Liver Cirrhosis Diet: Eating To Manage Your Condition

Liver cirrhosis is a serious condition characterised by scarring of the liver, which can lead to impaired liver function and other side effects, including fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, and nausea. A liver cirrhosis diet can help prevent malnutrition, preserve lean body mass, and protect against further liver damage. The diet typically involves eating plenty of calories and high-quality protein, limiting unhealthy fats, alcohol, raw meat and seafood, and high-sodium foods. It is important to work with a healthcare professional to tailor the diet to individual needs, as nutritional recommendations vary depending on several factors.

Foods to Eat: Focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats

A liver cirrhosis diet should be rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Here are some specific foods to eat:

Fruits

Fruits are an essential part of a liver cirrhosis diet. Aim for a variety of colourful fruits, such as apples, oranges, berries, pears, peaches, and plums. These fruits are packed with antioxidants and other nutrients that can help protect liver health.

Vegetables

When it comes to vegetables, opt for broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, tomatoes, peas, and potatoes. Like fruits, vegetables provide a wealth of antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds that can support liver function.

Whole grains

Whole grains such as quinoa, oats, brown rice, and buckwheat are excellent choices. They provide complex carbohydrates and fibre, which can help regulate blood sugar and promote a healthy gut environment.

Lean proteins

It is important to include a variety of lean protein sources in your diet. Prioritize plant-based proteins such as beans, lentils, chickpeas, and other legumes. These foods are rich in fibre and provide essential amino acids to support liver health. Also, include lean animal proteins like fish (salmon, tuna, sardines), skinless poultry (chicken, turkey), and low-fat dairy products.

Healthy fats

Incorporate healthy fats into your meals, such as olive oil, avocados, avocado oil, nuts (walnuts, almonds, pistachios), and seeds (pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds). These foods provide essential fatty acids and help improve liver function.

Foods to Avoid: Limit salt, sugar, processed foods, alcohol, and fatty foods

A cirrhosis diet is designed to help people with cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, who may become malnourished due to changes in their metabolism and digestion. This is because cirrhosis can lead to malnutrition, meaning that the body is not getting the right amount of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients it needs to stay healthy.

Salt

Limit your salt intake as salt may worsen fluid buildup and swelling in the liver. The liver plays a major role in regulating the balance of water and sodium in your body. When cirrhosis develops, the liver may lose this ability, leading to fluid retention, which can result in swelling of the feet and legs and a build-up of fluid in the abdomen. This can cause abdominal discomfort and make it difficult to eat without feeling bloated and uncomfortable.

Sugar

Limit your sugar intake. Blood sugar levels may be particularly difficult to control in people with cirrhosis. The liver plays a major role in controlling blood sugar levels, and people with cirrhosis may develop high blood sugar levels or hyperglycaemia. Many people with cirrhosis also have underlying type 2 diabetes.

Processed foods

Avoid processed and fast foods as they are high in sodium. Prepackaged and convenience food items are often high in sodium or contain added salt. Check food labels—anything with more than 1.5g of salt per 100g (or 0.6g sodium) is high in salt. Some bottled waters are also high in sodium, so check the labels carefully.

Alcohol

Completely stop drinking alcohol, as it can cause more liver damage and contribute to malnutrition and other health concerns.

Fatty foods

Limit your fat intake. The body digests fats using bile, a yellow-green fluid made in the liver. When the liver is damaged, the production and supply of bile may be affected, leading to digestive symptoms. A liver that isn’t working well has a hard time processing a high-fat meal.

Managing Sodium: Aim for low-sodium options to prevent fluid retention and swelling

A cirrhosis diet is designed to help people with cirrhosis who may become malnourished due to changes in their metabolism and digestion. This occurs as the liver becomes more damaged. The diet can help to provide adequate nutrition, reduce the amount of work the liver needs to do, thwart related complications, and prevent further liver damage.

The liver plays a major role in regulating the balance of water and sodium (salt) in your body. When cirrhosis develops, the liver may lose this ability, leading to fluid retention. This can result in swelling of the feet and legs (oedema) and a build-up of fluid in the abdomen (ascites).

To prevent fluid retention and swelling, it is important to manage your sodium intake. The recommended daily sodium intake for people with cirrhosis and ascites is 2,000 milligrams or less per day. This is significantly lower than the average American diet, which contains more than 3,300 milligrams of sodium per day.

• Avoid adding salt to meals at the table. If needed, add a small amount during cooking.
• Stay away from very salty foods such as bacon, ham, sausages, salami, and other cold cuts.
• Avoid fish tinned in brine, including salmon, tuna, and pilchards. Opt for products tinned in oil or water instead.
• Check food labels. Anything with more than 1.5 grams of salt per 100 grams (or 0.6 grams of sodium) is high in salt.
• Be mindful of the type of water you drink, as some bottled waters are high in sodium.
• Be aware that some prescription and over-the-counter medications have a high salt content. Consult your pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure.

If you are looking for ways to add flavour to your food without salt, consider using ground pepper, vinegar, herbs, and spices. Here are some specific suggestions:

• Lemon juice on fish or meat
• Olive oil and vinegar with salad and vegetables
• Mustard powder or nutmeg with mashed potato
• Fresh herbs, lime, garlic, chilli, and ginger with pasta, vegetables, and meat dishes

Energy and Protein: Ensure adequate energy and protein intake to prevent muscle loss

Liver cirrhosis is a condition that affects the liver's ability to function properly, which can lead to malnutrition and muscle loss. To prevent this, it is important to ensure adequate energy and protein intake. Here are some recommendations and guidelines to help you achieve this:

Increase Calorie and Protein Intake:

People with liver cirrhosis often need to consume more calories and protein to meet their body's increased energy demands. Aim to include a variety of protein-rich foods in your diet, such as:

• Beans and pulses: lentils, kidney beans, baked beans
• Nuts: almonds, walnuts
• Eggs, cheese, and dairy products
• Fish: cod, salmon, tuna, sardines, mackerel
• Lean meats: turkey, chicken, beef, pork, lamb

Eat Little and Often:

Instead of having three large meals a day, aim for smaller, more frequent meals and snacks. This helps prevent the body from breaking down muscle protein for energy. Try to eat something every 2-3 hours and have a snack before bedtime. Include high-calorie, high-protein snacks such as:

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Vitamins and Supplements: Consider vitamin D, B-complex, and milk thistle for additional support

When living with cirrhosis or advanced liver disease, it is important to eat healthily and ensure you are getting enough energy (calories), protein, and not too much salt. This is crucial to stop you from becoming malnourished and losing muscle mass. In addition to a healthy diet, there are several vitamins and supplements that can be taken to support liver health.

Vitamin D plays a major role in liver health. Vitamin D deficiency is common in people with liver conditions like cirrhosis, and this may increase your risk of developing liver disease. Malnutrition often results from the liver’s inability to process vitamin D and other vitamins. This lack of nutrition can make the symptoms of cirrhosis more severe, and it can also weaken your immune system. Vitamin D supplements may be able to help treat liver disease and cirrhosis, and they can also increase the chances of a successful liver transplant.

Milk thistle has been used for 2,000 years as an herbal remedy for liver, kidney, and gall bladder problems. Scientific studies suggest that substances in milk thistle, especially a flavonoid called silymarin, protect the liver from toxins, including certain drugs that can cause liver damage in high doses. Silymarin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it may help the liver repair itself by growing new cells. It is also widely used in the treatment of viral hepatitis.

B-complex vitamins are also important for liver health, particularly in alcoholic liver disease.

Frequently asked questions