Dietary guidelines for patients with cirrhosis

(1) Recipes should be diversified, pay attention to color, taste and aroma and soft and palatable and easy to digest. (2) There should be enough calories. Adequate calories can reduce the consumption of protein, reduce the burden on the liver, conducive to the synthesis of tissue protein. (3) To have comprehensive and rich vitamins. Eat foods rich in vitamin B and vitamin C. B vitamins (steamed bread and other fermented foods) play an important physiological role in promoting digestion, protecting the liver and preventing fatty liver. Vitamin C (oilseed rape, tomatoes, etc.) can promote metabolism and has a detoxification function. Fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E have different degrees of protective effect on the liver. (4) Moderate amount of protein. Encourage the consumption of high quality protein such as fish. A higher protein diet is important for protecting liver cells and repairing those that have been damaged. (5) Intake of appropriate amount of minerals. Moderate intake of diets rich in zinc and magnesium, such as lean pork, beef, lamb, fish, and green leafy vegetables, should be included in the daily diet. Peas and dairy products, etc. (6) Sugar supply should be sufficient. Choose easy-to-digest mono- or disaccharide foods such as honey. (7) Fat should not be too much, use less animal oil, try to use vegetable oil. (8) Salt intake should be moderate. The daily intake of salt should not exceed 1.0-2 grams, and the amount of drinking water should be limited to less than 1000 milliliters. Avoid eating high sodium foods such as salted meat, soy sauce, canned food, sodium-containing monosodium glutamate. (9) Prohibit alcohol consumption. Alcohol is mainly metabolized in the body through the liver, and alcohol will increase the burden on the liver whose function is already reduced. Avoid stimulating foods such as chili peppers, mustard, etc., as well as foods with salt and monosodium glutamate (MSG). (10) Food should be soft and not rough. Avoid eating foods containing rough fiber such as celery, leeks, old cabbage, soybean sprouts with spines and bones, not to mention hard, crunchy dry foods to prevent puncture of the esophagus causing rupture and bleeding. Accompanied by esophageal varices, it is advisable to give a liquid diet, such as vegetable puree, meat froth, rotten rice, etc., and fasting should be done in case of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. (11) Eat less and more meals. The digestive ability of cirrhosis patients is reduced, and they should not eat too much each time, so as not to aggravate the burden on the liver. Eat less and more meals, especially when ascites occurs, pay more attention to reduce the amount of food, so as not to increase the feeling of fullness and discomfort.