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.
