Transplant Institute
The Transplant Institute, part of the Department of Surgery, offers nationally recognized patient care, research programs, and education and training opportunities.
Nutrition Guidelines After Transplant
Contact Us
Be Smart with Your Post-Transplant Nutrition
Good nutrition and food safety are important after your transplant for recovery. Transplant immunosuppression medications are important, however they weaken your immune system. When you’re immunosuppressed, foodborne illness can be especially dangerous. Therefore, you will need to choose foods with food safety in mind. In addition, your medications can interfere with certain foods which need to be avoided. Other nutrition considerations post-transplant include electrolyte management, adequate nutrition for recovery, and blood sugar control.
More About Nutrition, Food & Water Safety After Transplant
Food Safety Following Transplant
Follow these steps lifelong to minimize risk of foodborne illness:
- Clean all fruits and vegetables well prior to eating
- Cook all animal products thoroughly and avoid raw or undercooked animal products like, raw sushi or undercooked eggs (refer to your transplant binder for recommended temperature ranges)
- Heat deli meats and hot dogs each time they are eaten to prevent Listeria infection
- Choose only pasteurized dairy products (milk, yogurt, cheeses)
- Well water should be avoided; if your home is on well water, you should drink bottled water and use this for brushing teeth, rinsing fresh produce, and making ice.See further information on well water safety below.
Medication Interference
- Avoid grapefruit and starfruit as well as any food or beverage products with flavoring from these fruits
Nutrition Considerations for Electrolyte Balance
- It is common for potassium level to be elevated throughout the immediate post-op period
- It is recommended that patients limit the following foods high in potassium for the first several weeks post-transplant:
- Bananas
- Oranges, orange juice
- Avocados
- Tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato juice
- Potatoes including all potato products
- Other potassium rich foods, including dairy products and nuts and nut butters, are high in potassium but offer more protein and calories and therefore do not need to be avoided
Your transplant dietitian and post-transplant coordinator will work with you to manage the low potassium diet as it relates to your lab work.
You may also need to limit or increase your phosphorous and magnesium intake; your transplant dietitian and coordinator help you address these needs.
Nutrition for Optimizing Your Recovery
Your appetite and what you eat or drink may change following transplant. If eating becomes more challenging, you may benefit from eating smaller meals more frequently.
You may also benefit from an oral nutrition supplement should weight decrease or oral intake be inadequate.
Speak with your transplant dietitian for selecting the best product for you.
Well Water Safety
If you have well water at home, you will need to follow these guidelines:
- Bring the water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes and store in the fridge for use for up to 3 days.
- Use bottled water for drinking and the everyday tasks listed below.
Be aware of hidden well water sources for:
- Brushing your teeth
- Making beverages of any kind
- Making ice
- Washing fruits and vegetables
Despite filtration systems and diligent homeowner care, private home maintenance is not federally regulated. Well water can easily become contaminated from the environment. Municipal water (from your city or town) is monitored continuously making it much safer.
