 

+: Pure fruit juice

+: Boiled egg or 1 rasher of bacon

+ Toast (Wholemeal) with plenty of butter.

 

Mid morning and Mid afternoon.

+: Cup of tea or coffee or glass of cordial with 2 low protein biscuits or 2 low protein crackers with butter and jam.

 

Ideas for lunch and evening meals.

Remember to add black pepper, herbs or spices to flavour your meals instead of salt!

+: A sandwich made with 2 slices of bread (Wholemeal) and filled with:

+: 1 thin slice meat such as ham, chicken, corned beef or 

+ egg.

+ 1/4 small tin of salmon

+ 1/2 small tub of cottage cheese

+ Lettuce and tomato.

 

Evening meals

+:  A small serving of meat, fish or chicken with vegetables and 2 egg sized potatoes.

 +: Hot pot, or shepherds pie, followed by fresh or tinned fruit, or 1 brickette of ice cream.

 

+ A medium size jacket potato with baked beans. followed by small egg custard without pastry.

 

+: Cauliflower cheese using 1oz cheese and a milk substitute... followed by a small portion of fruit crumble or ice cream.

 

+: Fish in parsley sauce using 1and a half oz fish and a milk substitute for the sauce with vegetables followed by a small individual fruit pie.

 

Idea's for supper.

+ Cup of tea/coffee or glass of cordial with 2 plain bucuits or thin slice of toast (wholemeal) with butter and jam...

 

Remember to make sure that you have at least 8 cups of fluid each day (Tea, coffee ect) this will help prevent constipation and help your kidneys to work well.

 

The above advice should only be followed on consultation with a dietitian.

 

 

 

 

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