According to the American Liver Foundation, 20 percent of people with liver disease are malnourished. The problem often goes undetected until serious signs, like muscle wasting and poor appetite, develop. Because liver disease often causes fluid retention, many people don't realize that they're losing weight. A well-balanced diet is essential to keeping your body strong and to aid in recovery. It's also key to providing your liver with the nutrients needed to function properly.
Protein Intake
Protein is difficult for the liver to process, so people with liver disease should limit the amount of protein they eat. The average person should eat 0.36 g of protein per pound of body weight. That means a 150-lb. person should be eating about 54 g of protein per day. Choose high-quality protein as well, such as lean beef, poultry or fish. Vegetarian proteins, like tofu, are also good choices.
Fluid Retention
People with liver disease should be careful about fluid retention. Because the liver cannot properly filter what's being taken in, you can develop edema. To avoid liquid from leaking into tissues, make sure your don't drink too much liquid. Instead, stick to the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Also, reduce your intake of sodium, which increases fluid retention. Use more herbs and less salt to flavor foods and try to eat mostly non-processed foods. Fast foods, canned foods and high-fat snacks tend to be high in sodium as well.
Carbs
Carbohydrates are easy for the liver to process, so they should be the main staple of your diet. Concentrate on whole grains and avoid sweets and white flour. This will increase the amount of nutrition you get from the foods you eat. B-vitamins are essential to people with liver disease, as they are depleted quicker in those with poor liver function. Fortified breads and cereals, potatoes, lentils and beans are all good sources of B vitamins.
Calorie Control
Being overweight can put pressure on your liver, making it work harder than it should. When you have liver disease, this can accelerate the deterioration of cells and cause your condition to worsen. If you have excess weight, keep track of your calorie intake so you can lose weight more easily. Since 3,500 calories equals 1 lb., cutting 500 calories from your daily diet should be enough to lose 1 lb. per week. Avoid junk food, since it's likely to be high in calories but provides no nutrients.
