What diet should you follow after a liver transplant surgery?

Individuals must protect themselves after undergoing a liver transplant by following an essential way to make safe food choices for themselves. Mentioned below are some of the essential things which people should add to their diet after a liver transplant. 

1. Eat plenty of vegetables

2. Eat lean meat

3. Drink plenty of water

4. Intake of Calcium

5. Consume Healthy Fats

6. Add fibre

7. Eat Protein-enriched Food

8. Add Vitamin D To the Diet

9. Limit sugar consumption

10. Avoid alcohol

11. Avoid pomegranates and grapefruits

A liver transplant is a complex medical procedure. It involves the replacement of a diseased, damaged or non-functional liver of a patient with a healthy portion taken from a living or deceased donor. A liver transplant is recommended for an individual suffering from the end-stage liver disease, which is not responding well to medication or any other treatment. As transplantation is a highly invasive procedure, it requires proper rehabilitative care so that people can have a good life after liver transplant. 

Why is a liver transplant essential?

The liver forms a part of the digestive system, which helps in various detoxifying metabolites. It is one of the largest organs of the human body and is responsible for synthesising important proteins and biochemicals that play a vital role in digestion and growth. In addition, the liver produces bile juice, which helps break down the fats present in an individual's food. If the liver stops functioning normally, it can drastically affect all these essential functions, resulting in life-threatening complications. Therefore, healthcare providers recommend people undergo a liver transplant in similar situations. 

The top liver specialist in India, Dr Vivek Vij, suggests that a liver transplant can not only help to alleviate the risks of such complications, however can also help add some quality years to the patient's life after liver transplant. As the liver plays a vital role in digestion, it is essential to take proper care of the diet post-liver transplant. Therefore, an individual has to be very particular about what to eat and what not to eat, as well as focus on maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding health issues that can have a negative impact on their liver.

Individuals must protect themselves after undergoing a liver transplant by following an essential way to make safe food choices. The medications provided by the healthcare professionals after a transplant suppress the patient's immune system to prevent their bodies from rejecting the new organ. However, suppressing the immune system also increases the risk of infection. 

What diet should people follow to have a good life after liver transplant?

Usually, when an individual undergoes a liver transplant, they experience weakened immune systems. Thus, they need to protect themselves from all types of infections. Mentioned below are some of the essential things which people should add to their diet after a liver transplant. 

1. Eat plenty of vegetables

Vegetables are essential during the recovery process after a liver transplant surgery. Consuming a good amount of vegetables in a diet gives the body the necessary nutrition it needs and also acts as a great source of fibre.

2. Eat lean meat

Lean meats such as poultry, fish, and more act as rich sources of proteins. This helps the body speed up the recovery process. Other protein forms involve soy, eggs, legumes, nuts, and so on. However, fatty meats are difficult to digest and can put a strain on the liver. Therefore, people should avoid it so that they can have a healthy life after liver transplant.

3. Drink plenty of water

Water keeps the human body hydrated. It is important to keep the body hydrated when people are recovering from such a major transplantation surgery. Drinking water also helps in enhancing blood circulation, and toxins can easily be filtered from the body. An individual must drink 8 to 10 glasses of water in a day. 

4. Intake of Calcium

When people are in their recovery stage, healthcare providers prescribe prednisone. Prednisone is a medication for patients with liver transplants. By taking this medicine, the bones become weak, and people are at great risk of having fractures and osteoporosis. 

Dr Vivek Vij recommends the patients to intake calcium-enriched sources so that they can have strong bones. Some good sources of calcium are whey protein, leafy vegetables, and more. Nuts such as almonds and seeds are also the hubs of calcium. 

5. Consume Healthy Fats

An increment of bad cholesterol in the body can cause additional health-related issues and also lowers the speed of recovery from the liver transplant. However, healthy fats can add to an individual's health benefits. Fish contains a good amount of omega 3 fatty acids, which is quite a great element for health benefits. Vegetable oils and nuts can also provide an enriched source of healthy fats.

6. Add fibre

Fibre provides multiple benefits to people. It especially helps in maintaining a healthy weight. Some rich fibre contents are fresh vegetables and fruits. An individual should also intake the whole former foods for proper fibre nourishment so that they can lead a healthy life after liver transplant. Some whole grain wheat products are also highly enriched in fibre content, such as cereals, pasta, and so on.

7. Eat Protein-enriched Food

Dr Vivek Vij recommends liver transplant patients to form one-fourth of their diet with protein. It is essential to have a healthy life after liver transplant; thus, people should have a protein-enriched diet for at least two months after it. Individuals need protein in their plates and drink for long-term health benefits. 

Non-vegetarians can add fish, chicken, lean meat, eggs, and more, as it also satisfies their diet. Vegetarians do not need to worry as legumes, lentils, and dairy products are good sources of protein, and soy milk can work for vegans. Besides these elements, nuts and seeds are a source of protein too. An essential tip for dealing with weight gain is that people can intake low-fat dairy products.

8. Add Vitamin D To the Diet

The consumption of prednisone also makes the patient vulnerable to bone loss which can be dealt with by adding Vitamin D to the diet. Dairy products and fresh orange juice can provide the nourishment of Vitamin D. The fatty fish also are a good source.

9. Limit sugar consumption

One of the side effects of medication prescribed after a liver transplant involves high blood sugar. People should limit their consumption of sweets and sugars to avoid high blood sugar. They must avoid cakes, jams, jellies, packaged juices, chocolate, and so on.

10. Avoid alcohol

An individual shouldn't drink any alcoholic drinks after undergoing a liver transplant. In addition to not drinking any kind of alcohol, patients should also abstain from any food cooked with wine or alcohol.

11. Avoid pomegranates and grapefruits

One of the best things to eat while recovering from liver transplantation is fruits. However, certain fruits, such as grapefruits and pomegranates, must be avoided by people. This is because they can affect the immunosuppressive medications prescribed so that the body won't reject the donor's liver.

What should you avoid eating after a liver transplant?

While an individual is focusing on what to eat, it is also essential to understand what they should not eat after undergoing liver replacement. While certain food products benefit them, others can simply worsen their condition, and it is very important to avoid these. Mentioned below are some of the edibles people should avoid after a liver transplant.

1. Raw or undercooked seafood.

2. Raw or rare cooked meat and other non-vegetarian food items.

3. Undercooked eggs.

4. Foods that contain raw eggs, such as dressing cream and cookie dough.

5. Milk and dairy products that are unpasteurised.

6. Legumes like bean and alfalfa sprouts.

The bottom line

The liver performs multiple complex functions that no medical or mechanical substitute can replace. Liver disease has many causes. Some can be cured easily, and some cannot even be noticed until the damage has been done. Liver transplant surgery offers hope to many people suffering from liver diseases. Before consuming any type of food or supplements, it is essential to consult with Dr. Vivek Vij about the diet that needs to be followed. 

A proper diet and aftercare can do wonders in recovering from the surgical procedure. People suffering from any liver-related issues must visit and consult the healthcare professionals at the Advanced Institute of Liver and Biliary Science (AILBS). They can help people to achieve a good and healthy life after liver transplant. Explore the website to know more.