Patient's Guide to Heart Transplant Surgery

Other Dietary Restrictions

Caffeine restriction

Use of caffeine containing products like coffee, tea, chocolate, and dark sodas may be limited.

High soluble fiber intake

Foods high in soluble fiber help to lower the level of cholesterol in your blood. Thus, the dietician will encourage you to increase the amount of fiber you eat.

Foods high in soluble fiber include: brain, oats, pectin, beans and barley.

Alcohol restriction

You should not drink any alcohol after transplant. Alcohol can increase the level of Triglycerides (fats) in your blood, and alcohol can reduce liver function. As you know, the increase of Triglycerides puts you at risk for coronary artery disease.

You may not know, however, that cyclosporine is broken down in the liver. This means that good liver function is essential for cyclosporine to work properly. Impairment of the liver by alcohol will block the liver's ability to process your cyclosporine. This will put you at risk for rejection or your transplanted organ.

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