Time Duration for Liver Cirrhosis Diet
If you are at risk for liver disease, your doctor may advise you to adhere to a cirrhosis
diet even if you are not feeling ill. In the early stages of liver disease (compensated
phase), there are generally no symptoms.
Signs of liver illness may appear years later, and only after serious liver damage has
occurred (decompensated phase). Altering your diet will only assist avoid further liver
damage and not repair what has already occurred, you will most likely need to be on
a cirrhosis diet for a long period.
Liver disease recovery Diet plan : 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 Foods
● 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 butter (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 Foods
● 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
● 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
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Cirrhosis Diet
● Choose vegetables and fruits that do not have high-calorie sauces or
additional salt and sweeteners.
● Choose whole grains that are high in fiber.
● Select chicken and fish without skin that have been prepared healthfully.
● Choose lean cuts of meat over ones rich in fat.
● Eat fish at least twice a week, preferably fish high in omega-3 fatty acids (e.g.
salmon, trout, and herring).
● Check to see if your dairy is fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1% ).
● To minimize trans fat, avoid meals that include partly hydrogenated vegetable
oils. Limit saturated fat and trans fat by substituting them with healthier fats
(monounsaturated and polyunsaturated).
● Reduce your intake of sugary beverages and meals.
● Reduce intake of salt.
Meal Timings & Recommendations for Liver Cirrhosis
Diet
Malnourishment can result from liver illness, therefore your doctor may advise you to
eat more calories.
If you don't feel like eating larger meals to boost your calorie intake, consider eating
small, regular meals and snacks throughout the day.
Some patients with liver cirrhosis have nighttime awakenings. They may stay up for
lengthy periods and then snooze during the day. If you wake up in the middle of the
night, taking a late-night snack (particularly those expressly prepared for this reason)
might be beneficial for persons with cirrhosis.
If your sleep routine is disrupted, make sure you organize your meals around when
you are awake, whether during the day or at night. Try not to go more than a few
hours without eating or snacking.
Cooking Hints for Liver Cirrhosis Diet
● Try grilling or boiling vegetables without using any oil or butter.
● Use fresh herbs and spices instead of table salt if you're limiting your sodium
consumption as part of a cirrhosis diet.
● If you're used to adding salt to your diet and are having trouble breaking the
habit, your doctor may allow you to use a salt replacement.
● When preparing beef, start with lean cuts. Skinless chicken is a better choice
than red meat.
● Depending on how it's prepared, you might be able to eat modest quantities
of beef on occasion. Grilling meat instead of frying it in oil or butter, for example,
lower the fat level and keeps it from becoming too oily for a cirrhosis diet.
● In addition to avoiding raw or partly cooked meat and seafood, use basic food
handling and safety procedures to decrease your risk of foodborne illness.
