When you have a kidney transplant, the handling of food and food safety become important issues. That is because a kidney transplant recipient often needs to take immunosuppressive medicines to prevent any problems with rejection.
Why Food Must Be Handled with Care
When the immune system is functioning properly, it often tries to destroy or reject a new organ, much like it does when it is trying to clear an infection. Therefore, the use of certain medications keeps this from happening. However, one of the side effects of these drugs is an increased tendency to develop infections. Some of these infections can be caused by pathogens and bacteria that are triggered by food-borne illnesses.
That is why you need to learn about kidney transplant food safety issues, as any foodborne illness can negatively impact your health. As a transplant patient then, you need to make safe food handling an ongoing practice. Also, as you get older, your susceptibility to an infection is increased.
Always Buy Pasteurized Eggs
When you learn about kidney transplant food safety, you will find out more about the correct way to prepare foods in order to reduce the risks associated with infection. For instance, when you consume eggs, you need to always make sure that you are using pasteurized eggs.
Why Types of Cheese to Choose
Also, it is important to wash vegetables as well as cook them. Sprouts should be eaten cooked as well. Hard and processed cheeses are also lower-risk foods than soft cheeses that are made from raw milk. Soft cheeses include brie, camembert, feta, and queso fresco.
To make sure you play it safe, you should also wash your hands and counters when preparing food. For example, hands should be washed in warm, soapy water for a minimum of 20 seconds – both before and after handling food. In addition, you should wash your hands in this manner if you change a diaper, go to the restroom, or pet a dog or cat. Follow us on Twitter.
