Once diagnosed with liver disease, your goal is to help the organ return to it’s normal functions, it’s ability to process everything that you eat and drink. A healthy lifestyle can help you feel your best and help your body cope with it’s disease. By eating healthy and doing physical activity in moderation you will:
1. Give your body the energy it needs to work well.
2. Boost your immune system.
3. Help your liver renew itself.
Eat Well
Keep your energy level up by eating smaller meals and snacks more often. Decrease some of the symptoms and the side effects of any treatments, such as feeling tired and sick by following a healthy diet.
-
Carbohydrates (grains, fruits and vegetables)
-
Fat Healthy oils such as: Extra Virgin Olive, Canola oil, Avocado and Smart Balance oils. Omega 3, 6 reduces the inflammation in the liver: Fish, Walnuts, Flaxseed
-
Protein: Fish (3 x’s / wk), Poultry, Lean Meat
-
Salt, canned and processed foods must be limited.
-
Focus on lower fat choices within each food group.
-
Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids every day.
ENJOY THE HEALING POWER
1. Eat foods high in potassium to offset salt intake. Bananas, Kiwi, apricots, raisins, tomato puree, baked or roasted potatoes, veal and nuts, will all assist in ridding the body of excess sodium.
2. Enjoy light to moderate physical activity, such as walking, swimming, gardening
3.Build up slowly to 30 to 60 minutes of activity, at least 4 times a week.
4. Avoid food poisoning by storing and preparing foods safely. Wash your hands often.
5. Talk to your health care provider if depression affects your ability to eat well.
What your body does not need
1. Avoid alcohol.
2. Avoid foods that contain trans fat. Trans Fat must be 0 grams.
3. Reduce Sodium intake! No more pretzels , chips, popcorn, french fries, cheese, certain meats, soy sauce and Avoid Sports Drinks.
*Tips to reduce Sodium:
Omit salt or reduce salt by ½ in most recipes (except in products with yeast).
*Cook foods without adding salt.
*Don’t put the salt shaker on the table: try pepper, or Mrs Dash salt substitute
Frozen or canned vegetables
*Choose frozen vegetables without sauces or use no-salt-added canned goods. Rinsing canned vegetables will help reduce sodium.
Seasoning Salt or spice mixes with salt
*Use salt-free seasonings and spice mixes, herbs, spices, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, garlic or Chile peppers to flavor food instead of salt.
Seasonings high in sodium include: catsup, chili sauce, chili powder, bouillon cubes, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and meat tenderizers.
Use Salt Substitutes
Herbs and Spices
Basil Marjoram Oregano Parsley Rosemary Sage Thyme Garlic and onion
• Use each alone or mix them together. • BASIL, OREGANO, PARSLEY taste great in tomato sauces (use low sodium tomatoes or tomato sauce). Serve the sauce with pasta or rice.
With a 2 tbsp olive oil combine equal parts of ROSEMARY, SAGE, THYME, to a GARLIC clove, half ONION for your favorite beans. • Try any of these herbs in your steamed vegetables or in soups. • Try fresh garlic and onion sauté in a tbsp oil.
Chives Dill Parsley Tarragon
• Steam any one of these with your vegetables or with fish. • Tarragon is great in soup. • Dill is great in rice with vegetables and kidney beans, or in dips with yogurt and low fat sour cream. • Chives and parsley are great on top of salad, soup or baked potato. Good in dips with yogurt and sour cream.
Allspice Garlic Marjoram Parsley Thyme
• Mix these herbs and spices together for a terrific meat loaf, pot roast or other red meat dish.
Marjoram Rosemary Tarragon
• Mix these together, rub on your chicken or turkey (skin removed) and steam
Curry Powder Turmeric Garlic and Onion
• Mix these together with tomatoes (tomato sauce), rice, black beans and corn for a delicious Spanish flavor. • If you don’t like curry, try the same recipe without the curry powder.
Keep in communication with your doctor and dietitian so that neccessary adjustments can be made accordingly to your diet and physical activity plans.
By: K. Crocker
Literature Research
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/118/4/1388
http://organtransplant.mc.duke.edu/PDFs/Liver_Pre_3.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retr
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17006918&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_docsum
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=17047295&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum
http://magazine.wustl.edu/Winter05/SamuelKlein.htm
Filed under: Liver Disease | Tagged: Cancer, Cure, Diet, Dietary Guidelines, Fast Food, Food, Fruit, health, Lifestyle Change, Liver, Liver Disease, Meal Plan, Nutrition, Pathology, vegetables
