Clean eating and living : Hi every one... - British Liver Trust

British Liver Trust

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Clean eating and living

Orangutan_lover profile image
23 Replies

Hi every one

I hope you are having a good day in the best why you all can

I am trying to eat when I can, appetite is rubbish,

eat as naturally as I can , so I check ingredients on everything,

The same with body products, so I bought body shop hair shampoo and conditioner cleaner for face and body wash thinking natural products on checking the ingredients there is alcohol in them

Having ARLD I feel I should stay way from these products, what are your thoughts on this please

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Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover
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23 Replies
AyrshireK profile image
AyrshireK

Unless you were drinking them then these products are ok, you really don't need to go to that degree of worry even with ARLD - obviously avoid alcohol mouth washes and stuff.

During Covid there were lots of questions on here about the alcohol based hand washes which we were all having to use and this wasn't an issue for liver patients ........ even in hospital now it's alcohol based hand scrub which is on every door and bed in the liver units.

Katie

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to AyrshireK

Thank you for your reply,

I am so worried about everything that could affect me,

Littlelizzy11 profile image
Littlelizzy11 in reply to Orangutan_lover

That is so understandable x

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to Littlelizzy11

Thank you and thank you for your reply x

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to Littlelizzy11

Thank you x

Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112

I refrain from using any products with ethanol in them, but my own doctor said using stuff like mouthwash and handwash that may contain alcohol in them won’t have enough to damage my liver or suddenly have me gasping for a drink so it’s kind of up to me whether I use them or not. I don’t use such products now because of how harmful they can be to the skin and such. I highly recommend an app called Yuka which allows you to scan food and toiletry products to check just how safe and healthy they are, it ranks them by score and includes all kinds of information on what if any nasty ingredients are in there. For example the sun lotion we’ve been using for years has so many harmful stuff in it we’ve stopped using it. It’s also quite fun walking around the supermarket scanning barcodes and getting a beep, it’s alarming just how many so called healthy items are the complete opposite.

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to Grassroots112

HI

Aww thank you so much for your reply, I feel better knowing you feel the same about products and ingredients we use and eat ect, ,

I have just downloaded the app Yuka thank you for that it will help me a lot,

I can not wait to go shopping to get a bleep, my son as ordered me a bar of soap, it is

Dr Ancient Goat milk soap bar organic natural traditional homemade antique, bless him

He is very much into what you use on your body and what you eat, he will help me but his first answer is research Mum, I have not got a clue what I’m looking at, but now I have the app.

Thank you so much x

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to Grassroots112

Hi again, I have just tried the Yuka app and love it , thank you

Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112

You’re welcome, it’s amazing, I get emails from it about healthy meal ideas like for breakfast and I love the comparison element of it where it will offer better healthier alternatives of the same product. It can make grocery shopping take a whole lot longer, but in the time I’ve been using it I’m learning what brands for example are now best for me and from memory I instinctively pick them out now so don’t always need to scan.

As for diet and nutrition, I was totally ignorant and uneducated, I’ve always been a fussy eater and my diet was always poor, that and along with my former alcoholism my health was a disaster waiting to happen which it did, but is now thankfully far from a disaster.

Today I truly believe that it’s all about what we eat and don’t eat and what we put into our bodies and don’t, that is the key to our health, good or bad and that for the most part our diet can cure us of many of our Illnesses or certainly ease them even over and above medicine.

All these body sprays, perfumes, lotions, most if not all contain ingredients that are harmful to us and yet we don’t think twice about slapping some on our person or lathering ourselves up.

If it’s got chemicals in it it’s got to be bad for us really, I now believe that everything we need to sustain a healthy clean diet and living is all here from the earth naturally, fruits and vegetables, plants and so on. I eat meat, but not so much red meat today because most farmed produce sadly is contaminated with something or another. I don’t even use soap these days, good old fashioned war water with a scrub will cleanse the dirt away.

Of course we can’t all live in a bubble where the air is always fresh and the food is always clean free of any toxins, but if we can limit the nasty toxins that do exist from entering our bodies as much and as best as we can, it will go a long way in helping us remain as healthy as possible and hopefully away from any doctors and hospitals or illnesses and diseases.

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to Grassroots112

I totally agree with everything you have said, Totally

I abused my body by drinking and I am sorry for abusing my body, I have been given a second chance to live and look after my body and oh my God I will !!!

I have received an email from Yuka and I’m going to enjoy using it and receiving healthy meal ideas, my appetite is not good at all my taste buds have gone however I can taste fruit ,yogurt just nothing else like chicken or savoury stuff , I don’t eat read meat never have but I’m trying day by day to eat something to try and gain weight

Thank you so much

Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112 in reply to Orangutan_lover

You’re are going about it all in the right way so should be applauded for taking your health seriously and doing something about it. Congrats on that.

I lost a lot of weight and muscle and while I’ve regained my weight as the scales don’t lie, I still look thin and I’m learning it’s the muscle I have lost so that’s now something for me to work on trying to rebuild and regain if I can. I’m finding it hard to do that through diet alone so exercise is important.

Protein is critical I learned, clean and lean protein. In the form of poultry like chicken and eggs, I eat a lot of eggs, fish, nuts, beans, yogurts and even protein shakes, low sugar and low fat shakes. The hospital prescribed Fortisip really helped me in the first few months after quitting drinking as I struggled to eat the quantity levels of food needed as I was still very much in a state of nausea and then all of a sudden my hunger and appetitive returned and big time so I’m sure yours will too.

It took me a good year to put back on the 2 and a bit stone I had lost due to my drinking, poor diet and in the end my non existent diet as I barely ate anything other than drinking. You could see my rib cage and my elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, hips and pretty much anywhere boney were evidently sticking out and some still are to an extent.

I’m told by my doctor not to put any more weight on at a healthy 13 stone and to work on building my muscles back up which is where I could probably do with advice and guidance on what type of exercises coupled with the right food to do just that.

I think for yourself you seem to have the aptitude to a healthier diet so I’m sure you will reap the rewards and benefits of it, especially with your trusty new friend Yuka. I love scanning so called healthy products and finding out they are not so healthy after all, how they can get away with advertising such facts and charge the prices they do for the so-called premium of extra health benefits is criminal really.

I’ve also learned supermarket own brands seem to be healthy than the well known more expensive brands. Morrisons own branded peanuts for example over KP nuts, 99p vs over double that price.

I’m also learning the world food isles contain really healthy stuff like kefir, even foreign cuts of ham when you scan the barcode have less crap in it than so called best of British…

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to Grassroots112

Thank you for being so kind,

I have lost a lot of weight and muscle as well, i have had a few people say you look skeleton like I don’t respond cause I know I do, I have not been out of hospital for six months yet and I will admit I was that person saying no this is not happening to me I will be up and running again in six months time, however I have come to terms with it might take a little bit more time and I need to be kinda to myself, which is hard when I used to be a ballet dancer many moons ago and was still able to do my ballet movements and pirouettes before the drink really kicked in,

whilst I was in the coma I did detox so I have not experienced the craving shaking being sick which I am thankful for and being alive the most important one

Anyway well done for gaining your weight cause it is hard you have done good you know your body better than anyone really and like your doctors says you are a healthy weight you will build your muscles up again cause I feel you are determined to do it so you will and it is a good idea to exercise for all reason really health mental health it makes you feel good helps with sleep all sorts of things so keep going protein is very important , I have fortisips and I never ate anything whilst drinking , I have 4 a day as well as trying to eat in between I get on scales and if I’ve put a pound on I’m jumping for joy, we will get there, regarding exercise I have been to a gym explained what happened what I did my diet ect and they are being really good with me, when they can see I’ve had enough they will let me know and I’m, no, I can do more they will then say enough, I do go home a bit mardy but I know they are right , we will get there you are doing really well and you are determined to do well,

Thank you so much for replying to me you are very kind and I like all you have said and I have learnt a lot from what you have said just in a few messages so thank you,

Please let me know how you are doing

Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112 in reply to Orangutan_lover

Thank you for your lovely words too and it seems you have had a tough time with things being in a coma for example, bloody hell. You should be very proud of yourself for recovering the way you have and for your positive attitude. I don’t know if you can get back to doing ballet, but if you can, that’s as great an incentive as anything. Regardless, going to the gym is another positive move which will only bring positive results I’m sure, take care.

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to Grassroots112

Hi, I don’t know about being proud of myself, as it was my stupidity that got me here, however it was a big eye opener so I am trying everyday day to be positive and aim to get better so I can pirouette again, but thank you

I think you are doing really well keep going we will get there

You to take care

Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112 in reply to Orangutan_lover

We’ll you should be proud of yourself and liver disease isn’t your fault regardless of whether you feel you have contributed to your own, some people are predisposed to all kind of diseases through genetics or an addictive nature when it comes to alcohol for example. The key is to do what you have done which is recognise your own health status and be proactive in getting healthier and staying that way which is all we can only ever do as individuals. Take care

Liveitup713 profile image
Liveitup713 in reply to Grassroots112

How long did it take to put your weight back on when you switched diets?

Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112 in reply to Liveitup713

It took me from March 2023 really to this very day to put those lost 2 stones back on. Eating a mainly Mediterranean diet will make it tougher for me to pack more weight on which I’m aware of and OK with.

ProteinPower profile image
ProteinPower

Hi your story is very similar to mine.I caste a critical eye over everything I eat and drink now and sometimes go on PubMed to check out what the current research says about various foods/drinks etc I’m unsure about including any numbers I see on labels of jars/packets etc.I used to eat a wide variety of nuts vegies and grains but now I’m very careful because some of those products have fairly high levels of alfatoxins etc in them.With out being too over the top about it I just say to myself “Do you think your liver is going to like this food/drink you’re about to consume and if I know from past research and experience the answer is yes then it’s all good but if I’m not sure or the answer is no then I don’t consume it.

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to ProteinPower

Hi, I have read my replies over and over again and I am thankful to have received everyone of them, I have been thinking of home cooking might be a way forward but I’m rubbish at cooking so I’m thinking soups this might help me cause then I know what I’m using what ingredients are going in so then I might eat a little more and feel happier doing it, I was told about the Yuka app and I am already using it I was only told about it yesterday and I already love it

I hope you are well and having a great day

ProteinPower profile image
ProteinPower in reply to Orangutan_lover

At the start of this it can be a bit overwhelming so just do your best and be kind to yourself.Having a forum to discuss things is good especially when it is monitored by people who deal with these issues all the time so you have a backstop there if the need arises.Take care.

Orangutan_lover profile image
Orangutan_lover in reply to ProteinPower

Thank you, 👍

Grassroots112 profile image
Grassroots112 in reply to Orangutan_lover

The downside to Covid and lockdowns was I become a functioning alcoholic, the upside was I learned how to cook and I’m a pretty good cook today as a result, even if I do say so myself. All of which has helped me massively in dealing with my own ARLD. Go for it, you don’t have to be a 5 star chef to knock up decent food, remember you’ll be cooking for yourself so you can make things that you will like and stuff that will help you in your own recovery.

I found it fun and very therapeutic, today I can cook myself and my family a whole variety of dishes that are tasty, healthy and cost effective given the cost of living crisis.

For example I love eggs so I made a lovely omelette the other day for my breakfast, I used some bell peppers, red onion, fresh tomatoes, spring onions and sprinkled in some ground black pepper, some paprika and some fresh parsley that. I served with some low fat yogurt as a ketchup and had it with seeded brown bread as toast.

I then washed it down with fresh orange juice. So simple, cheap and not fancy at all, but full of protein and fibre and low in fats, sats, sugars and zero salt. Prepped and cooked in under 20 minutes.

NieceByMarriage profile image
NieceByMarriage

My understanding is that transdermal products are not processed by the liver, so skin and hair care items that you use topically should be safe. This is why, for example, some medication is delivered by patches rather than by mouth.

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