Best fruits for jaundice are of the high levels of Vitamin A and fiber. The fiber content of a banana will help to cleanse your system, which will lower your risk for some other diseases. Although there are many natural and herbal remedies for jaundice, one of the best approaches is to feed your body the right food. Therefore, it makes sense to eat foods that naturally prevent jaundice and liver diseases. Some of the best fruits for jaundice are lemon, celery, fenugreek, tomato, garlic and kale.
Diet for Jaundice: What Should I Add or Remove?
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Why your diet matters
Your liver processes everything you eat and drink. It helps your body take in nutrients from food and turn them into energy. Your liver also moves toxins and old, damaged blood cells out of the body. When this process is disrupted, it can cause the waste product bilirubin to build up. This can result in jaundice.
What you eat and drink has a direct impact on your liver function. Eating a healthy diet allows your liver to work more efficiently and clear excess toxins from your body. This can help clear your symptoms and reduce your risk for future episodes of jaundice.
Keep reading to learn how you can modify your diet to help relieve your symptoms.
Quick tips
- Drink at least eight glasses of fluids per day. Water and herbal tea are excellent options.
- Consider adding milk thistle to your routine. You can prepare a fresh tea or eat the seeds as a snack.
- Opt for fruits like papaya and mango, which are rich in digestive enzymes.
- Eat at least 2 1/2 cups of veggies and 2 cups of fruit per day.
- Look for high-fiber foods, such as oatmeal, berries, and almonds.
A balanced diet consisting of all five food groups can help support liver health and reduce jaundice. The United States Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate is a good model to use.
That said, there are certain foods and beverages that have a proven effect on liver health. Adding these into your diet or increasing their intake may significantly reduce your symptoms and boost overall health. This includes:
Water
Drinking at least eight glasses of water a day helps your liver flush out toxins. It also supports a healthy weight and thins the blood, making it easier for your liver to filter.
Coffee or herbal tea
Moderate coffee consumption has been shownTrusted Source to improve liver health by reducing:
- your risk of cirrhosis
- levels of harmful liver enzymes
- inflammation
It can also increase your antioxidant levels, which helps clear toxins from the body.
Research from 2017 suggests that drinking about three cups per day can have a positive effect on liver stiffness. The same study also suggests that daily consumption of herbal tea may produce similar effects.
Milk thistle
Not only is the herb milk thistle high in antioxidants, it also contains silymarin. Silymarin helps repair damaged liver cells.
To reap these benefits, add milk thistle leaves to your salad, roast its seeds for a midday snack, or prepare a fresh herbal tea.
Although milk thistle is generally safe to use, you should check with your doctor before use if you:
- are pregnant
- are breastfeeding
- have a hormone-specific cancer
- taking prescription medications
Digestive enzymes
Naturally occurring digestive enzymes may help reduce bilirubin. You can find digestive enzymes in:
- honey
- orange peels
- pineapple
- papaya
- mango
Fruits and vegetables
Although fruits containing digestive enzymes are best, eating a variety is key. USDA guidelinesTrusted Source recommend eating at least 2 1/2 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit every day.
Good choices for liver health include:
- grapefruit
- avocado
- Brussel sprouts
- grapes
- mustard greens
Fiber
Fiber — especially soluble fiber — helps move bile out of the liver. This can reduce toxicity.
This all-important nutrient is found in a variety of foods, including:
- fruits
- vegetables
- legumes
- nuts
- whole grains
High-fiber foods include:
- cruciferous vegetables, such as kale and broccoli
- berries
- oatmeal
- almonds
- brown rice
- quinoa
Try to eat one or more servings of high-fiber food at each meal. Men should strive to eat 38 gramsTrusted Source of fiber daily, and women should eat at least 25 gramsTrusted Source.
What you should cut back on
Quick tips
- Alcohol can cause additional damage to your liver, so it’s best to avoid it completely.
- Opt for lean proteins, such as fish, which are less likely to contribute to liver damage.
- Saturated fats, like those found in meat, are also harder for your liver to process.
- Unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, can be used in moderation.
- Refined sugar can cause fat buildup in your liver, so opt for foods containing natural sugars. Use agave as a sweetener and look to fruits to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Reduce your sodium intake by avoiding canned and processed foods.
It’s important to avoid or limit eating or drinking things that can cause additional damage to your liver. This includes:
Iron
Being mindful of iron intake is important. Too much iron can cause liver scarring (cirrhosis).
Protein is a good source of iron, so get to know the appropriate amount for you when trying to decrease liver issues. Talk to your doctor about how much protein you should eat, and always opt for lean proteins, such as fish and chicken, instead of beef or pork.
Fat
High-fat and fried foods should be eaten in moderation or eliminated completely, as they can cause fat buildup in the liver.
Saturated fats, like those in meat and dairy, may be harder for your liver to process than unsaturated fats. Although unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, are considered healthy, they should still be eaten in moderation. Current research suggests that unsaturated fats may still contribute to fatty liver disease.
Sugar
Refined sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, and other forms of processed sugar can also cause fat buildup in the liver. Many processed foods that are high in sugar are also high in fat, doubling the risk of damage.
Try reaching for a piece of fruit or low-fat, low-sugar yogurt the next time you get a sweet tooth. Along with refined sugar, limiting artificial sweeteners is a good idea as well as these can cause extra work for the liver to process.
Salt
A diet high in salt may also contribute to liver damage and water retention. Eliminating processed and canned foods can be an easy way to reduce your sodium intake.
Instead of reaching for the salt shaker, try using herbs like garlic powder, onion powder, or oregano to add flavor to your dish.
Diet for jaundice: What to eat for a healthy liver
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Jaundice is a buildup of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment released during the breakdown of red blood cells. Too much of this pigment causes the skin, eyes, and gums to turn yellow.
The liver typically filters bilirubin out of the blood, so jaundice is usually related to liver disease or failure.
A majority of jaundice cases occur in newborns, young children, and immune-compromised adolescents and adults.
In most cases, a bilirubin blood levels of 2 to 3 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher will cause visible symptoms.
How does diet play a role in jaundice recovery?
A person’s diet plays a significant role in jaundice recovery and prevention.
During digestion, the liver produces bile that helps the intestine break down fats.
The liver is also responsible for processing or metabolizing most digested nutrients, toxins, and medications.
All foods and drinks require the liver to do a certain amount of work. But different nutrients and chemicals are digested and metabolized differently, making some more liver-friendly than others.
The amount of work the liver has to do increases when foods are difficult to digest. This is especially true for large amounts of refined sugars, salt, and saturated fats.
Toxins, such as alcohol and some medications, can also damage liver cells during metabolism.
People with jaundice are usually advised to eat foods and drinks that help improve digestion and metabolism, protect the liver from further damage, and detoxify the liver.
What to eat
A doctor will provide an individualized treatment plan, including dietary suggestions, to a person recovering from jaundice.
These suggestions will vary depending on the severity of the case and any underlying medical conditions. But there are certain foods and drinks most people with jaundice are advised to add to their diet.
Foods and drinks to consume during jaundice recovery include:
Water
Staying hydrated is one of the best ways to help the liver recover from jaundice. Water not only helps ease digestion, but it also helps the liver and kidneys flush out toxins.
Most people should drink at least 64 ounces or just under 2 liters of water daily.
If people find the taste bland, they can try adding a teaspoon or more of fresh lemon, lime, or grapefruit juice to water for an extra dose of antioxidants.
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables contain powerful antioxidants and fiber that can help limit liver damage during metabolism and ease digestion.
All fruits and vegetables contain some level of liver-friendly nutrients, but some varieties are especially beneficial for liver conditions. These include:
- whole cranberries, blueberries, and grapes
- citrus fruits, especially lemons, limes, and grapefruits
- papayas and melons
- pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and yams
- avocados and olives
- tomatoes
- carrots, beets, and turnips
- cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts
- ginger and garlic
- spinach and collard greens
For optimal health benefits, people should eat whole fruits and vegetables and avoid high-calorie, low-fiber products, such as fruit juices and blends.
It is also advised to limit or avoid highly processed and refined sugars, such as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
Coffee and herbal tea
Coffee and herbal teas contain high doses of antioxidants, as well as caffeine, which can help stimulate digestion. A range of herbal teas is available for purchase online.
In moderation, coffee has been shown to help reduce the risk of liver conditions, including cancer and fibrosis (scarring), and slow their progression.
Whole grains
Whole grain foods contain high amounts of liver-friendly nutrients, including healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants, and minerals.
A 2013 study confirmed that subjects who ate oats, which are rich in beta-glucan, improved liver function after 12 weeks of consumption.
Nuts and legumes
Most nuts and legumes are rich in antioxidants, including vitamin E and phenolic acid.
Whole nuts and legumes are also usually rich in fiber and healthy fats. Studies showTrusted Source that walnuts and other tree nuts are beneficial to liver function when consumed regularly.
Lean proteins
Lean proteins, including tofu, legumes, and fish, put less stress on the liver than red meat. Oily species of fish, such as salmon and mackerel, contain omega-3 and zinc, which help metabolize fatty acids, alcohols, carbohydrates, and proteins.
Foods to avoid
Foods and drinks to avoid or limit during jaundice recovery include:
Alcohol
Alcohol is toxic to most internal bodily tissues, including the liver. Excessive alcohol use can cause chronic inflammation, reduce liver function, and lead to fibrosis.
Most people with jaundice or other liver conditions should try to avoid alcohol completely.
Refined carbohydrates
Soda, baked goods, white bread, and pasta all contain high amounts of refined sugar.
Too much sugar has been linked to a number of health conditions that impair liver function, including type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Packaged, canned, and smoked foods
Many packaged, canned, or smoked foods, especially deli meats and canned vegetables, contain high levels of preservatives.
These preservatives are usually forms of salt, such as nitrates and sulfates. Salt dehydrates the body, making digestion and metabolism more difficult, and putting stress on the liver.
Food items with 1.5 grams (g) salt per 100 g (or 0.6 g sodium) or higher are considered high in salt.
Saturated and trans fats
Fried, oily, and fast foods contain high amounts of saturated and trans fats that are difficult to digest, particularly those prepared with partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Some dairy products, including cheeses, whole milk, and full-fat yogurts, also contain high levels of saturated fat.
Researchers are not entirely sure why, but studies indicate that people who consume large amounts of saturated and trans fat undergo liver changes and an increase in insulin resistance. Insulin helps control blood sugar levels and helps digest sugar.
Large intakes of saturated and trans fats have also been linked to obesity and malnutrition, which are both risk factors for liver conditions, including jaundice.
It is recommended to limit saturated fat intake to 5 to 6 percentTrusted Source of total calories, and try to limit or avoid trans fats altogether.
Diet for Jaundice: Foods to Eat and Avoid
Jaundice is a disease that is caused by the buildup of bilirubin in the blood. This bilirubin is released during the red blood cell breakdown and is in yellow color. Jaundice causes the skin, eyes, gums to turn yellow. Jaundice is caused by a problem in any of the three stages in bilirubin production.
Jaundice is caused by the failure of the liver or liver disease as the liver is responsible for filtering bilirubin out of the blood. This usually occurs in newborns, young children and adults. The symptoms of jaundice are more visible if the level of bilirubin is 2.5 to 3 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or more.
The quality or quantity of food a person eats and drinks impacts the function of the liver directly. A liver can function efficiently if a person follows a healthy diet.
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What is the importance of diet in jaundice recovery?
The patient’s diet plays an important in the recovery journey of jaundice and its prevention. The fats in the intestine break during digestion. The breakdown of fats is done with the help of bile produced by the liver. Other functions of a liver are processing most digested nutrients, toxins and medications. However, different nutrients and chemicals are digested and metabolized differently, making some more liver-friendly than others.
When it is difficult for the food to digest, the liver has an extra amount of work. Refined sugars, salt and saturated fats fall under this category. The liver cells get damaged during metabolism by toxins such as alcohol and other medications.
Foods and liquids that aid improves digestion and metabolism, protect the liver from additional damage, and detoxify the liver are frequently recommended to those who have jaundice.
What is the recommended diet for jaundice?
The diet plans vary depending on the patient’s severity of jaundice and their underlying medical conditions. The foods and drinks to consume by patients having jaundice include:
Water
One of the important ways to recover from jaundice is to stay hydrated. Water helps in quick digestion and helps in flushing out toxins from the kidney and liver. It is needed to drink at least 2 litres of water every day. Some people find the taste of water to be bland. In such cases, they can add a teaspoon of fresh lemon, lime or grape juice to water. This aids in an extra dose of antioxidants.
Fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables also limit liver damage because they contain fibre and powerful antioxidants. It also helps indigestion. They also contain liver-friendly nutrients. Some of them are:
- Cranberries, blueberries and grapes
- Citrus fruits – Lemons, limes
- Papaya and watermelon
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potato and yam
- Tomato
- Carrot and beetroot
- Ginger and garlic
- Cruciferous vegetables – broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts
- Avocado
- Spinach and collard greens
Eating whole fruits and vegetables provides optimal health benefits. The patient has to avoid consuming high-calorie, low-fibre products like fruit juices and blends. High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) also has to be avoided as it is highly processed and contains refined sugars.
Coffee and tea
High doses of antioxidants are also found in coffee and herbal teas. They help in digestion as well. In moderation, coffee is seen to lower the risk of liver conditions, cancer and fibrosis by slowing down the progress.
Whole grains
High amounts of liver-friendly nutrients are found in whole grain foods. They contain healthy fats, fiber, antioxidants and minerals. Oats are found to be rich in beta-glucan and improve the function of the liver after the patient consumes it continuously for 12 weeks.
Nuts and legumes
Nuts and legumes are rich in antioxidants, vitamin E and phenolic acid. They are also rich in fibre and healthy fats that are beneficial for the liver to function regularly.
Lean proteins
Tofu, legumes and fish are considered to be lean proteins that exert less stress on the liver whereas red meat adds stress on the liver. Omega-3 and zinc, found in oily fish like salmon and mackerel, aid in the metabolism of fatty acids, alcohols, carbohydrates, and proteins.
Milk thistle
The herb milk thistle is not only abundant in antioxidants but also contains silymarin. Silymarin aids in the healing of liver cells that have been damaged. Add milk thistle leaves to your salad, roast its seeds for a lunchtime snack, or make a fresh herbal tea to reap these advantages. Although milk thistle is typically safe, the patient should consult the doctor before taking it if he/she has any of the following conditions:
- Is pregnant
- Is breastfeeding
- Has a hormone-specific cancer
- Taking prescription medications