We have already talked a lot about alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver and its consequence, cirrhosis – about how you can avoid it and what treatment options there are. But what if you already have cirrhosis? Whether caused by obesity, hepatitis or alcoholism, the function of the liver is extremely limited after scarring. One possible consequence of this is malnutrition, as the liver can no longer properly utilise the important nutrients from food. We would therefore like to show you today how you should eat in the case of cirrhosis of the liver in order to ensure that your body is adequately supplied with nutrients. However, further damage to the liver and your body can also be prevented through proper nutrition.
The three most important points in nutrition
Basically, there are three important things you should keep in mind if you have impaired liver function. The first and probably most important point is “no alcohol”. If there is already scarring of the liver tissue, then your liver is no longer able to process alcohol. The consequence of alcohol consumption is therefore further damage to the liver, up to and including liver failure. Furthermore, alcohol also contributes to malnutrition and other health problems.
The second important point is to cut down on general salt consumption. Excessive salt intake can lead to water retention, both in the abdomen and the legs. In severe cases, these have to be treated with medication or even removed via a tube in the abdomen. To avoid this from the outset, you should try to avoid salt as much as possible.
The last thing to do is to eat less fat. The body digests fats using bile, a yellow-green fluid produced in the liver. When the liver is damaged, the production and supply of bile can be impaired, leading to digestive symptoms. A liver that is not working well therefore has a hard time processing a high-fat meal.
Tips and tricks to gradually change your diet
That all sounds nice at first, but easier said than done. We would therefore like to give you a few tips on how you can change your diet step by step. You should be able to eat a more suitable diet in no time at all.
The first thing is to drink a lot. Water, tea and coffee are probably the best solution. You should avoid alcohol and very sweet drinks. Communicate this clearly and involve your friends and family. Maybe you can enjoy a cold lemon water instead of a beer. Many teas bring a change to the plain water (by the way, be careful here too. The sodium content in mineral water is sometimes a little higher too) and you don’t have to do without up to four cups of coffee a day either.
Eating less salt is sometimes not so easy. Many convenience foods and canned foods in particular often have a very high salt content. The best tip we can give you is to cook a lot yourself. And it doesn’t have to be very elaborate. Chefs like Jamie Oliver show you how to do it in their 15-minute recipes. And so that you don’t lose too much flavour, you can maintain a good taste by seasoning with fresh herbs and spices. All in all, make sure you use fresh ingredients and prepare them gently if possible. How about steaming vegetables instead of cooking them in salt water? This is also a good alternative to sautéing in fat.
However, your fish and meat should always be well done! You should avoid raw or undercooked food. When frying and garnishing, replace animal fats with vegetable fats and generally make sure you eat good fats. Where possible, however, you should avoid fat altogether. Swap lean chicken meat for fatty pork belly and choose low-fat cuts of beef. This is good for your digestion.
How much calories and protein for liver cirrhosis?
A final important point in proper nutrition is the intake of sufficient calories. People affected by liver cirrhosis need significantly more calories every day than healthy people. A higher proportion than usual should consist of proteins as well. Only your doctor and/or nutritionist can tell you exactly how much this should be and how you should consume it. Here the requirements are different for each person and certain intolerances must be considered separately.
A good example of this are legumes. Whether beans, peas or lentils – they all provide the body with lots of healthy fibre and protein. However, since some people are sensitive to legumes, it is not advisable for everyone to consume them in large quantities. This is exactly why it is so important to work out a meal plan that is individually tailored to you.
Concluding words
Therefore, we can only provide general information here and cannot replace professional advice for you. However, the tips are and remain the same, just like the tips for preventing diseases of the liver, heart and other important organs altogether:
Cook with fresh ingredients and low in salt. Get enough fibre from fruit and vegetables. Eat not only meat, but also fish. And eat 6 small meals a day rather than one huge portion. Alcohol is best replaced by water – also in the brewed version as tea or coffee.
Please let us know what tricks you use to eat healthier. An exchange about your favourite recipes is welcome and may inspire one or two readers to follow your example.