As well as following the general dietary advice given to all patients with cirrhosis you may also be advised to eat a diet that is: High in starchy carbohydrates such as potatoes, bread, pasta and rice. Wholegrain options are healthiest. Low in red meat such as beef, pork and lamb.
Beverages: You cannot drink alcohol if you have liver cirrhosis, but you'll have plenty of other options. Water is the most hydrating choice, but if you are on a low-sodium diet, you'll want to check the labels on bottled water as some contain sodium. Milk and juice should only be consumed if pasteurized.
Select foods from all food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, proteins, milk, and healthy oils. Eat foods rich in fiber, which helps your liver work at an optimal level. Fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, brown rice and cereals can take care of your body's fiber needs.
One must always refrain from consuming food items like pasta pizza biscuits and bread that are made from white flour. They lack minerals, fiber, and essential vitamins. It is essential to understand that highly refined grains convert into sugar content. This content is hard to process and end up as fat in the liver.
As well as following the general dietary advice given to all patients with cirrhosis you may also be advised to eat a diet that is: High in starchy carbohydrates such as potatoes, bread, pasta and rice. Wholegrain options are healthiest. Low in red meat such as beef, pork and lamb.
The liver damage caused by cirrhosis generally can't be undone. But if liver cirrhosis is diagnosed early and the underlying cause is treated, further damage can be limited. In rare cases, it may be reversed.
Treating cirrhosis
There's no cure for cirrhosis at the moment. However, there are ways to manage the symptoms and any complications and slow its progression. Treating the problem that led to cirrhosis (for example, using anti-viral medicines to treat hepatitis C) can stop cirrhosis getting worse.
People with cirrhosis in Class A have the best prognosis, with a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. People with cirrhosis in Class B are still healthy, with a life expectancy of 6 to 10 years. As a result, these people have plenty of time to seek sophisticated therapy alternatives such as a liver transplant.
People with a medical condition, especially those affecting the liver, may have a higher risk of damage from alcohol. If you already have hepatitis B or C, or cirrhosis of the liver (from any cause), you are at risk of making your condition worse if you drink alcohol.
Patients with compensated cirrhosis have a median survival that may extend beyond 12 years. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis have a worse prognosis than do those with compensated cirrhosis; the average survival without transplantation is approximately two years [13,14].
Severe drinking may require three months to a year to fully regenerate the liver to its original capacity and functionality. Over time, the liver can heal itself from damages caused by alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatitis. Unfortunately, when it comes to the scars of cirrhosis, these damages are irreversible.
Myth: I might have cirrhosis, but the liver will regenerate and heal itself naturally. Fact: The liver is a highly regenerative organ but only if it's still healthy enough to do so and doesn't have extensive scar tissue. Once cirrhosis is present, your liver's regeneration becomes very limited.
It takes upwards of ten years for alcohol-related liver disease to progress from fatty liver through fibrosis to cirrhosis to acute on chronic liver failure. This process is silent and symptom free and can easily be missed in primary care, usually presenting with advanced cirrhosis.
People with cirrhosis on average should only eat 1-3 eggs per week. Eat boiled eggs instead of fried or fried eggs. However, you should not continuously eat eggs when you have cirrhosis because the liver will have to work harder, increasing pressure on the liver, making liver disease worse.
Eggs. Many don't know that eggs are a food that's good for fatty liver. This is because eggs are rich in choline, which plays a role in transporting and lowering LDL or “bad” cholesterol.
Only have diet or low joule options
Sweetened breakfast cereals. Look for more grain based cereals or those sweetened with added fruit. Good examples include Weet Bix™, All Bran™, All Bran with Fruit™, Sultana Bran™ , traditional oats and other similar cereals.