A liver transplant is a complex medical procedure that involves the replacement of a diseased or non-functional liver of a patient with the healthy portion taken from a suitable donor. The procedure is recommended to patients suffering from end-stage liver disease, who are not responding well to medication or any other treatment. Liver transplant in India is performed at all the leading hospitals and is a highly invasive procedure that requires proper rehabilitative care.

The liver forms a part of the digestive system which is responsible for detoxifying various metabolites. It is also responsible for the synthesis of important proteins and biochemicals that play a vital role in our digestion and growth. The liver produces bile juice, which is responsible for breaking down the fats present in the food that we eat. If the liver stops functioning normally, it can drastically impact all these important functions, resulting in life-threatening complications. The top liver specialist in Pune suggests that a liver transplant can not only help to alleviate the risks of such complications but can also help add some quality years to the patient's life.

As the liver plays a vital role in digestion, it is very important to take care of your diet post-liver transplant. You have to be very particular about what to eat and what not to eat, as well as focus on maintaining a healthy weight avoid health issues that can have a negative impact on your liver.

In this blog, we have answered some common questions about food safety post-liver transplant, with the help of experts from the best hospital in India.

Why is food safety important for a liver transplant patient?

A liver transplant is a major procedure after which will be required to take immunosuppressive medications for the rest of your life. These medicines are very important to avoid the risks of organ rejection, however, as you start taking these, your body's natural defence system would be affected drastically. As such it is very important to focus on your diet to make up for all the lost nutrients and help you cope up with the changes and post-surgical trauma. Hence you have to focus on eating clean and cooking your food properly.

What you should eat after your liver transplant?

After you transplant you need to focus on eating healthy. It is very important to make sure that your diet is properly balanced. You don't have to starve yourself neither you have to refrain from eating your favourite food. You can always find healthy substitutes for your favourite delicacies.

• Try to eat at least four to five servings of fruits and vegetables in a day. This will not only boost your immunity but also help you to keep your weight under check
• Add lean meat, poultry and fish to your diet
• Eat food products made of whole grain such as whole grain bread, buns etc.
• Eat food product loaded with fibre as this helped improve digestion and aid the liver in carrying out its functions efficiently
• Use low-fat milk and dairy products to ensure healthy calcium levels in your body.

What you should avoid eating after a liver transplant?

While you are focusing on what to eat, it is also important to understand what you cannot eat after undergoing liver replacement. While certain food products benefit you, others can simply make your condition worse and it is very important to avoid these. These include

• Raw or undercooked seafood
• Raw or rare cooked meat and other non-vegetarian food items
• Undercooked eggs
• Foods that contain raw eggs such as dressing cream and cookie dough
• Milk and dairy products that are unpasteurized
• Legumes like Bean and alfalfa sprouts