Diet and Nutrition for Liver Disease and Hepatitis

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

VITAMINS

MINERALS

PROTEIN

AMINO ACID SUPPLEMENTS

CARBOHYDRATES

FAT

FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO AVOID

GAS - RELATED PROBLEMS

CAFFEINE AND THE LIVER

GLUTEN AND THE LIVER