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

Jau (barley) water can be consumed by an empty stomach after passing stool and brushing teeth.

(This helps in maintaining liver health)

(Barley is to be soaked overnight in two times water. Then this is to be boiled in the morning till it reduces to half. Let it cool down a bit and then consume)

BREAKFAST

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

(You can start your day with a light but nutritious breakfast. This will help in improving your digestion)

MID-MORNING

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

(Fruits and coconut water provide a soothing effect to the body. Steamed salads and sprouts are a good source of fibre)

LUNCH

Missi Roti / Boiled Rice / Sago Khichdi / Veg pulav / Vegetable + Dal / Steamed salad.

(You can have a light and digestive lunch which is nutritious and fulfil many needs of the body)

EVENING

Sprouts /Soup (Home-made) / Herbal tea/ Black chana soup with sendha namak (Pink salt), Roasted chana.

(To avoid staying empty stomach for a long time try above as a snack)

DINNER

Chapati / Boiled Rice / Vegetable + Dal.

(A light dinner helps in preventing constipation and is also very important to maintain desirable levels of digestive agni)

DIET INSTRUCTIONS

CEREALS

Cereals to be consumed

Whole grains cereals, Whole wheat flour, Oatmeal, Porridge, Brown rice, Red rice, Millets such as foxtail millets, finger millets, pearl millets, Multigrain flour (as mentioned below), Sabudana, Rice flakes, Puffed Rice, Brown Rice, Barley flour.

Chapatti Ratio – Wheat flour= 1kg + Arrowroot Flour (250 gm) + barley flour (250gm).

(These all cereals are easy to digest and increase digestive fire. Moreover they do not cause accumulation of endotoxins)

Cereals based foods to be avoided

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

(They all are responsible for accumulation of endotoxins. They diminish the digestive agni resulting in the aggravation of various doshas and aggravation of symptoms)

FRUITS

Fruits to be consumed

Apples, Papaya, Pear, Sapodilla (chiku), Amla (2-3) a day (boiled).

(Fruits are a good source of nutrition but with liver disorder it is very important to understand that all fruits cannot be consumed. But above mentioned fruits can be easily consumed and causes no harm just provides body with adequate nutrition)

Fruits to be avoided

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

(These fruits are to be avoided because they are rich in fibre and citrus fruits causes pitta aggravation which results in symptom aggravation)

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, Cauliflower, Kale, Winter squash, Broccoli, Cabbage, Mushroom., lettuce.

(The vegetables are a good source of minerals and vitamins. They help in fulfilling essential requirements of body)

Vegetables to be avoided

Canned and frozen vegetables, Cucumber, Tomatoes, Onion, Garlic, Ginger, mustard greens.

(They all are responsible for pitta aggravation and must to be avoided)

PULSES

Pulses to be consumed

Pulses like pigeon peas (Tuvar / arhar dal), yellow moong, green moong, split green moong, split chana dal, pink lentils.

(They all can be consumed as they are good sources of protein and are easy to digest. Do not cause any kind of ama vitiation)

Pulses to be avoided

Dried and frozen pulses, kidney beans, black gram, black lentils, soybeans.

(These all pulses are not to be consumed because they cause vitiation of pitta and vata dosha resulting in aggravation of symptoms. The agni is also imbalanced)

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, paneer, ice creams, butter, flavored yogurt and other dairy items.

(These all are heavy to digest and hence causes ama accumulation which results in imbalance in digestive agni)

SPICES

Spices to be consumed

Cumin, Fennel, Coriander, Black salt, Thyme, Black Pepper, Fenugreek seeds, Dried methi leaves, coriander leaves, Turmeric.

(They all act as agni deepniya and hence balances agni within optimum levels. They do not aggravate pitta, vata or kapha instead balances them)

Spices to be avoided

Red chilies powder, White Sea salt (excess), Green chilies.

(They all are responsible for aggravation of pitta)

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)

(The drinks are free from various types of preservatives and are totally natural hence causes no bad effect on the body)

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.

(Increases dosha vitiation)

FLESH FOODS

Flesh Foods to be consumed

Egg white, Roasted / Grilled / Boiled Chicken soup containing a little amount of shredded meat or Fish (All are to consume occasionally)

(They provide protein and essential nutrition to the body. Egg white if taken occasionally is very effective in maintaining albumin levels)

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.

(They all are heavy to digest and cause agni mandya. Thus causes worsening of symptoms)

SEEDS AND DRY FRUITS

Dry Fruits to be consumed

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

(Dry fruits and nuts are essential and helps in strengthening the body)

Dry Fruits to be avoided

Pistachio, Raisins, Cashew nuts, sunflower seeds.

(They all causes aggravation of doshas)

OILS

Oils to be consumed

Cow ghee, Olive oil.

(These are neutral and do not cause any kind of dosha vitiation or agni mandya)

Oils to be avoided

Hydrogenated oil, Butter, Coconut oil, Palm oil.

(They are responsible for agni mandya)

OTHER FOODS

Other Foods to be consumed

Homemade only, Jaggery.

(Homemade products are good source of nutrition and do not cause any kind of harmful effects on body)

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, Butterscotch, Coconut bar, Chutneys, Pickles, Junk food, Deep fried foods, All Spicy foods, Too much salty food.

(These are not good for body and contains a lot of preservatives which affect body in a very bad way and diminish the agni)

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 breakfast.
• Water intake should be limited 8-10 glasses per day
• Flaxseed – 1 tsp/ day
• Try sleeping early at night and wake up early in the morning
• Avoid all the food articles as advised as diet plays a very major role.
• Have pomegranate juice (Homemade) on daily basis
• Herbal Tea – Boil ½ tsp each of fennel, coriander, cumin in cups of water till it’s reduced to 2 cups. This can be used in case of indigestion, gas and acidity as well.