Hi Guys
Can anyone recommend a good cook book suitable for people with cirrhosis.
Regards
Hayley
Food: Hi Guys Can anyone recommend a... - British Liver Trust
Food
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bintcliffe
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8 Replies
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No need for a cook book just follow good dietary advice - each stage of the disease requires different things - a late stage patient where fuelling and muscle wastage are an issue requires different that someone say with fatty liver related cirrhosis, where ascites is a complication low salt diet is recommended.
It is best to see a liver specialist dietician for individualized diet plan then sort out meals round about their advice.
The BLT has dietary advice on their site but it is still best to see a dietician to get advice on the right types of foods and intake levels needed etc. britishlivertrust.org.uk/li...
Katie
Much appreciated Katie.
If there is massive weight loss and ESLD then its high protein diet and eat every 2 - 3 hours as that's as long as the body can use the nutrients for. Eggs/fish/chicken etc. And a high protein snack at bedtime to keep you going through the night. Ask for a dietician appointment with someone who knows the impact of LD.
You are correct in advising regular meals and snacks, however, we don't know the background or stage of Bintcliffes condition so she needs to seek individualized dietary advice from a qualified nutritionist/dietician.
Dietary advice for late stage liver disease differs massively than for someone at the 'looking after your liver stage'.
Whilst protein is important in late stage liver disease, carbohydrate intake is also of maximum importance.
"When you eat starchy carbohydrate it is broken down into sugar (glucose). This is your body’s main energy source. Some of this energy is stored in your muscles and liver as a starch called glycogen. This is a back-up energy store to be used later when it is needed, between meals, if you have missed a meal or during a long fast such as overnight.
The liver co-ordinates the release of this energy until you next have something to eat; these energy stores are then replaced at your next meal. If the liver is not working properly and you develop liver disease symptoms, the liver cannot replace this store.
The energy from the food you eat only lasts for 2 hours. If you have liver disease and have no energy stores, your body must find an alternative source of energy after this time. Fat tissue is hard to break down quickly, so instead your body will break down its own muscles for energy. If this continues, your muscles will get weaker and waste away.
It is important that you try and eat regular meals and snacks containing carbohydrate every 2-3 hours.
To prevent muscle being used for energy and to keep you strong, it is important to ‘re-fuel’ your body regularly. Eating meals and snacks containing starchy carbohydrate every 2-3 hours provides enough energy to stop your body breaking down its own muscles.
You will need a large bedtime snack containing carbohydrate for your body to use overnight as it is a long time until breakfast!
You should aim to have 50g of carbohydrate in your bedtime snack
Protein
Protein is essential to build and repair body tissue.
When your liver is not working properly your body needs more protein than usual. Extra protein in your diet can help to prevent further muscle breakdown and re-build lost muscle.
Try to include a good source of protein with at least 3-4 meals every day.
Examples include:
- Meat and poultry
- Fish
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Pulses such as peas, beans (including baked beans) and lentils/dhal
- Meat alternatives such as tofu, soya and Quorn."
The above dietary advice would be way out of line for someone with fatty liver for example - my hubby was put on this plan due to malnutrition and muscle wastage and actually succeeded in gaining weight and regaining muscle mass. He was under the care of liver specialist dietician.
Katie
Thank you Katie.
I have stage 4 compensated liver disease.
I must admit my diet is at the moment not good even though the hospital saved my life no one has given me any dietary advice and I am so confused.
I see my GP on 31st and I am going to ask for a referral.
Thank you all for taking the time to advise me.
Hayley X
Hi Hayley,
Welcome to the forum.
If you have a liver condition, there are some special considerations you may need to make in your diet to stay nutritionally well and to help to manage your condition. Some of these are specific to certain liver diseases, others relate to how advanced your liver disease is. We therefore always suggest that people should discuss their specific dietary needs with their own doctors in the first instance. The liver specialist may then chose to refer you on to a hospital registered dietitian for a specific diet plan.
Best wishes
Trust1
Many thanks I have an appointment to see my GP on 31st 😁
