Liver Disease Diet

Liver disease is a broad term that is used to describe all the potential liver conditions like fatty liver, hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and liver damage. As in most of the health conditions, following a diet is considered as one of the crucial aspects of treatment and prevention of these diseases. If you have been diagnosed with such condition, you need to follow a diet to avoid further deterioration of the liver.

Diet for Liver Disease

You need to completely avoid or reduce the intake of sodium in the diet as excess sodium leads to water retention in the body. This can exert pressure on the liver and lead to swelling on the body. Secondly, the intake of protein and carbohydrates also depends on the liver function. Liver damage can prevent the proper breakdown of protein, which leads to waste building up in the body. At the same time, liver disease can lead to increase or decrease in the blood sugar level. Similar is the case with fats. The intake of fat depends on the function of the liver. Fats do not get digested completely if the liver does not function properly. The following is a list of foods that are safe to consume in the fatty liver disease diet:

• Fruits, vegetables
• Whole wheat products*
• Lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs*
• Cereals / oatmeal
• Milk, yogurt, cream, cheese (containing low sodium)
• Salads
• Nuts and seeds (unsalted)
• Rice, potatoes, beans
• Unsalted butter and margarine*
• Unprocessed grains

It should be noted that in this list of foods, those marked with asterisks (*) contain high amounts of either fats or proteins or carbohydrates. Therefore, these foods should be included in the diet only with a doctor's consultation. Now, the following is a list of foods to be avoided in the fatty liver and liver cirrhosis diet:

• Fried foods, salted foods, salted nuts
• Processed and canned foods
• Sweets, desserts, concentrated sugars
• Whole milk, butter, salted cheese
• Deli meat, cured meats, sausages, cold cuts
• Soups, ketchup, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, barbecue sauce
• Chips, pretzels, popcorn; bread, biscuit mix
• Pickles, pickled vegetables
• Canned gravy mix, salad dressings, seasonings, salsa, licorice
• Liquids like alcohol, sodas, beverages, coffee, tea, sports drinks

In the cirrhosis diet, one should avoid high carbohydrate, high fats and high sugar foods completely. One should rather go for home cooked vegetables, lean poultry, fruits, etc. as natural and fresh fruits can reduce the pressure on the liver. It is recommended to consult the doctor before making any changes in the diet or including any high protein, high carbohydrate and highly fatty food in the diet.

This diet is easy to follow if you remember the above mentioned guidelines. It is advisable to have freshly made meals at home, rather than going for processed and fast food. If you're buying food from outside, one should check the labels and avoid buying foods high in salt, sugar, fats and sodium content. Following this diet can also help in prevention of most of the liver diseases.

Lastly, note that there may be variations in the diet according to one's liver condition and overall health. Take care!