Diet Plan for Patients of Liver Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a chronic (ongoing, long-term) and serious disease of the liver. A good diet and healthy weight will limit the complications and progression of liver disease. Diet in cirrhosis of the liver is very important for proper nutrition and for living a healthy life. Nutrition plays an important role in not only improving liver health but also in preventing or reducing complications of the disease. A low-sodium, High-carbohydrates, high-protein diet is recommended for liver cirrhosis to prevent or slow complications of the disease and to promote liver health. It is important to have a well-balanced diet to ensure getting enough carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. Low-fat, high carbohydrate diet is likely to be recommended to help a liver function. It is a good idea to cut out foods with very high salt content that can be harmful to a liver patient. Patients with liver cirrhosis have a poor appetite because of low digestive function.

DIET CHART FOR LIVER CIRRHOSIS

EARLY-MORNING

Green tea / Herbal tea / Jau water

BREAKFAST

Broken wheat porridge (Sweet Dalia) / Oats / Semolina (Upma) / Poha (Rice flakes) / Idli / Vermicelli (Sweet Sewian) / Besan pancake (gram flour) / Chapatti with veg or Dal / Egg white portion only

MID-MORNING

Fruit / Coconut water / Herbal tea / Green tea / Steamed Salad / Sprouts

LUNCH

Arrowroot chapatti / Missi Roti / Boiled Rice / Sago Khichri / Veg pulav / Vegetable + Dal / Yogurt / Steamed salad

EVENING

Sprouts / Sago + Green tea / Soup (Home-made) / Herbal tea

DINNER

Chapatti / Boiled Rice / Vegetable + Dal + Tofu cheese

DIET INSTRUCTIONS

CEREALS

Cereals to be consumed

Whole grains cereals, Whole wheat flour, Oatmeal, Porridge, Brown rice, Millet, Multigrain flour, Sabudana, Rice flakes, Puffed Rice, Rice, Barley

Chapatti Ratio - Wheat flour= 1kg + Arrowroot Flour= 250 gm

Cereals based foods to be avoided

Sweet biscuit, Cream filled biscuit, Cream crackers, Cheese biscuits, Noodles, Pasta, Macaroni, White refined flour

FRUITS

Fruits to be consumed

Apples, Papaya, Pear, Sapodilla

Fruits to be avoided

All canned and packaged fruits, Grapes, Apricots, Orange, Berries, Blueberries, Cranberries, Guava, Lemon, Mangoes, All citrus fruits

VEGETABLES

Vegetables to be consumed

Bottle gourd, Bitter gourd, Ridge gourd, Round guard, Pumpkin, Boiled carrots, Coriander leaves, Spinach leaves, Fenugreek leaves, Turnip, Potatoes, Radish, Beetroot, Spinach, Cauliflower, Kale, Winter squash, Broccoli, Cabbage, Mushroom.

Vegetables to be avoided

Canned and frozen vegetables, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Onion, Garlic, Ginger

PULSES

Pulses to be consumed

All pulses and legumes

Pulses to be avoided

Dried and frozen pulses

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Dairy Products to be consumed

Nil

Dairy Products to be avoided

Milk and its products, Whole milk and cream, Yogurt, Cheese, Cream cheese, Condensed milk, Curd, Buttermilk

SPICES

Spices to be consumed

Cumin, Fennel, Coriander, Black salt, Thyme, Black Pepper, Fenugreek seeds

Spices to be avoided

Red chilies powder, Table salt (excess), Turmeric, Green chili

DRINKS

Drinks to be consumed

Coconut water, Clear soups, Fat-free homemade soups, Green juice, Herbal tea, Beetroot juice, Herbal tea, Bitter gourd juice, Pumpkin juice, Pomegranate juice (All of above in moderate quantity)

Drinks to be avoided

Whole milk drinks, Cream based liqueurs, Canned soup and packaged soup, Alcohol, Sweetened drinks, Squashes, Hot chocolate drinks, Coffee, Tea, Buttermilk

FLESH FOODS

Flesh Foods to be consumed

Egg white, Roasted / Grilled / Boiled Chicken or Fish

Flesh Foods to be avoided

Fish fried in suitable oil, Red meat, Prawns, Lobster, Crab, Lean beef, Pork, Lamb, Ham, Turkey, Rabbit, Egg yolk, Fish roe, Sausages, Mutton, Salami, Bacon, Duck, Goose, Meat pies, Visible fat on meat, Organ parts like Liver, Kidney and Chest.

SEEDS AND DRY FRUITS

Dry Fruits to be consumed

Almond- 5 (soak in water overnight), Soaked Dates and Figs, Flax seed, Pumpkin seed

Dry Fruits to be avoided

Pistachio, Raisins, Cashew nuts

OILS

Oils to be consumed

Cow ghee, Olive oil

Oils to be avoided

Hydrogenated oil, Butter, Coconut oil, Palm oil

OTHER FOODS

Other Foods to be consumed

Homemade only, Jaggery

Other Foods to be avoided

All bakery products or processed, Pastry, Puddings, Cakes, Biscuits, Sauces, Fruit jellies, Jams, Mayonnaise, White sugar, Ice-cream, Cream soups, Dark chocolate, Butter scotch, Coconut bar, Chutneys, Pickles, Junk food, Deep fried foods, All Spicy foods, Too much salty food

LIFESTYLE AND DIETARY TIPS

• Walk for at least 30 min is recommended
• Whole fruits should be preferred to fruit juices
• Skipping meals should be avoided, especially the breakfast.
• Water intake should be limited 8-10 glasses per day
• Flax seed- 1 tsp/ day
• Herbal Tea- Boil ½ tsp each of fennel, coriander, cumin in cups of water till it’s reduced to 2 cups.