Your body's own defense system defends itself against everything that is classified as "foreign", including a new organ. Drugs that can suppress these typical defense reactions are known as immunosuppressants. Without these drugs, your transplanted organ would be attacked and destroyed by certain body cells The medication must be taken permanently and regularly.

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Why is nutritional therapy important?

Nutritional therapy strengthens your immune system  and ensures that you are adequately supplied with all nutrients. You have to do without grapefruit (and by-products such as grapefruit juice etc.), as the substances contained would inhibit the breakdown system of the immunosuppressive drugs in the intestinal wall. In the first six months, due to the stronger immunosuppression, the susceptibility to infection is increased, which is why it is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of all nutrients as well as a strict low-germ diet (and hygienic measures for this). In the consultation, I will explain in detail how this low-germ system is designed.

Nutritional therapy strengthens your immune system through an anti-inflammatory diet. You will find out which foods naturally have antifungal (against fungi), antibacterial (against bacteria), antiviral (against viruses) and antioxidant and immune-boosting properties - that is, they are almost natural antibiotics. The aim is to provide you with a wholesome, anti-inflammatory diet that contains all of the fatty acids, micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that are important to you, energy and protein (the amount of protein is adapted to your individual needs) as well as secondary phytonutrients so that your body is optimally supplied . For this purpose, foods that promote inflammation are specifically avoided and plenty of anti-inflammatory foods are consumed. Weight reduction is recommended if you are overweight / obese. An anti-inflammatory diet can improve the state of health.

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In the early phase after the transplant, your calorie requirement is increased, as is the requirement for protein. You should drink at least 2 liters per day.

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Increased risk of insulin resistance & diabetes mellitus:

Tacrolimus (an immunosuppressive drug) reduces the release of insulin and, like cortisone, makes insulin more "ineffective".

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Increased risk of a lipid metabolism disorder:

Increased blood fats (lipids) also damage the vessels, lead to fatty liver and are also directly damaging to kidney transplants. If the vascular-aggressive LDL cholesterol is increased, a so-called lipid-lowering drug should be taken in the evening before going to bed. This would be discussed with you if necessary.

Increased tumor risk:

Through the  Taking immunosuppressive drugs increases the risk of tumors (especially of the skin, lymphomas and cervical cancer)

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There is an increased need for antioxidants, and supplementation may help. However, the amount of the respective antioxidants must be taken into account, because overdosing some vitamins have an immunosuppressive effect.

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I recommend a strict abstinence from alcohol and nicotine.

Vaccinations should be given before a transplant if possible. In the first year after the transplant it is advisable to avoid vaccinations, afterwards vaccinations with dead vaccines (no live vaccines) are also possible for transplanted people, after consultation with your doctor.

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Patient protocol:

In the first year after an organ transplant, you should keep a log of your body weight (in the morning after getting up), your body temperature, daily, but also after this first year at least 1-2 times a week,  Your blood pressure and pulse (in the morning and during the day), the amount you drink and the measured urine output, peculiarities such as nausea, diarrhea, malaise, cough, etc.

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Classification of your weight - definition and classification of weight in relation to height.

Special percentile curves apply to children and adolescents; the BMI cannot simply be used here.

BMI and interpretation: BMI: body mass index. Formula: Body weight in kg : (body height in m) 2

Underweight: <18.5

Normal weight: 18.5 - 24.9

Overweight = pre-obesity: 25-29.9

Obesity grade I: 30 - 34.9

Obesity grade II: 35-39.9

Obesity grade III:> 40 = per magna

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Nutritional therapy

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• Anti-inflammatory, low-germ diet as a basis, individually tailored to you

• Energy and protein adapted diet, calculation of individual needs

• Hygienic measures when preparing food and be careful with certain foods that would put additional strain on your immune system

• Holistic therapy - do you have any comorbidities that need to be taken into account during the consultation?

• Overall fat selection, how should it be designed

• How many animal foods (e.g. meat products, milk and dairy products, cheese, fish products, eggs) are recommended?

• What do I have to look out for when choosing animal foods?

• How can I counteract inflammatory processes through diet?

• Avoid micronutrient deficiencies and mineral deficiencies & possibly counteract them with nutrient preparations

• Prevent protein deficiency

• Which nutrients do I need in which ratio?

• Get enough fiber (> 30 g / day) through natural foods, possibly fiber substitution

• Sufficient fluid: total fluid per day: 30 - 35 ml per kg body weight and day. Attention, this is not just a drinking liquid. The liquid from food (approx. 500 - 800 ml) must still be subtracted from this so that a quantity of> 2 l drinking liquid is created.

• add valuable anti-carcinogenic (anti-cancer) secondary plant substances

• A selection of foods tailored to your needs with cooking and technical information (for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner)

• Do you like to eat your warm meal in the evening? I am happy to cater to your individual situation and we will create a plan on how you can implement your wholesome diet into your everyday life.

• which oils are good for me? What should I watch out for in relation to the anti-inflammatory diet?

• How much fat spread (butter / margarine / vegetable fat) can I use and which products are recommended?

• Get enough Omgea-3 fatty acids and essential fatty acids

• How can I boost and support my metabolism with natural foods?

• Coordinate sensible meal frequency for your individual case - meal allocation

• Define the desired weight stabilization / normalization & the estimated period for this

• what should be considered with beverages and alcoholic beverages?

• How does exercise affect your body and thus also your diet?

• Avoid blood sugar fluctuations

• Sweetening foods - sweeteners, glucose, fructose, sugar and sugar substitutes, what can I use and in what quantities? How high is the respective sweetness of the different products?

• what should be considered when baking and cooking?

• what are cheap snacks / main meals

• Eating out - what should you watch out for?

• Vacation, boat trip or hospital stay, what should be considered?

• Flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, pain related to eating, what can I do about it?

• Daily plans as an example for practical implementation in everyday life

• Enjoyment training

• Optimizing your eating situation

• long-term maintenance of a jointly defined weight

• Strengthen the stomach and intestines with natural foods

• Additional therapy options

• Dietetic products in support of nutritional therapy

• Food supplements - under certain circumstances, a supplement can be useful

• and other topics

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Any questions? I look forward to your call or email. To contact form

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Assistance:

• KISS self-help groups

• Self-help network

• German Foundation for Organ Transplantation

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