It is important to choose healthy eating habits and lifestyle choices that promote kidney and liver health, before and after you donate.
Healthy Kidney Nutrition
Diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) are the two main causes of kidney disease. You can prevent both if you keep a healthy weight, stay physically active, and eat a diet low in salt and sugar. In addition, avoid protein supplements and fad diets high in protein. For kidney donors, we recommend trying to achieve 0.35-0.45 grams of protein per pound of your body weight per day. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs, you should aim to achieve 52-68 gm of protein per day.
Healthy Liver Nutrition
Avoid overeating to protect liver health. Keep your cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the normal range, before and after you donate. Always avoid alcohol misuse. You should abstain from alcohol for the first 6 months after liver donation. Afterwards, limit yourself to no more than 1 drink for women or 2 drinks for men per day.
Keep Yourself Healthy Before and After Donating
Eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
Eat a diet low in salt
Reduce saturated and trans fats found in high fat beef, pork, poultry skin, butter, full-fat dairy, palm and coconut oils.
Eat foods rich in healthy fats (salmon, walnuts, avocado, olive oil, safflower oil, chia and flax seeds).
Be physically active at least 150 minutes a week
Keep a healthy body weight
Avoid fad diets and supplements high in protein
Avoid all tobacco and tobacco-like products including vaping
Limit alcohol
Avoid using drugs.
Build a Healthy Plate
Choose high fiber foods. Fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, and whole grains are high in fiber.
lnclude a lean protein. Low-fat meat, chicken, fish, low-fat cheeses, nuts, peanut butter, and eggs are good sources of protein.
Eat smaller portions of carbohydrates. Starches, fruit, milk, yogurt, and sweets can raise blood sugar and should be eaten in smaller portions.
Supplements
Over-the-counter supplements are not FDA regulated, and as such, we recommend avoiding them unless directed by your healthcare provider. Supplements may contain dangerous additives and may be toxic to your kidney or liver.
Remember
High cholesterol alone will not prevent you from donating an organ; however, you still should treat it through diet, physical activity and medicine as needed.
To avoid heart disease, make sure you keep normal cholesterol levels before and after you donate.
Who to Call
If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, please contact UW Health at the phone number listed below. You can also visit our website at www.uwhealth.org/nutrition
Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children's Hospital (AFCH) can be reached at: (608) 890-5500.