Foods To Eat And Avoid In A Liver Cirrhosis Patient's Diet

Foods to eat for a liver cirrhosis patient's diet are foods that are rich in protein, vitamins and fibre. Read to know the Indian diet plan for liver cirrhosis patients.

By Sravia Sivaram

Monday, July 3, 2017, 13:31

Liver is one of the most vital organs in the human body. It helps in filtering the harmful bacteria from the blood cells, and in transforming the vitamins and minerals from the foods into necessary energy.

This energy helps the body to strengthen the immune system, balance the hormonal levels, regulate the amount of fat and also support the digestive system.

For people living with liver cirrhosis, it is important to improve this condition. This disease must be treated at the right time in the right way and most importantly, the diet must be focussed on.

It is necessary for these patients to have enough essential nutrients inside their body. There are certain foods that you need to eat and avoid in the case of liver cirrhosis. This article includes the best Indian diet plan for liver cirrhosis patients.

Liver diseases like cirrhosis can change the way your body uses nutrients from the food. Some people with liver diseases may not get enough nutrients from the food they eat and hence lose weight.

Hence, it is mandatory to eat a variety of foods from all groups each day to maintain a healthy body weight.

In this article, we have mentioned to you some of the top foods to include in the liver cirrhosis diet plan. Further, we have also mentioned some of the foods to avoid in the liver cirrhosis patient's diet. Read further to find them out.

Foods To Include For Liver Cirrhosis Patients

1. Protein-based Foods:

Foods rich in protein is a must for people with liver cirrhosis. An average adult needs about 1 gram of protein per day per kilogram of his body weight. Consuming protein-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, cereals and milk is recommended.

2. Vitamin-rich Foods:

A patient with liver cirrhosis must ensure to consume high levels of vitamins and minerals. Fresh vegetables and fruits are known to be a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Eating vitamin-rich foods helps in reducing the progress of this disease and also improves the overall health. You can go for foods rich in Vitamins A, E, D, C, B1, B6, B9 and B12.

3. Foods Containing Enough Fibre:

Fibre is extremely necessary for liver health. Patients with cirrhosis must eat a lot of fibre-rich foods. This substance helps in detoxifying the liver toxins, eliminates them from the body and also helps to balance the nutrients that are necessary for the body.

Fibre is found in green vegetables, beans, whole grains and bread. This helps to improve the digestive system and also helps in cleansing the body. Fibre-rich food is one of the top foods to include in a liver cirrhosis patient's diet.

4. Foods Rich In Beta-carotene:

Beets and carrots are known to be rich sources of beta-carotene, which is a powerful antioxidant. This antioxidant helps to protect the liver against diseases like cirrhosis and steatosis. It also helps in the elimination of free radicals from the body.

5. Foods Rich In Vitamins B, C And E:

Though we have mentioned previously about vitamins, it is essential to note that foods rich in vitamins B, C and E particularly are highly important for liver health. Foods like fish, egg and milk can be considered.

People must increase the consumption of such foods, as they are rich in antioxidants, help eliminate free radicals and also prevent other diseases and keep the liver clean.

6. Foods Rich In Omega-3 Fatty Acids:

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids include salmon, sardines, tuna and mackerel, which are helpful in the case of treating liver cirrhosis condition. These foods are known to be very good for the digestive system and are a must to be included in the diet of a liver cirrhosis patient.

Additional Point

Drink Plenty Of Water:

People with liver cirrhosis get dehydrated easily. Drinking 1.5 litres to 2 litres of water a day will help in balancing and ensuring the essential amount of water in the body. This helps in cooling down the liver and also in disposing the toxins.

Now let's also take a look at some of the foods that you need to avoid in the case of liver cirrhosis.

Foods That Liver Cirrhosis Patients Must Avoid

a. Alcohol:

If you avoid alcohol completely, it paves the way for liver regeneration. Chronic alcoholism can damage the liver and also prevent nutrient absorption.

b. Sugary foods:

If you're a patient with liver cirrhosis, you need to avoid sugary foods like cream, candy, etc. These can wreak havoc on your liver health.

c. High Sodium Foods:

Salt contains sodium and this is not completely processed by a damaged liver. These kind of foods can cause abnormal swelling and fluid retention. Following a low sodium diet is necessary to prevent further liver damage and inflammation and to also prevent liver cirrhosis.

d. Liquids Other Than Water:

You may have to drink fewer liquids if you have swelling. Such liquids include milk, soda, juice and other beverages. You must make sure to avoid gelatin-based foods or popsicles that could further cause damage to the liver.