What dietary precautions should patients with liver disease take?

Dec 30, 2024 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Gao Jun

Introduction

Under normal circumstances, patients with liver disease should pay attention to avoiding high-fat foods, limiting sugar intake, consuming an appropriate amount of protein, increasing intake of high-vitamin foods, and avoiding spicy or irritating foods. It is also important to maintain dietary diversity and balance in daily meals, ensuring sufficient nutrient intake while avoiding excessive consumption of any particular nutrient.

Generally, patients with liver disease should pay attention to avoiding high-fat foods, limiting sugar intake, consuming adequate protein, increasing intake of high-vitamin foods, and avoiding irritating foods. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Avoid High-Fat Foods

High-fat foods, such as fatty meats and fried foods, can increase the metabolic burden on the liver and may lead to fat deposition in the liver, causing problems such as fatty liver disease. Therefore, patients with liver disease should avoid consuming high-fat foods to reduce the burden on the liver.

2. Limit Sugar Intake

Excessive sugar intake can elevate blood glucose levels, which may subsequently be converted into fat and stored in the liver, further burdening the liver. Additionally, a high-sugar diet may lead to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, posing threats to the health of patients with liver disease.

3. Consume Adequate Protein

Protein is an essential nutrient required for liver repair and regeneration. However, excessive protein intake may also increase the burden on the liver. Therefore, patients with liver disease should consume adequate amounts of high-quality protein, such as eggs, milk, and fish, based on their individual condition and as advised by their physician.

4. Increase Intake of High-Vitamin Foods

Vitamins are highly important for liver health. Patients with liver disease should consume more vitamin-rich foods, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, to supplement essential nutrients, enhance immunity, and promote liver repair and regeneration.

5. Avoid Irritating Foods

Spicy, raw, cold, fried, and other irritating foods may exacerbate liver inflammation and damage, hindering recovery. Therefore, patients with liver disease should avoid consuming such foods to prevent worsening of their condition.

In daily life, attention should be paid to dietary diversity and balance to ensure sufficient nutrient intake without excessive consumption of any particular nutrient. Avoiding unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol also contributes to liver health.

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What foods should not be eaten with liver disease?

Under normal circumstances, patients with liver disease need to control their diet and medication use. It is not recommended to consume foods such as fried chicken, white spirits (hard liquor), pork belly, high-sugar cakes, or preserved pork products. Medication use should follow medical advice, and self-administration of drugs such as acetaminophen tablets, ketoconazole capsules, isoniazid tablets, simvastatin tablets, and methotrexate tablets is not advised. A detailed analysis is as follows:

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Is Houttuynia cordata helpful for patients with liver disease?

In general, whether Houttuynia cordata (fish腥grass) is beneficial for patients with liver disease depends on the specific condition. For mild liver disease accompanied by damp-heat symptoms, Houttuynia cordata may have certain auxiliary effects. However, for severe liver disease or non-damp-heat types of liver disease, it usually has no significant effect. To maintain liver health, patients with liver disease should avoid alcohol consumption.