Diet - liver disease

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Diet - liver disease

Recommendations:

text continues below

The dietary recommendations may vary somewhat depending on how well a person's liver is working. It is very important to be under the care of a doctor. Malnutrition can lead to serious problems. In general, recommendations include:

Large amounts of carbohydrate foods. Carbohydrates should be the major source of calories in this diet.
Moderate intake of fat, as prescribed by the health care provider. The increased carbohydrate and fat help in preserving the protein in the body and preventing protein breakdown.
About 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight. A 70-kilogram man (154 pounds) needs 70 grams (8 ounces) of protein and two 8-ounce glasses of milk on a daily basis. This does not include the protein from starches and vegetables. A person with a severely damaged liver may be on protein restriction. This person may be limited to small quantities of special nutritional supplements.
Vitamin supplements, especially B-complex.
Sodium restriction if fluid retention is present.

SAMPLE MENU

Breakfast
- 1 orange
- Cooked oatmeal, with milk and sugar
- 1 slice of whole-wheat toast
- 2 teaspoons of margarine
- Strawberry jam
- Coffee or tea
Lunch
- 4 ounces of cooked lean fish, poultry, or meat
- A starch item (such as potatoes)
- A cooked vegetable
- Salad
- 2 slices of whole-grain bread
- 2 teaspoons of margarine
- 1 tablespoon of jelly
- Fresh fruit
- Milk
Midafternoon snack
- Milk with graham crackers
Dinner
- 4 ounces of cooked fish, poultry, or meat
- Starch item (such as potatoes)
- A cooked vegetable
- Salad
- 2 whole-grain rolls
- 2 tablespoons of margarine
- Fresh fruit or dessert
- 8 ounces of milk

Evening snack
- High-protein milk (milk with non-fat dry milk added)
Usually, there are no cautions against specific foods. However, many people are unable to tolerate strongly-flavored vegetables, high-fat foods, fried foods, chocolate, nuts, and foods that have a lot of seasoning.
If you have questions about your diet or your symptoms, contact your doctor.