My daughter persuaded me around 2 months ago to become a vegetarian, something i have not found that hard to do what with all the available meat copycat meals. Now she wants me to become a vegan, I don't mind this as tbh my tummy is getting bigger with all the cakes , cheese etc. My quandary is though whether a vegan diet will give me all i need or are there certain foods i need to top up on. I'm happy to add fish like sardines etc (which i know does not make me a vegan) if there are not good plant based alternatives for protein etc.
Any advice would be great
I hope everyone is keeping well during this odd time
Chris x
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Chris-harris
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Hi Chris. With liver disease you must make sure you get plenty of protien in your diet as l am sure you are aware. Without it and regular weight bearing exercise you will lose muscle mass and strength. I would seek professional dietry advice before undertaking any faddy diet which could be lacking vital nutrients.
There are a lot of protein options available for vegans - nuts, quinoa, seeds, beans etc.
You can purchase vegan protein powder too. It’s always better to get protein from whole foods but there’s nothing wrong with using protein powder if you’re slacking on your protein intake for the day. Protein shakes are very convenient.
But you are right, he should still check with his dietician as we are not aware of what foods he is/isn’t allowed to eat.
Please check with your dietician first. I don’t have liver disease so I’m not educated on what you’re allowed to eat and what you need to stay away from.
I am sure you will still be able to get all the necessary macros and nutrients needed when you’re vegan.
Protein: nuts, seeds, quinoa, beans, proteins in certain fruits and veg etc + you said you can eat fish so that’s another good protein source. Also there are vegan protein powders available which you can mix with water if you’re slacking on your protein intake.
Carbs: fruit, veg, oats, brown bred and rice, dates etc
These are all examples. There are many more options out there but as has been suggested, double check with your dietician regarding the foods you’re planning to eat.
Sorry to be pedantic, but you can't be vegetarian if you eat fish, so you definitely can't be vegan. You could cut down on dairy products. With vegetarian or vegan diets it's not so hard to have adequate protein, but B vitamins, especially b12 and 6 are harder to come by.
I've been a vegetarian for most of my life, but I would really struggle to give up milk and dairy. I find that the current vegan trend has increased the number of veggie products, but these foods are highly processed and can contain a lot of salt, fat and sugar. Many people think they are improving their health by eating these foods, and actually they are eating more processed and unhealthy things. I personally try to avoid them and stick to self made foods, nuts, pulses, tofu etc.
On the subject of protein powders, these are not regulated in the same way as medicine, and have been shown to have differing nutritional values to the ones stated on the packaging. Protein in high doses is very dangerous to the kidneys, I would stay well away, unless properly prescribed by a dietitian.
Best of luck with whatever you decide. Take care. X
I don't eat fish, what i was trying to say is that i would like to follow a vegan diet but if this was to be detrimental to my heath then i would have to up the diet with foods rich in protein etc., if this cannot be achieved by plants then i would have to revert to fish now and again .
Just to be as clear as i can, i do not want to be a vegetarian / vegan because of any deep affinity with animals, selfishly i am considering what options i have that are best for me, my daughter eats many pulses / beans / salads etc so if it does not cause me to lack in anything i would like to join her.
As people may or not know i was diagnosed back in 2017 so as laura mentioned i understand all the dietary risks and will not be going down the supplement route.
I guess as my biggest downfall is the likes of cheese / choc /cakes etc, trying a vegan diet seemed the best way to keep these evils at bay
Protein powders are an excellent tool to get you’re required daily protein intake. You have to be careful though because a lot of them are full of shit and preservatives. There are a lot natural good quality protein powders out there if you know where to look.
I don’t have liver disease so I’m not sure what the diet is supposed to be, however I was under the assumption that protein was very important? Not sure why people are saying to stay away from it? Can some explain.
Hi I’m vegan & have been for nearly 4 years. Do your research as there’s plenty of advice out there. I would say that both my GP & Consultant are happy with this & my blood works are showing no deficiencies. I do take D3, Calcium, multi vita with iodine, & elderberry But more because of my inability to absorb rather than lacking in my diet. I would suggest you join the Facebook group Challenge22 which is where I started. They are friendly & helpful & also have a nutritionist on their admin. I eat a combination of healthy & junk food depending on my mood! Also being vegan means that many alcoholic drinks are a no-no as their processing can contain non vegan elements ie fish guts to filter wine so easier to avoid drinking altogether. I’m 18 months sober & certainly don’t miss the faffing around checking & double checking the Booze. Check out The Vegan Society website & they will send you info to get you going. Hope that helps & am happy to answer any more questions xx
You say "persuaded you", so were you reluctant ? I tried a vegetarian diet for a while, but got fed up with the "substitutes"for meat dishes, chilli with quorn and sausages with a meat alternative, and don't mention Tofu..... Yuk. I know it's trendy now to be veggie, but veganism, I have read, will probably lead to dietary deficiencies, which would not be good for people with cirrhosis.
What would be the benefit to you to go vegan? I suggest having a chat with a dietician at your Liver Clinic, before deciding.
I was not dead set against the idea but always been a big meat eater so took a bit of time. Tbh vegitarian is fine and meals are lovely,i think the constant puppy fat that doesnt seem to want to ho was why i thought about being a vegan., although i suspect exercise would probably be better
I've got a vegan friend who manages to eat just as much cakes, sweet stuff and 'fakeaways' even following a vegan diet. She isn't loosing weight on it at all but is a wheel chair user and sadly can't exercise either.
All plant protiens have lo amounts of bcaa's and most of the protein is bound to something else making bioavailability as issue. you need to supplement with bcaa's or a high quality whey protein powwder every morning.30 grams. nothing that says added bcaa's. that a gimmick and indicitave of cheap product. undenatured whey is best.
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