Which Is more important, losing weight or eating the right food.

[Sophia1968]

morning everyone, could someone please clarify something for me, I have never been great with understanding nutrients etc, and when I read (even on here) what I should or shouldn’t eat, I just get so confused, especially as I’m trying to juggle diebetes with the wheat allergy on top of the liver issue, I’m very limited on what I can eat, since my fibroscan in April I have been totally focussed on losing the weight because I know that will help, however I am losing more than the recommended amount and worry that I may be hurting my liver even more, but for me I just want this weight off asap as I needed to lose about 6 stone in total and have lost 2.5 stone so far in two months but now I’m thinking is that ok, I’m also concerned because I have been focussing on low sats and salt as in looking at 1.5 and under per 100grams….. but I have not been watching the carbs as much as I should, only in the fact of eating jacket potatoes , plain mash, gluton free chips , new potatoes, not loads but usually one or the other daily, the only thing I can eat out with friends is jacket potatoe cos everything else is either high sats and salt or not gluton free, I am only asking about the carbs regarding the liver because someone on a fb site was saying how bad carbs are with liver disease or cirrohsis ….I’m sorry to keep asking questions and I know I need a dietitian but to get one who covers all areas at once is very hard, I have a dietician on a six month call for my wheat allergy, I have a nurse for my diebetes, but no one for my liver, when I talk to either of the others they always say I don’t really know about your allergy or I don’t deal with diebetes, it’s so hard to juggle three conditions, esp for me because I’m really not up on the nutrient side, ie proteins , carbs etc and knowing what to look for as in amounts , I know it will take a lot to learn all That I need to and I do not expect anyone on here to do that, but I would like to know if eating potatoes every day is acceptable , and looking at 1.5 and under for sats and under 1 for salt is ok, does the 1.5 count for sugar as well 🤦‍♀️, sorry if I have asked similar before , my memory is really rubbish these days , thank you in advance for any help you can offer xx

[RugbyMama]

First of all, please dont take the word of facebook over anything else. It is challenging when you have got lots of conditions/symptoms that need different things. There is some research that a low carb diet is beneficial for your liver and reducing your carbohydrates will also benefit your diabetes. You also need a lot of protein to help reduce muscle wastage.

So, high protein, low fat, low carb. Try to build each meal around your protein source. For example breakfast might be eggs, sausage (chicken sausages are low fat and usually gluten free) or maybe some smoked salmon, and some veggies - tomatoes or mushrooms. Or you might have fat free yogurt with a few berries. Lunch could be a salad with a low fat dressing, low fat cottage cheese and some oatcakes, carrot sticks and homemade houmous. Dinner - try to fill most of your plate with lean protein and veggies, then add in a potato or two at the end. Rice, grains like quinoa, all good options as well.

Snack on nuts, protein bars, unsweetened yogurts, veggies, small amounts of fruit but avoid bananas ans grapes that have a lot of natural sugar. If you are eating the right foods, the weigh loss should follow naturally.

[Sophia1968 in reply to RugbyMama]

thank you for replying hun, I was a bit worried after seeing the post , but I should have known better than to listen to fb …. I will try to build my protein up, and I will pull my carbs in a bit, trying to juggle conditions as well as looking for low sats, low salt and low sugar was really making it hard to find anything to eat, I have never added salt to food even when cooking so I’m ok there, but do I still need to buy foods that are green ( low) for salt or is medium ok, also do I still need a snack before bed even though I’m trying to lose weight, would a rice cake be ok or is that not enough? ( I assume a chocolate rice cake is a no no lol) the only reason I say rice cake is because they are gluten free, a lot of the protein bars are not, as for bananas and grapes, typical they are what I eat the most of , I usually have two small bananas every day, I also eat Activia yogurt which is fat and sugar free, is it true as well that I can only eat tinned salmon max three times per week? I am sorry to ask all these questions but I do struggle with wanting to do what’s right, one last thing I gave up milk but was told a glass per day is good for me, again I’m not sure if that’s true , thank you for your help , hope you are enjoying this lovely weather xx

[RugbyMama in reply to Sophia1968]

Not sure about salts (hubby is early into diagnosis but told his sodium levels are good so what to eat/not eat hasnt been fully discussed yet) but not adding salt to food is often key for liver patients.

All women who are not through menopause shouldnt have any oily fish (including salmon) more than twice a week according to NHS website due to the high level of pollutants stored in the fish.

And with milk, calcium is important and is difficult foe your body to absorb. I think the old-school view that milk is good for you is dying out but at the end of the day if you enjoy it, its not affecting your liver, your blood sugar and you are losing weight don't do yourself out of something you enjoy because of someone else's opinion.

[Sophia1968 in reply to RugbyMama]

thank you so much , you have been really helpful, good luck to your husband going forward xx

[Corin1950]

Hi Sophia

I do not want to further confuse you but all the latest research on diet for health indicates the best diet is largely plant based and wholefood. This apparently can reverse type 2 diabetes and cause weight loss naturally. You have to eat mostly whole grains ( in your case brown rice, quinoa, corn, buckwheat as they are gluten free), lots of vegetables ( think rainbow all colours though greens are most beneficial ), legumes (beans, peas, lentils etc) all fruit, unsalted nuts and seeds. These foods feed your gut microbiome which reduces inflammation. Main things to avoid are saturated fat and processed food. No cakes, biscuits etc. Avoid anything with artificial sweeteners. You can have healthy fats as in avocado. I’ve started doing it but still eat oily fish and chicken about once a week and red meat about once I month. I still eat natural live fat free yoghurt and skimmed milk in tea but use almond milk in porridge and oat milk in coffee. I have real coffee in the mornings and drink various herbal and green teas and lots of water. I use extra virgin olive oil for cooking and on salad. When I go out if there’s nothing better like you I have jacket potato or salad. I eat a bit of dark chocolate 70% too. I have quite high fat in my liver so am hoping it will help as the diet is good for getting rid of visceral fat. I’ve lost a few pounds since started it and feel generally good which helps with exercising. In a way I’m using myself as a Guinea pig to trial it so if it is successful I’ll keep you informed.

Good luck on your journey

[AnxiousPete in reply to Corin1950]

Not all artificial sweeteners are bad for the liver. Stevia is even associated with possible reduction in fatty liver.

[pushthrough in reply to AnxiousPete]

Hey anxiouspete. Unfortunately ALL artificial sweeteners are bad for your liver either directly or indirectly because of what they turn into after being processed by your body.

[AnxiousPete in reply to pushthrough]

Stevia is not problem for the liver but is a natural sweetener rather than artificial so you are correct but if someone with diabetes and liver disease has a sweet tooth this is not harmful and may have some benefits for NAFLD. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/322....

[Sophia1968 in reply to AnxiousPete]

I did hear that as well Pete xx

[mozlaw in reply to Corin1950]

for diabetes the best diet is to lose about 15 per cent of your weight .see the newcastle diet by roy taylor of newcastle university

[Sophia1968 in reply to mozlaw]

thank you x

[Sophia1968 in reply to Corin1950]

wow, I must admit everything you said is so informative , it proves how uneducated I am, I had not even heard of most things you mentioned and would hav3 no idea where to buy them or how to make meals, it’s a wake up call just how unhealthy my diet probably is still, thank you hun and please do keep me posted xx

[Yellowsydney]

Hi, I will use my favourite phrase at the moment, be kind to yourself, you are doing amazing in losing the weight however you are doing it. You have several conditions to manage so have to try to have a diet that suits them all. I've had my transplant so liver is healthy I hope but I do have diabetes which got a bit out of control last year, having read lots and joined f/b group I've decided that I set a carb limit per day of under 150 and write down everything I eat and work out carb content, I have a book and the Tesco app which shows nutrician values. I still eat potatoes, chips, rice but I have a much smaller portions, lots of veg and protein. I've found that eating *normally" but much smaller portions seems to be working hb1a c is down from 70 to 51 in 5 months. I can't have artificial sweetners as they all give me bad headaches.All you can do is try your best.

Hilary xx

[Sophia1968 in reply to Yellowsydney]

thank you for your kind words Hilary, and for understanding how hard it is juggling my conditions, you have done really well so well done to you, this is how I try to diet, I have cut out all bad stuff like chocolate and crisps etc, the rest is in moderation , my hbac1 numbers are the best ever, but I am on a lot of meds, once this weight is off I’ll hopefully be able to reduce them, that’s my next aim xx

[Roy1955]

Potato is fine but limit to 3 pieces a day the size of half an egg, or rice half inch deep that covers half a plate 3 eggs a week

3 ounces cheese a week.

Daily

Two slices of any bread teaspoon of butter

Lean meat or fish.

One small banana not two.

Two more fruits and portion size is what fits in the palm of a small ladies hand. (not piled high).

Unlimited veg and salad that grows above ground (not corn).

Advice from my private dietician.

[Sophia1968 in reply to Roy1955]

excellent advice Roy, thank you for sharing that xx

[mrob0823]

Everyone's conditions are varying and dynamic, but here's my diet: lots and lots of plant-based protein, very low sugar/salt, good fats (avocado, olive oil, fish oil), whole grains, beans, fruits (especially blueberries) & veggies (especially beets broccoli, spinach, sweet potatoes, squash), nuts (almonds, macademia, brazil, etc), low fat yogurt, quinoa, egg whites, sour foods (lemon water, sauerkraut, rice vinegar, garlic). I fast 3x a week (eat in a span of 8 hours, fast 16), lean meats (filet mignon, pork, chicken).

[AnxiousPete in reply to mrob0823]

You said low sugar...aren't beets full of sugar ?

[Sophia1968 in reply to mrob0823]

thank you hun for this info xx

[Herman7275]

I have had diabetes for 35 yrs & fatty liver & fibrosis ,NASH, and I have been on low carb diet since 2019.I am only allowed 30 carbs, 89grms of fat, 134 grms of protein a day, and moderate exercise, I have reversed my fatty liver and some of my fibrosis. Lost 75lbs.

[Sophia1968 in reply to Herman7275]

excellent work my lovely, well done xx

[Herman7275]

Anymore questions or ideas let me know !!! Ron