The key to a diet for people with liver disease is moderation
A healthy diet, based on a balanced diet can help to regenerate liver cells that have been damaged by viral hepatitis to form new cells. Nutrition is an essential part of the treatment. Many chronic liver diseases are associated with malnutrition.
The purpose of the diet in the treatment is to proportion sufficient calories and proteins. Nevertheless, a lot of protein may cause hepatic encephalopathy (mental confusion: this occurs when the amount of protein in the diet exceeds the capacity of the liver to use it) caused by the accumulation of toxins that interfere with cerebral function. Protein is restricted to patients with signs of encephalopathy. Nevertheless, there is controversy surrounding the type of protein that the diet should contain. Protein from vegetables and dairy products may be better tolerated than protein from meat. Medication such as lactulose and rifaximin may be used to control cases of hepatic encephalopathy. Due to organism’s need for proteins their restriction must be carried out under medical supervision and indications.
It is important to have a balanced diet. The excess of calories in the form of carbohydrates may lead to hepatic malfunction and cause deposits of fat in the liver. No more than 30% of the total calories should come from fats due to the damage that they may cause to the cardiovascular system. In this way, avoiding obesity is an important objective for persons with chronic liver damage.
Good nutrition also helps to maintain the balance of liquids and electrolytes in the body. Patients with liquid retention and swelling of the abdomen (ascites) and legs (peripheral edema) may need a diet low in salt to avoid sodium retention which contributes to liquid retention. One way of helping to reduce the intake of sodium is to avoid tinned foods and soups foods and condiments such as mayonnaise and ketchup. Carefully read the labels, given that a lot of prepared foods have large amounts of salt. For its taste, the best salt substitute is lemon juice. Apart from lemon, food can be seasoned with small amounts of pepper or garlic, in cases in which it is important that salt be prohibited.
Excessive amounts of some vitamins may be an additional source of stress for the liver given that it acts as a filter for the body. Megavitamin supplements, particularly those which contain a lot of vitamin A and D may be dangerous. An excess of vitamins is highly toxic for the liver.
One must be careful with so-called “nutritional therapies” and diets. Before recommending these treatments they must be studied scientifically and rigorously. “Natural” treatments or diets and medicinal herbs are not free from danger. Plants from the Senecio, Crotalaria and Heliotropium families; mate , creosote bush, gordolobo, Jin Bu Huan, comfrey, mistletoe and pennyroyal teas can all be toxic to the liver. For patients with chronic hepatitis it is very important to follow doctor’s instructions, given that he or she knows what restrictions are required according to the disease.
To sum up, the diet should be balanced and not restrictive except in certain situations. The only element of the alimentation that should normally be completely eliminated is alcohol.
- Artículos relacionados
- Albumin
Albumin is the most abundant protein in plasma and its decrease may indicate advanced liver disease....
- Prothrombin time
Prothrombin time measures clotting factors in the plasma, which may be altered in liver diseases including cirrhosis and hepatitis....
- Ascites
Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (belly). Ascites may caused by multiple causes, but most often ascites is a complication of cirrhosis....
- Hepatic encephalopathy
Portal or hepatic encephalopathy is a complication of liver cirrhosis. It manifests as drowsiness, disorientation, sleep disturbances or changes in character....
- Alcoholic liver disease
Fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis are all consequences of excessive alcohol consumption. Learn about the symptoms, treatment and prognosis of alcoholic liver disease....
- Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis is a disease caused by the excessive accumulation of iron in the body. It frequently affects the liver, heart and endocrine glands....
- Hepatitis A
Hepatitis caused by hepatitis A virus is a disease manifested by jaundice and elevated transaminases. It is often mild and transient, but in some cases may have a more complicated course....
- Esophageal varices
One of the consequences of liver cirrhosis (chronic liver disease) is developing esophageal varices. Learn how to diagnose and treat esophageal varices....
- What is fatty liver?
If you have been diagnosed with fatty liver, liver steatosis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and you want to learn the general aspects of this disease, this is the place to start. Fatty liver is one of the most common liver diseases....
- Cirrhosis of the liver
What is cirrhosis? If you have been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver or chronic liver disease, this information will be of interest for you....
