Liver damage can stem from many different causes, such as the virus hepatitis or from drinking too much alcohol, according to the American Liver Foundation. But regardless of why you have liver failure, your disease probably will continue to progress. To ward off the damage and keep your liver functioning as well as possible for as long as possible, your doctor may recommend you adopt a special diet for liver failure patients.
Symptoms
Early liver damage usually doesn't present symptoms, but by the time you have liver failure, you may have several signs of it, including yellowed skin, water retention and dark-colored urine, according to the website MayoClinic.com. You may also feel tired and possibly nauseated. These all are signs that your liver can't properly process the food you eat.
Basic Diet Facts
Normally, your liver helps your body digest the protein you consume in meat, fish, poultry, nuts, beans and grains, according to Drexel University College of Medicine. When you suffer from liver failure, your liver can't handle as much protein, and you need to consume less of it. Because you still need calories, you'll need to replace the protein currently in your diet with carbohydrates.
Protein Amounts
Your physician likely will outline for you exactly how much protein you should consume on a daily basis. Generally, however, patients with severely compromised liver function should consume about 1 gram of protein for every kilogram of body weight, which translates into 70 grams of protein for a person who weighs 154 pounds, according to Drexel University College of Medicine.
Guidelines
You should try to spread out your protein allotment throughout the day, according to Ohio State University Medical Center. For example, don't save up your allowed protein so that you can indulge in a steak in the evening. Instead, eat small amounts of protein at every meal, accompanied by larger amounts of carbohydrates. You should avoid heavily salted meats such as bacon, and choose fresh, lean protein sources such as fish.
More Diet Guidelines
If you have liver failure, you shouldn't consume any alcoholic beverages, according to the website Drugs.com. That's because your liver processes all alcohol, and drinking, especially excessively, can damage it further. You also may need to restrict the salt in your diet, especially if you're retaining fluid. Your physician will tell you how much salt you can have each day, but make sure any processed foods you eat are marked "low salt" or "low sodium."
