What is the good diet plan for cirrhosis of liver? Go through this article and learn more about a healthy diet plan, which can save your life in some situations… Most people suffer from the common health problems which include fatigue, stress, anxiety and depression. These diseases are persistent within us. The reason behind it is mostly associated with our food habits which are way below the standard.
Diet Chart For Liver Cirrhosis Patient
About Liver Cirrhosis Diet Chart List of Foods Items to Avoid with Cirrhosis Do’s And Dont’s While Following Cirrhosis Diet Plan Food Items You Can Easily Consume in Liver Cirrhosis
About
A cirrhosis diet plan might be of great assistance to those who have liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver’s good tissue is gradually replaced over many years by scar tissue, resulting in organ failure and serious consequences. A liver transplant can be used to cure cirrhosis, but it can also be slowed down by addressing the underlying causes and adhering to a cirrhosis diet plan. Giving up alcohol is the main goal of a cirrhosis diet plan, even if alcohol isn’t the actual cause of the condition. This is because drinking alcohol is known to exacerbate liver damage.
Other key points of the liver cirrhosis diet plan are as follows:
- Individuals with liver damage, tend to retain body fluid (sodium) which makes it necessary for them to lower their salt intake in their diet lest fluid builds-up in their bellies. Reducing salt in the diet by using alternatives such as lemon juice or herbs is advised. Consumption of fresh foods over processed and fast foods is recommended as the former has lower sodium content than the latter.
- Lower fat foods are highly recommended as a high-fat diet is known to worsen cirrhosis by causing fatty liver diseases which is another determinant of cirrhosis.
- High Protein Diet for Liver Cirrhosis: Protein is required for a well-balanced and nutritious diet however for individuals suffering from cirrhosis, protein needs to be obtained from vegetable or plant sources (pulses and lentils, soy, nuts) instead of animal sources.
- It is strongly advised to avoid caffeinated beverages as they tend to worsen liver damage.
For those who are suffering from cirrhosis, we have created a meal that includes specific instructions on when to eat each food item. We also provide a list of foods that people with cirrhosis should avoid. Follow this liver cirrhosis diet plan to heal from this liver condition swiftly.
Liver Cirrhosis Diet Chart
| Sunday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 vegetable omelette + 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup coconut water/ 1 bowl fruit salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup dal + 1 cup soybean curry + 2 chapatti + salad |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk/ tea + 2 whole grain biscuits |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup cauliflower and potato vegetable + 2 chapatti + salad |
| Monday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup vegetable poha + 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup coconut water/ 1 bowl fruit salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup bottle gourd vegetable + 2 chapatti + 1 cup spinach raita + salad |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk/ tea + 2 whole grain biscuits |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup peas and carrot vegetable + 2 chapatti + salad |
| Tuesday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup scambled egg + 2 multigrain toasted bread + 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup coconut water/ 1 bowl fruit salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup dal + 1 cup mix veg + 1 cup parboiled rice + 1 chapatti + salad |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk/ tea + 2 whole grain biscuits |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup cabbage and peas vegetable + 2 chapatti + salad |
| Wednesday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 2 moong dal cheela with stuffed paneer + 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup coconut water/ 1 bowl fruit salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup mattar paneer vegetable + 2 chapatti + 1 cup ghia raita + salad |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk/ tea + 2 whole grain biscuits |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup mushroom curry + 2 chapatti + salad |
| Thursday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 paneer sandwich with low fat cheese + 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup coconut water/ 1 bowl fruit salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup dal + 1 cup stuffed capsicum + 2 chapatti + salad |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk/ tea + 2 whole grain biscuits |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup lotus stem vegetable + 2 chapatti + salad |
| Friday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup soy bean salad + 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup coconut water/ 1 bowl fruit salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup soy chaap + 2 chapatti + 1 cup romato raita + salad |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk/ tea + 2 whole grain biscuits |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup brinjal vegetable + 2 chapatti + salad |
| Saturday | |
| Breakfast (8:00-8:30AM) | 1 cup black chana with paneer salad + 1 cup skim milk |
| Mid-Meal (11:00-11:30AM) | 1 cup coconut water/ 1 bowl fruit salad |
| Lunch (2:00-2:30PM) | 1 cup chicken/ fish curry + 1/2 cup rice + 1 chapatti + salad |
| Evening (4:00-4:30PM) | 1 cup skim milk/ tea + 2 whole grain biscuits |
| Dinner (8:00-8:30PM) | 1 cup dum aloo vegetable + 2 chapatti + salad |
List of Foods Items to Avoid with Cirrhosis
In this indian diet plan for liver cirrhosis patient, you get list of food items for liver damage recovery, try to avoid these food items while following this diet plan menu.
- Alcohol and Alcoholic beverages
- Deep fried foods such as samosas, kachori, french fries, fast foods frozen foods
- foods rich in preservatives such as sauces, pickles, jams, jelly, purees, packed juices, canned fruits and vegetables
- Beef, Pork, Mutton, Butter, Lard, Margarine, Cheese. Refined cereals
- Sweets and pastries.
To reduce the excess deposited fat from Liver, it is necessary to restrict above mentioned foods and beverages. Through restricting these foods items you can also reduce the toxin accumilation in the body, and which will reduce the stress.
Do’s And Dont’s While Following Cirrhosis Diet Plan
Do’s
- Eat whole grain cereals
- Include salad with meals.
- Eat fruits inbetween main meals
- Include fresh Garlic and Ginger for gravy.
Dietary Restrictions: What Not To Eat in Cirrhosis
- More oil for the food preparation
- Fast foods
- Sweets, pastries and backed foods
- Meat and meat products
- Alcohol and alcoholic beverages.
Food Items You Can Easily Consume in Liver Cirrhosis
- Cereal: Brown rice, whole wheat, oats, jowar, bajra, ragi
- Pulses: red gram, green gram, black gram, bengal gram
- Vegetables: all gourds-bitter gourd, snake gourd, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, ivy gourd, ladies finger, tinda,green leafy vegetables
- Fruits: citrus fruits-orange, mousambi, grape fruit, lemon; berries-strawberry, blueberry, black berry; cranberry, cherries, papaya, pineapple, guava.
- Milk and milk products: low fat milk, low fat curd.
- Meat,fish & egg: Skin out chicken, egg white, fish like salmon, sardines, trout, mackerel, tuna.
- Oil: 2 tsp (10ml)
- sugar: 2 tsp (10gm)
- Other beverages: green tea.
What to Eat When You Have Cirrhosis
If you have cirrhosis, what you eat and drink each day is especially important
A cirrhosis diet is made to support those who may experience malnutrition as a result of modifications to their metabolism and digestion that take place as the liver sustains more damage.
As a result, it’s crucial to pay attention to what you eat and drink each day if you have this illness. Protein, sodium, and sugar are common ingredients in foods to stay away from if you have cirrhosis because they make your liver work harder, which it could no longer be able to do.
This article describes how your healthcare team, including a certified dietitian, may assist in creating a cirrhosis diet plan. By doing this, you can make sure that you’re getting enough nutrition and avoiding actions that can make your illness worse or harm your health in other ways.
Benefits
The liver is one of the most important organs and performs more than 500 different tasks. Because of cirrhosis, your liver cannot effectively carry out one of its most crucial functions, which is assisting your body in obtaining nutrition from the food you eat.
A cirrhosis diet can assist in ensuring appropriate nutrition, minimizing the effort your liver must do, avoiding problems, and stopping additional liver damage. According to research, those with liver disease who are undernourished are more likely to die from cirrhosis-related complications.
The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology published an article in 2018 by authors who claim that “dietary management of cirrhosis is not a one-size-fits-all approach.” To improve the prognosis and results of treatment, a cirrhosis diet should be started as soon as possible.
Cirrhosis scarring that has already developed sadly cannot be removed. In order to control your future if you have liver cirrhosis, diet is therefore a crucial step.
How It Works
Your cirrhosis diet will need to be tailored based on your overall health and individual needs, but there are some general dietary guidelines that often shape this eating plan:4
- Avoiding alcohol: Any amount is considered unsafe for anyone with cirrhosis, as it’s a potential cause of more liver damage—even liver failure. Drinking can also contribute to malnutrition and other health concerns.
- Limiting fats: The body digests fats using bile, a yellow-green fluid made in the liver. When the liver is damaged, the production and supply of bile may be affected, leading to digestive symptoms. A liver that isn’t working well has a hard time processing a high-fat meal. (Healthy fats can be included in moderation.)
- Avoiding raw or undercooked meat/seafood: People with liver damage from cirrhosis have impaired immune function, meaning bacteria and viruses that these foods can harbor can lead to a potentially serious infection.
In addition to changing the content of your diet, you may need to change the quantity of the food you eat. Having liver disease can increase your risk for malnourishment, so you may need to eat more calories in a day to meet the increased energy demands on your body due to your condition.5
If you have liver disease, know that the recommendations for protein intake vary. The influence of protein on liver disease is somewhat controversial and still being studied.6
You’ll need to consult with your healthcare provider or a dietitian to determine the exact amount of protein recommended for you. The calories from protein will be an essential component of a varied and nutritious diet, and protein is key to preventing muscle atrophy (thinning).7
Your healthcare provider may want you to make additional, specific changes to your diet to help manage or prevent other conditions people with liver cirrhosis may be more likely to get.
Duration
Even if you don’t feel ill, your doctor may advise you to adhere to a cirrhosis diet if you are at risk for liver disease. In the compensated phase, the early stages of liver disease, there are typically no symptoms.
It may take years for symptoms of liver disease to appear, and only after the liver has suffered serious damage (decompensated phase).
8
You will probably need to follow a cirrhosis diet plan for a considerable amount of time because modifying your food can only help to avoid further liver damage, not to treat what has already happened.
What to Eat
If you’re following a cirrhosis diet, there are some foods and beverages you’ll need to strictly avoid. However, you’ll have your choice of many nutritious and tasty foods, including fresh produce, whole grains, and plant-based protein.
Compliant
- Fruits and vegetables (raw or cooked without butter, oil, or salt)
- Eggs, egg whites
- Cooked fish (salmon, tuna)
- Lean chicken or turkey (without the skin)
- Low-fat Greek yogurt
- Cream cheese, ricotta
- Hard cheeses (cheddar, mozzarella)
- Nuts and seeds (unsalted)
- Dried beans and legumes
- Nut butters (unsalted)
- Tofu
- Fortified milk alternatives (almond, soy, rice)
- Margarine
- Oats
- Whole grain bread, crackers, and cereals
- Brown rice
- Olive oil
- Fresh herbs
- Low-fat milk
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Quinoa, couscous
- Granola and cereal bars
- Coconut water
- Meal/nutritional supplements, as approved
Non-Compliant
- Raw or partially raw fish and shellfish (e.g., oysters, clams)
- Fast food, fried food
- Red meat
- Canned food (meat, soup, vegetables)
- Packaged, processed snacks and meals (incl. frozen)
- Hot dogs, sausage, lunchmeat
- Sauerkraut, pickles
- Buttermilk
- Tomato sauce or paste
- Instant hot cereal or oatmeal
- Potato chips, pretzels, rice cakes, crackers, popcorn
- Refined white flour pasta, bread, and white rice
- Oils high in trans fat or partially hydrogenated oils (palm oil, coconut oil)
- Breading, coating, and stuffing mixes
- Full-fat dairy products
- Bread, biscuit, pancake, and baked good mixes
- Pastries, cake, cookies, muffins, doughnuts
- American, Parmesan, Swiss, blue, feta, cottage cheese, cheese slices or spreads
- Pudding, custard, or frosting mixes
- Table salt, sea salt, mixed seasonings
- Ketchup, soy sauce, salsa, salad dressing, steak sauce
- Bouillon cubes, broth, gravy, and stock
- Caffeinated tea, coffee, and soft drinks
- Alcohol
Fruits and vegetables: Choose fresh produce when possible, as canned varieties usually have sodium and sugar. Add fruit to cereal or oats for extra nutrition, fiber, and a little natural sweetness. Fiber-rich fruits like apples make a healthy and satisfying snack on their own.
Dairy: Full-fat dairy products will likely be too hard for your body to digest. Stick to low-fat Greek yogurt, small portions of low-sodium hard cheese, and fortified dairy-free milk alternatives like almond or soy.
Rich, milk-based desserts like pudding, custard, and ice cream should be limited. You may need to avoid them completely on a cirrhosis diet if you have significant trouble processing fat and sugar.
Grains: Choose whole-grain bread, pasta, brown rice, and cereal instead of those made with refined white flour. Granola and granola bars may be approved for quick snacks as long as they’re low in sugar and sodium.
Protein: Red meat isn’t approved for a cirrhosis diet, nor is any kind of processed lunch meat or sausage. Small servings of lean poultry without the skin, some types of fresh-caught fish (such as salmon), and eggs or egg whites may be suitable.
Most of your protein should come from plant-based sources such as dried beans and legumes, small portions of unsalted nuts or nut butter, and tofu.
Desserts: Packaged cake, cookie, brownie, biscuit, pancake, and waffle mixes can be high in sugar and salt, so it’s best to avoid them. In general, you’ll want to avoid pastries, doughnuts, and muffins, unless you can make your own low-fat, low-sugar, and low-salt versions.
Beverages: You cannot drink alcohol if you have liver cirrhosis, but you’ll have plenty of other options. Water is the most hydrating choice, but if you are on a low-sodium diet, you’ll want to check the labels on bottled water as some contain sodium. Milk and juice should only be consumed if pasteurized.
While some research has suggested coffee (but not other caffeine-containing beverages) could have benefits for people with liver disease due to alcohol use, most medical professionals advise that patients with cirrhosis avoid caffeinated beverages, including coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
Recommended Timing
Your doctor could advise you to eat extra calories if you have liver disease and are underweight. 9 Eat small, regular meals and snacks throughout the day if you don’t feel like eating larger meals to enhance your calorie intake.
Some liver disease sufferers report nighttime awakenings. They can wind up staying awake for extended periods of time and taking naps during the day. According to study, late-night snacks (especially those created especially for this purpose) can be beneficial for persons with cirrhosis if they are up in the middle of the night.
Make sure to organize your meals around when you are awake, whether that is during the day or at night, if your sleep cycle is disrupted. Avoid going more than a few hours without eating or having a snack.
Cooking Tips
Try cooking your vegetables without any butter or oil by boiling them or grilling them.
If you’re following a cirrhosis diet that calls for a sodium reduction, consider substituting fresh herbs and spices for table salt. Your healthcare physician might let you use a salt substitute if you frequently salt your food and find it difficult to stop the habit.
Pick lean slices of meat to begin with when cooking. Red meat is not as healthy as skinless poultry.
Depending on how it’s prepared, you might be permitted to occasionally eat tiny servings of beef. As an illustration, grilling meat rather than frying it in oil or butter lowers the fat level and keeps it from getting too greasy for a cirrhosis diet.
To further lower your chance of contracting foodborne illnesses, use proper food handling and safety procedures in addition to avoiding eating raw or undercooked meat and seafood.
Modifications
You may need to adapt your diet if you develop complications from cirrhosis, such as ascites, hypoglycemia, and encephalopathy.10 If you develop one or more of these conditions, your healthcare provider may recommend additional changes to your diet, including limiting salt, sugar, and protein.
Ascites
The buildup of a lot of fluid in the abdomen is known as ascites. For patients with cirrhosis with ascites, doctors typically recommend a strict sodium-free diet because sodium can exacerbate the illness.
For those who have ascites, the daily recommended salt intake is 88 mmol (millimoles per liter).
American diets typically range from 200 to 300 mmol of sodium per day.
Prepackaged and convenience foods frequently have excessive sodium content or additional salt. You might not be aware of how much salt you’re ingesting if you don’t regularly check the nutrition labels.
A good rule of thumb when grocery shopping is to concentrate on the low-sodium options that are available throughout the store’s perimeter, such as fresh produce, lean meats, and low-fat dairy. The packaged foods, cereals, and sodas in the middle aisles should be avoided.
Encephalopathy
Ammonia is a byproduct of the body’s protein digestion. When the liver is working properly, this is easily eliminated. However, a damaged liver is unable to process even a normal amount of protein.
It can produce more ammonia as it attempts to digest more protein. Memory issues, dementia-like symptoms, and a serious consequence known as encephalopathy can all be brought on by it when it reaches toxic levels for the brain.
Focus on replacing meat with plant-based protein sources in your diet if you have cirrhosis. Your doctor might set a strict daily or per-meal limit on the amount of protein you can consume.
Hypoglycemia
When you have cirrhosis, hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is another typical issue. When your liver is functioning properly, it stores the energy from the complex carbs you consume in a form called glycogen that is readily available.
Cirrhosis prevents your liver from storing enough of this chemical source of energy.
People who have liver illness may therefore encounter bouts of low blood sugar.
According to research, eating meals high in fiber and low in glycemic index can assist persons with cirrhosis better control their hypoglycemia.
Considerations
To stop further liver damage, you must adhere to your cirrhosis diet. By adhering to a few fundamental guidelines, you can do this and position yourself for success.
A cirrhosis diet should include nutritious meals because overall nutrition is crucial. However, because your illness makes it more difficult for you to maintain a healthy diet, your doctor may advise you to take vitamins or nutritional supplements. This is especially true if you have nausea or other GI issues.
Significant amounts of vitamin A in supplements or multivitamins can be harmful to the liver.
High quantities of iron can be challenging for the liver to handle. Any vitamin or supplement products that may interfere with drugs or induce GI issues should be discussed with your healthcare physician.
You must make dietary adjustments, thus you should view the cirrhosis diet as a proactive lifestyle choice to improve your health. So that you may ensure you’re making the best possible decisions, that entails reading the labels on the fat, sugar, and salt items at the grocery store. the following situations, for example:
- Selecting gluten-free bread, pasta, and crackers if you also have celiac disease
- Limiting pastas made from beans and legumes that are high in protein for a cirrhosis diet
- Reducing protein from nuts, seeds, and tofu if you follow a plant-based diet
With careful planning and shopping, you can find the fresh produce, dried beans, and other things you need to make wholesome cirrhosis diet dishes. Making the most of your financial situation while avoiding foods that promote cirrhosis will help.
Remember that your cirrhosis diet plan also consists of foods you consume while dining out. When dining out, don’t be afraid to inquire about your menu alternatives.
You can customize a cirrhosis diet plan to suit your needs with the aid of your healthcare professional, a qualified dietitian, or a nutritionist.
Your ability to follow a cirrhosis diet plan successfully will also be influenced by your family’s and friends’ support. This is particularly true if you have severe liver disease and might need assistance with meal planning and preparation.
Although your medical team is the best resource for information regarding your cirrhosis diet, you might want to look into a local liver disease support group. You can also search online for message boards, hashtags on social media, or blogs where people share their experiences, tales, and perhaps even some menu suggestions for cirrhosis diets.
Be aware that nutritional supplements and drinks like Ensure might be pricey if your doctor advises you to use them. Ask your doctor if these supplements can be prescribed for you if you have health insurance. If so, some additional nourishment may have all or some of its cost covered.