Diet therapy for liver cirrhosis

For many patients, cirrhosis of the liver causes varying degrees of damage to their liver function, leading to many complications. Therefore, many patients with cirrhosis choose to regulate their bodies through diet therapy. The diet therapy for cirrhosis treatment requires that the food selected by the patient contains sufficient nutrients to make up for the nutritional deficiencies caused by cirrhosis of the liver.

However, when patients with cirrhosis supplement their nutrients through diet therapy, they should be careful not to blindly favor high-protein and high-fat foods in pursuit of high nutrition. Doing so will only have the opposite effect.

1. The supply of sugars must be sufficient. 300 to 500 grams per day is appropriate. Adequate carbohydrates ensure that the liver synthesizes and stores glycogen, which is necessary to prevent toxins from damaging liver cells. However, eating too much sugar not only affects appetite, but also easily causes fat accumulation in the body, inducing fatty liver and arteriosclerosis. The patient's weight will also gradually increase, further increasing the burden on the liver and leading to a decline in liver function.

2. Do not use too much fat. Animal oil is prohibited, but a small amount of vegetable oil can be used. The synthesis and secretion of bile in the liver of patients with cirrhosis are reduced, which seriously affects the digestion and absorption of fat. After eating too much fat, excessive fat is deposited in the liver, which not only induces fatty liver, but also blocks the synthesis of glycogen, causing further decline in liver function. Generally speaking, 40 to 50 grams per day is appropriate.

3. Salt intake should be moderate. The daily intake of salt should not exceed 1.0~1.5 grams, and the amount of water consumed should be limited to 2000 ml. For patients with severe ascites or edema, daily salt intake should be strictly controlled below 500 mg and water intake within 1000 ml.

4. Drinking is prohibited. Alcohol is mainly metabolized in the body by the liver and excreted from the body. Drinking alcohol puts more strain on an already weakened liver. Therefore, it is absolutely forbidden to drink any alcoholic beverages, and avoid irritating foods such as chili peppers, mustard, etc., as well as foods with added salt and MSG.

5. Food should be soft and not rough. You should avoid eating foods with thorns and bones, as well as foods containing rough fiber such as celery, leeks, old cabbage, and bean sprouts. You should also avoid eating hard, crispy dry foods to prevent injuring the esophagus and causing rupture and bleeding. Patients with esophageal varices should be given liquid diet, such as vegetable puree, minced meat, and soft rice. They should fast when there is upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

6. Eat small meals frequently. The digestive ability of patients with cirrhosis is reduced, so they should not eat too much each time to avoid increasing the burden on the liver. Eat small meals frequently, especially when you have ascites. You should pay more attention to reducing your food intake to avoid increasing the feeling of fullness and discomfort.

The above are a few points to note for patients with cirrhosis to regulate their bodies through dietary therapy in their daily diet. I hope that it can help patients with cirrhosis pay attention to regulating their bodies according to the contents described in this article in their daily dietary conditioning for cirrhosis, which will definitely help alleviate their own cirrhosis symptoms.