Diet and Exercise
posted by: garylws

If you were ill for a long time prior to your transplant you have probably lost a lot of weight. Therefore eating properly is an important part of your recovery process, and a healthy and balanced diet will help get you back on your feet again.

Your diet should include:
 •  Fruits
 •  Vegetables
 •  Whole-grain cereals and breads
 •  Low-fat milk and dairy products or other sources of calcium
 •  Lean meats, fish, poultry, or other sources of protein

Further recommendations:
 •  Weigh yourself every day
 •  Avoid sugary snacks such as cakes and biscuits between meals. If you feel
    hungry, eat some fruit or vegetables (low in calories).
 •  Try to drink about 2 liters of fluid every day. This is good for your kidney
    and help remove waste products from your body. Bottled mineral water,
    herbal teas, pasteurized low-fat milk, and fruit juices are good.
 •  Always wash and peel fresh fruit
 •  Vegetables grown in soil, eg potatoes, should always be peeled and cooked
    in boiling water. Cooking vegetables in a pressure cooker is a good way of
    saving the vitamin content.
 •  Do not eat cheese made from unpasteurized milk and avoid cheeses with
    mould.
 •  Only buy small amounts of dairy products at one time so that you can eat
    them while they are still fresh

Salt (Sodium):
While on steroids, try to restrict your salt intake by:
 •  Using salt sparingly when cooking
 •  Trying not to add salt to cooked food or salad
 •  Avoiding salty foods, eg potato crisps, pickles and tinned food

It's important to have a daily exercise routine to build up muscles weakened by a long illness. You should slowly increase your levels of exercise. Cycling, swimming, and walking are useful ways to increase your stamina and overall muscle tone. If all is going well, you can resume other sports about three months after the operation.

Before starting on any exercise program, remember to check with your transplant team.

Source: Liver Transplant|India