Table of contents:
- Guide to undergoing a liver disease diet
- 1. Eat foods high in carbohydrates
- 2. Get enough protein
- 3. Fat may, as long as sufficient
- 4. Eat fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants
- 5. Avoid salt
- 6. Stop alcohol
- 7. Pay attention to other nutritional intake
Healthy eating and a balanced diet to maintain a strong body and a healthy weight are important foundations for people with liver disease. Good nutrition can help support your liver to keep functioning and play an important role in repairing some liver damage.
If you have liver disease, there are some special considerations you may need before starting a liver disease diet to help manage your condition. An unhealthy diet can make the liver work so hard that it might cause more damage than it already is.
Guide to undergoing a liver disease diet
Although originally not intended for people with liver disease, the Mediterranean diet focuses on the adequacy of the four pillars of nutrition, such as complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, protein, and antioxidants It can also help reduce the thickness of the fat layer in your liver. Talk with your doctor about the type of diet that is best for you so that you get the right amount of nutrients, as well as how many calories you should be getting each day. The changes you will make will depend a lot on how well you work at your heart.
Here's a general guide:
1. Eat foods high in carbohydrates
Carbohydrates should be the main source of calories in this diet. But not just any carbs. Avoid candy, plain soda, white bread / pasta, fried foods, and other foods with added sugar including high fructose corn syrup. Too much simple sugar speeds up the process by which the liver turns food into fat.
Complex carbohydrates, such as those that are accompanied by lots of fiber, are a safer option. Complex carbohydrates tend to have a low glycemic index that are digested more slowly and don't cause sugar spikes throughout your body. This can help improve insulin sensitivity and lower your blood cholesterol.
ALSO READ: 7 Best Carbohydrate Sources for Those of You who are Dieting
Examples of foods that contain complex carbohydrates include whole grains (wheat, oats, brown rice), avocados, walnuts, starchy vegetables like corn, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, and yams, as well as green leafy vegetables like spinach and lettuce. Liver disease can cause blood sugar levels to be too high or too low in some people. You may need to control the amount of carbohydrates you eat to help control your blood sugar levels.
2. Get enough protein
It is important to eat the right amount of protein when you have liver disease. The following foods are good sources of protein: cold water fish (such as salmon and mackerel), lean meats, eggs and dairy products, and raw nuts and seeds.
Eat about 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. This means that a man weighing 70 kilograms, for example, should eat 70 grams of protein per day. But this calculation does not include protein obtained from starchy foods and vegetables. A person with a badly damaged liver may need to eat less protein. Talk with your doctor about the details of your protein requirements.
ALSO READ: 11 Best Protein Sources from Vegetable Foods
3. Fat may, as long as sufficient
People with liver disease often oppose insulin. Their bodies make insulin, but it doesn't work properly. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood, and the liver processes the added sugar into fat. Certain fats in your liver disease diet can increase insulin sensitivity, or the body's ability to use insulin. Your cells can take up this stored glucose so your liver doesn't have to make and store fat. Increasing carbohydrate and fat intake also helps prevent protein breakdown in the liver.
Good examples of fats are omega 3 fatty acids, which are found in oily fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring), vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), and dark green leafy vegetables / fruits. Monounsaturated fat is also a type of fat that is good for the body. You can find monounsaturated fats in a variety of plant food sources, such as olives, avocados, and nuts. Avoid saturated fat and limit consumption of meat and dairy products as well. Avoid cooking by roasting, grilling, or frying using coconut oil. This causes more fat to build up in your liver.
Conversely, some people with liver disease have problems digesting and absorbing fat. Undigested fat is eliminated during bowel movements. If you have this health problem, you may need to eat less fat. Ask your doctor or nutritionist for more information on a low-fat diet.
4. Eat fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants
Another reason for fat buildup in the liver is that the liver cells can be damaged when nutrients are not broken down properly. Fruits (especially berries, such as goji berries), vegetables, and some other foods have compounds known as antioxidants that can protect cells from this damage. Just remember to choose fresh produce and avoid canned foods, which tend to be high in sodium.
Several studies have found that vitamin E can help with fatty liver disease. Other studies have also shown that to improve the condition of fatty liver when you need to take vitamins E and C along with cholesterol-lowering drugs. Doctors don't know which one of these factors is responsible, or if all three work together.
ALSO READ: 6 Fruits High in Vitamin C, Apart from Oranges
Sunflower seeds and almonds are good sources of vitamin E. So are olive oil and canola oil. Other high antioxidant food sources that may have benefits for your liver include: leafy greens and greens (broccoli and brussel sprouts), raw garlic (contains high amounts of allicin and selenium, two natural compounds that aid in the cleansing process of the liver); green tea (rich in plant-based antioxidants known as catechins, which have been known to improve liver function); sour citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and oranges (high in vitamin C and antioxidants to flush out toxins); and turmeric (known to help the body digest fat more smoothly and stimulate bile production, but it can also act as a natural detoxifier for the liver).
5. Avoid salt
You may need to reduce the amount of salt in your liver disease diet (usually less than 1500 milligrams per day) if your body retains fluids. When you retain fluids, you will experience swelling in your body. Ask your doctor for more information about a low salt diet. Some foods that contain high amounts of salt are:
- Kitchen salt
- Smoked meat, sausage, corned beef
- Canned food and ready-to-eat vegetable broths
- Frozen food and packaged snacks
- Soy sauce, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce
- Packaged soup
You may also need to drink less fluids if you have swelling of the liver. Liquids include water, milk, juice, soda and other beverages. Foods that are liquid at room temperature, such as pudding or popsicles, also count as a source of liquid. Ask your dietitian how much fluids you can drink each day.
6. Stop alcohol
If your liver disease is fatty liver caused by excessive alcohol consumption, stop drinking alcohol. If your fatty liver condition is not caused by alcohol, you may still be allowed to drink alcohol occasionally, but discuss further with your doctor about the role alcohol plays in your liver disease diet.
ALSO READ: Causes of Fatty Liver in People Who Don't Drink Alcohol
7. Pay attention to other nutritional intake
Your healthcare provider may advise you to take vitamin and mineral supplements, especially vitamin B-complex supplements and D. Only take supplements recommended by your doctor.
Liver disease can cause health problems that you can easily manage through certain diet changes. Since everyone is different, you should work with your doctor to come up with a liver disease diet plan that's right for you.
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