Diet after Kidney Surgery

A healthy diet after a successful kidney surgery should incorporate healthy foods with all vital nutrient groups, including proteins, carbohydrates, fiber, and healthy fats. Only a few foods are off the limits after kidney surgery, but avoiding them is really important as they can hurt your kidney function and put you are a risk of further complications.

After kidney surgery, your body will start to restore bone mass lost during the surgery and as a result, your bones might be needing more phosphorus to make your bones strong. Dietary restrictions mostly depend on your healing progress as you might get restrictions for short or long-term. If the after surgery condition is comparatively well, you will have few dietary restrictions, on the other hand, if your after kidney surgery condition is not well, your dietary recommendations are going to resemble those for chronic kidney diseases.

To manage the loss of appetite and other complications it is recommended to consume liquid foods, such as protein shakes, juices, and small meals rather than having large meals daily. To alleviate constipation you need to drink plenty of liquid infused with fiber. The best diet for kidney disease should contain:

1. Stay hydrated

The major key that leads to having a successful recovery is to stay hydrated as it is quite important to drink plenty of water (approximately 68 ounces a day). Limiting your caffeine intake can also turn out to be a great idea when taking care of yourself after a kidney surgery as it is diuretic and heavily contributes to dehydration.

2. Don’t eat raw or undercooked foods

With the fresh surgery and weak immune system, eating raw and undercooked food can put you at high risk if having intestinal infection/ illness. Foods such as undercooked meat and undercooked eggs are a must to avoid when recovering from kidney surgery.

3. Focus on protein

A well-balanced diet of post-surgery to recovery focuses on protein, as it is an essential component that helps in building muscles and recovering your lost weight. Your recommended doctor or dietitian can help you with the amount of protein you need in a day with a fully designed customized diet plan for you.

4. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice

Grapefruit causes a strong reaction in your body, so it is recommended to avoid in-taking such fruits that can cause a strong reaction and sabotage your recovery process.

5. Don’t take over-the-counter drugs (OTC)

There are quite common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as, ibuprofen and naproxen that can cause kidney dysfunction upon their intake.

6. Avoid certain vitamins and herbal supplements

Before opting for any vitamin or protein supplement, it is recommended to consult your doctor or surgeon to avoid any future risk.  Many herbal teas and supplements interact with medication given to recover from your surgery, making the recovering process slow or worse. Check with your doctor about any restrictions on your diet or regarding OTC drugs for your specific case.

Working with a dietitian and having a check on your dietary intake can help ensure that your nutrient and calorie needs are being full filled on a daily basis and you are recovering properly. Therefore, it is essential for to have regular checkups from your doctor or nutritionist. Book yourself an appointment with a registered doctor, through the list available at Healthsoul.