A sophisticated medical procedure referred to as a liver transplant involves replacing a patient’s diseased or non-functioning liver with a healthy piece obtained from a suitable donor. Patients with end-stage liver disease who are not improving with medication or other treatments are advised to have the procedure.
The liver is a part of the digestive system and is responsible for detoxifying different metabolites. Additionally, it is in charge of producing essential proteins and biochemicals that are essential for our growth and digestion. Bile juice, which is produced by the liver, is what breaks down the fats in the food we eat. All these critical processes can be severely impacted if the liver’s regular functioning fails, ultimately creating a life-threatening risk. The best liver specialist in Nashik recommends that a liver transplant can not only reduce the risk of these issues but can also enhance the patient’s life.
It is crucial to managing your diet after a liver transplant because the liver is important to digest food. It’s important to pay close attention to what should you eat and avoid, maintaining a healthy weight, and steer clear of any conditions that could harm your liver.
With the assistance of experts from the top gastroenterologist in Nashik, we have provided answers to some frequently asked issues about food safety following a liver transplant in this blog.
Why is food safety important for a liver transplant patient?
After a significant procedure like a liver transplant, you’ll need to take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of your life. The risks of organ rejection can be avoided by taking these medications, but your body’s natural defences will be severely weakened when you start taking them. As a result, it is important to concentrate on your diet to replace all the nutrients you have lost and to help you as you adjust to the changes and deal with any post-surgical damage. As a result, you must concentrate on consuming healthy food and preparing it correctly.
You may need to modify your diet after a liver transplant to maintain the health and function of your liver and to avoid gaining too much weight. Maintaining a healthy weight will help you avoid issues including infections, high blood pressure, and others. You may consult with your nutritionist (dietitian) and other members of your care team to develop a healthy eating plan that suits your needs and enhances your way of life.
What you should eat after your liver transplant?
After the transplant, you should concentrate on eating well. Making sure that your diet is properly balanced is important. You don’t have to restrict yourself from food, nor do you have to stop enjoying your favourites. Your favourite treats can always be replaced with healthy alternatives.
Eat four to five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Lean meat, poultry, and fish should be a part of your diet to help you maintain a healthy weight in addition to boosting your immunity.
Consume whole grain foods such as bread, buns, and other baked goods.
Consume foods high in fibre to aid in better digestion and the efficient performance of the liver’s activities.
To ensure that your body has healthy calcium levels, consume low-fat milk and dairy products.
What you should avoid eating after a liver transplant?
It’s important to understand what you can’t eat after having a liver transplant while you’re concentrating on what to consume. While some food items can help you, others could actually exacerbate your disease, so it’s crucial to stay away from them. These consist of:
- Seafood that is undercooked or raw
- Meat and other non-vegetarian food items, whether raw or rarely cooked
- Undercooked eggs
- Foods like cookies batter and salad cream that contains raw eggs
- Unpasteurized dairy products and milk
- Legumes like alfalfa sprouts and beans
Liver Transplant Patients are Vulnerable to Food-borne Illness
Having a chronic illness of some kind, such as cancer, kidney failure, chronic liver disease, diabetes, or AIDS, is common among patients with impaired immune systems. Because their immune systems are deliberately lowered to prevent donor organ rejection, liver transplant patients are also in danger.
Can risks be controlled?
Yes. People who are at risk can help protect themselves whether they eat at home or out by following simple food safety rules.
How can I protect myself when I dine out?
Never consume raw animal products like fish, beef (steak tartar), or seafood when dining out. This is the most important rule to follow. For example, eating raw oysters can have significant consequences. A number of dangerous organisms, including the extremely deadly Vibrio vulnificus bacterium, can be found in raw oysters. The death rate from ingesting this bacterium can be as high as 50% for those with liver diseases.
Avoid consuming uncooked animal products. This eliminates undercooked hamburgers and rare roast beef. Avoid dishes like Caesar salad, Hollandaise sauce, certain custards, and chocolate mousse that include raw or undercooked eggs. Avoid eating soft cheeses, and throw away any mouldy food.
Your food should be properly prepared and served to you hot, not lukewarm. Foods are kept safe by being properly cooked and by not allowing them to remain out at room temperature for more than two hours.
How can I protect myself at home?
Cross-contamination is one of the major factors contributing to food-borne infections at home, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When raw meat, poultry, or fish fluids or blood come into touch with other foods via cutting boards, utensils, plates, counters, or hands, this is referred to as cross-contamination.
When you chop up raw chicken on your cutting board, arrange it on a plate, spread it out in a dish, and then bake it, you increase the risk of multiple foodborne illnesses:
- The cutting board
- The knife
- The plate
- The bowl
- The counter
- Your hands
- All need to be thoroughly washed with hot, soapy water.
If you have more questions about food safety, consult a Liver specialist in Nashik
Dr. Sharad Deshmukh is a well-known and experienced Gastroenterologist in Nashik, Dr. Deshmukh has had vast experience in all areas of his field, having performed over 10,000 diagnostic and therapeutic upper GI endoscopies, and over 5,000 diagnostic/therapeutic colonoscopies and sigmoidoscopies..