Your health is something that you simply can not take for granted. Taking care of your body is an intense responsibility that is best implemented with the practical application of knowledge gained from your doctor regarding any particular ailments you may have.
This is no less true in the case of planning a cirrhosis diet.
If your liver is compromised in any way, you may be familiar with some of the most common symptoms, such as a jaundiced color to the skin and eyes.
Of course, it goes without saying, that the true expert with regards your health is your physician. Being an educated patient allows you to be your own health advocate. With that being said, always take what you read online with a grain of salt.
Cirrhosis Diet Basics
As you know, everything you consume liquid as well as solid must be processed by your body. Your liver is responsible for removing toxins from your body however they got there.
Healthy Meals Are In Your Future
Your job, in establishing healthy guidelines for your new diet, is to make the job of your liver as easy as possible and not consume anything that is overly taxing to this vital organ.
You might be a bit surprised to see what this sort of diet looks like. In fact, it may even look a bit familiar to you. Your teachers have told you for years all about the most important tenets in planning a healthy diet. Planning your diet around the needs of a compromised liver will look very similar to those healthy cases we've always been encouraged to adopt.
Really, anyone with a poor diet would benefit from adopting the principles outlined in this brief article, not just those suffering from cirrhosis.
Successfully Constructing Your Cirrhosis Diet
Without further a do, let's take a look at what should and what should not be included in this sort of meal plan:
โข 1st, regardless of how you become Cirrhotic, you absolutely 100% must not ingest alcohol. We're talking about a glass of wine at a wedding, a beer when you sit down on the couch and anything containing alcohol. Your liver simply can not handle the stress anymore.
โข Salt is another big no-no. You want to become someone who reads labels carefully and you'll also want to keep in mind that many packaged and processed foods use a lot of salt and you want to find alternatives. It's helpful if you develop a taste for salt free seasonings, which are very easy to get used to and add a lot of flavor. After a time, you will learn to enjoy this taste and you will not even miss the soul anymore.
โข That is another bogeyman that you'll need to keep track of without fail. Of course, some fats are a necessity but you should plan the inclusion of fat in your diet around healthy sources and lean sources like Omega threes. Saturated fats will work against your liver and contribute to its deterioration.
Now that we've talked about what not to put in your cirrhosis diet, were going to talk a little bit about what you should be including from now on.
โข Without overdoing it, you want to add protein to your diet but always from lean sources.
โข You may substitute red meat with ground turkey (keep in mind the salt content, even-remember you are a label reader now) for example.
โข Eggs, regardless of what you may have heard about cholesterol, can be a great lean source protein and actually help your cells cells begin the process of repairing themselves.
โข You might try preparing your eggs hard-boiled for ease of snacking and to be sure to add nothing negative to your diet.
Just remember everything in moderation (except for alcohol).
No one includes plenty of fresh, healthy and raw vegetables in your diet from now on. If this is not your cup of tea, do not fret you can use other foods as well as salt free seasonings to make the food you do not needarily prefer more desirable to your palate.
You'll want to eschew steak as the fat content is high, but there are many alternatives you may want to consider. If you happen to be a vegetarian, tofu is a great alternative to many fatty foods, including plenty of protein, and can actually take on the taste of other foods.
Get creative and make sure you really enjoy your new diet. Nuts are a good source of lean protein as well.
If you're a coffee drinker, here's good news: drinking coffee can actually help your liver! Be mindful of what you include in your coffee however. A nondairy creamer is a better alternative than whole milk, 2% or even skim.
As you can see, planning your cirrhosis diet requires require understanding the needs of your body in the context of liver cirrhosis. Obviously, you can plan your diet without feeling like you have to eat food you will not like.
Making the effort is important-speak with your doctor, remember the tenets put forth in this article, and learn to enjoy healthy eating: you'll be glad you did.
