DIET AND NUTRITION FOR LIVER DISEASE AND HEPATITIS
After being diagnosed with liver disease, some of the first questions that a person typically asks concern diet and nutrition. Commonly asked questions include: What foods are good for the liver? Are there foods that can harm the liver? Are vitamin supplements helpful? How much protein should I get in my diet? Unfortunately, many doctors lack the expertise to supply knowledgeable answers to these and similar questions. One reason for this is that most medical schools do not spend enough time on the topics of diet, nutrition, and exercise.
Everything that enters the body must pass through the liver to be processed. The liver functions as a filter to protect the body from harmful substances and is responsible for the production and use of most nutrients. Therefore, everything that is ingested has an effect on the liver—some positive, some negative. That’s why it is advisable for people to eat foods with an eye towards promoting liver health. This is especially true when the liver is damaged. Understanding the basics of nutrition is necessary in order to make intelligent food choices that will benefit the liver. Due to FDA regulations, food labels contain nutritional information. A person with liver disease should always read these labels carefully. Also, most people with liver disease need to restrict some foods from their diets. This should not be viewed as a punishment, but rather as a step in the direction of a healthier liver.
IS THERE AN OPTIMAL DIET FOR THOSE WITH LIVER DISEASE?
GENERAL NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR LIVER DISEASE
FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO AVOID
All contents of this article are Copyright © Melissa Palmer, MD
Melissa Palmer, MD is the author of " Dr. Melissa Palmer's Guide of Hepatitis and Liver Disease". (Published 2004. Penguin Putnam).
Dr. Palmer is an internationally renowned hepatologist who has been practicing medicine since 1985. Prior to 2012, she maintained perhaps the largest medical practice devoted to liver disease in the United States. Dr. Palmer is Clinical Professor of Medicine at New York University Medical Center. Dr. Palmer graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. and was trained in hepatology (as well as medical school) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City.
Dr. Palmer is Board Certified in Gastroenterology and in Internal Medicine.
She has authored numerous scientific publications in the field of hepatology in such peer-reviewed journals as Hepatology, Gastroenterology, Seminars of Liver Disease, Transplantation and Archives of Internal Medicine.
She is frequently called upon by the media for her opinion on various topics related to liver disease. Dr. Palmer has appeared many times on television as a liver disease expert and has been quoted in such publications as TIME magazine, Cosmopolitan magazine, Prevention magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and Newsday. She also has appeared in numerous videos and CD-Roms aimed at educating doctors and the public about hepatitis C and other liver diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis. Dr. Palmer lectures to the medical and general public on liver disease-related topics on a regular basis.
Dr. Palmer has performed numerous clinical trials on various experimental medications for the treatment of hepatitis.
Dr. Palmer is currently available for lecturing, investor and hedge-fund consultations, consultations to industry, and media interviews and appearances-- including television. For such matters, she can be contacted through hepatitismedia@gmail.com.
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