GENERAL NUTRITIONAL GUIDELINES FOR HEPATITIS AND LIVER DISEASE

Notwithstanding the above information, an optimal diet for a person with stable liver disease (modifications to be made as per individualized needs) might contain all of the factors listed below. (You’ll note that this diet resembles a generalized healthy diet for all people—even those without liver disease. And, in fact, that’s exactly what it is!)

• 60- to 70-percent carbohydrates—primarily complex carbohydrates, such as pasta and whole-grain breads.

• 20- to 30-percent protein—only lean animal protein and/or vegetable protein.

• 10- to 20-percent polyunsaturated fat.

• 8- to 12 eight-ounce glasses of water per day.

• 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day.

• Avoidance of excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin A, vitamin B₃, and iron.

• No alcohol.

• Avoidance of processed food.

• Liberal consumption of fresh organic fruits and vegetables.

• Avoidance of excessive caffeine consumption—no more than 1 to 3 cups of caffeine-containing beverages per day.

• Vitamin D and calcium supplement.

- Vitamin C

-  an antioxidant such as vitamin E or CoQ 10

-  Glucosamine chondroitin

Since people typically eat a wide variety of foods, the liver must constantly be engaged in an intricate balancing act to ensure that the right nutrients get to the right parts of the body in the right amounts. In a healthy person, this balancing act occurs automatically. But when the liver has been weakened or damaged, it has trouble juggling the various nutrients. This is where the diet of a person with a liver problem comes into play. If she eats the right balance of foods, her already burdened liver won’t have to work as hard. Nutrition is one aspect of disease where a person has some degree of control and can actively participate in speeding recovery and minimizing the likelihood of additional injury. The following sections discuss different nutrients in detail.

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).

The offices of Melissa Palmer, M.D. are located at:

1097 Old Country Road Suite 104

Plainview, Long Island N.Y 11803

or

500 Portion Road

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To arrange an appointment with Dr. Palmer, call

(516) 939-2626

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