Cirrhosis is a fibrotic disease of the liver cells caused by one or more pathogenic factors that damage the liver for a long time or repeatedly. The early stage of cirrhosis is the compensatory stage of liver function, with mild symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, abdominal distension, upper abdominal discomfort or vague pain, among which loss of appetite is the prominent symptom. Liver cirrhosis is a life-threatening disease for patients. At present, there is no western medicine that has a clear effect on the treatment of cirrhosis, and the more scientific method is Chinese medicine. Early treatment of cirrhosis is very important, in addition to receiving reasonable and effective treatment, but also need to do a good job of care measures, especially in the diet above the need to do a good job, so early understanding of cirrhosis of the liver how to eat correctly is very important.
Dietary principles
(1) Recipes should be diversified, pay attention to the color and delicious flavor and soft and easy to digest. Patients with cirrhosis generally have reduced digestive function and loss of appetite, so pay attention to the changes in recipes, choose some of the patient’s favorite food, pay attention to cooking, can increase the patient’s appetite.
(2) To have enough calories. Adequate calories can reduce the consumption of protein, reduce the burden on the liver and facilitate the synthesis of tissue protein. Daily food calories for patients with cirrhosis are more appropriate at 2500-2800 kcal. According to body weight, about 35-40 kcal per kg of body weight per day.
(3) To have a comprehensive and rich vitamin. B vitamins have an important physiological role in promoting digestion, protecting the liver and preventing fatty liver. Vitamin C can promote metabolism and has detoxification function. Fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E all have different degrees of protective effects on the liver.
(4) Moderate amount of protein. Generally supply 100-120 grams per day. When plasma protein is reduced, a large amount of protein supplementation is needed, up to 1.5-2 grams per kg of body weight per day, which can be increased to 2-3 grams per kg of body weight per day for those with ascites or treated with glucocorticoids. A higher protein diet is important to protect liver cells and repair damaged liver cells. When plasma protein is too low and causes ascites and edema, the amount of protein can be increased. In the case of severely impaired liver function or precursor symptoms of hepatic coma, a high protein diet should not be given, but the amount of protein consumed should be strictly limited to reduce the burden on the liver and reduce the concentration of ammonia in the blood.
(5) Intake of appropriate amount of minerals. Recently, it has been reported that the lack of zinc and magnesium ions in patients with cirrhosis has been noticed, so we should take moderate amount of zinc and magnesium rich diet in our daily diet, such as lean pork, beef, mutton, fish and green leafy vegetables. Peas and dairy products, etc.
(6) Sugar supply should be sufficient. 300-500 grams per day is appropriate. Adequate sugar can ensure that the liver synthesizes and stores liver glycogen, which is necessary to prevent damage to liver cells by toxins. However, excessive consumption of sugar not only affects appetite, but also tends to cause accumulation of fat in the body, inducing fatty liver and arteriosclerosis, etc. The patient’s weight will also increase day by day, further aggravating the burden on the liver and leading to a gradual decline in liver function.
(7) fat should not be too much, as little as possible to use animal oil, can be used to control vegetable oil, olive oil is better. The liver bile synthesis and secretion of cirrhotic patients are reduced, so that the digestion and absorption of fat is seriously affected. After consuming too much fat, too much fat is deposited in the liver, which will not only induce fatty liver, but also prevent the synthesis of liver glycogen and make liver function further diminished. Generally speaking, 40-50 grams per day is appropriate.
(8) Salt intake should be moderate. The daily intake of salt should not exceed 1.0-1.5 grams, and the water intake should be limited to 2000 ml. For patients with severe ascites or edema, the daily salt intake should be strictly controlled to less than 500 mg and the water intake should be within 1000 ml.
(9) Alcohol consumption is prohibited. Alcohol is metabolized in the body mainly through the liver and excreted out of the body. Drinking alcohol will increase the burden on the liver, which is already declining in function. Therefore, it should be absolutely prohibited to drink all drinks containing alcohol, and avoid stimulating foods such as chili, mustard, etc., as well as food with salt and MSG.
(10) Food should be soft and not rough. Should avoid eating with barbed with bones and celery, leek, old cabbage, soybean sprouts and other food containing rough fibers, not to mention hard, brittle dry food and nut food, in order to prevent stabbing esophagus caused by rupture bleeding. Those with esophageal varices should be given liquid diet, such as vegetable puree, meat froth, rotten rice, etc., and upper gastrointestinal bleeding should be fasted.
(11) Eat less and more meals. Patients with cirrhosis have reduced digestive capacity and should not eat too much each time so as not to increase the burden on the liver. It is necessary to eat less and more meals, especially in the presence of ascites, and pay more attention to reduce the amount of food eaten, so as not to increase the feeling of fullness and discomfort.
In addition, although liver patients benefit from eating more vegetables and fruits, they should prevent excessive consumption of foods that are damaging to the liver, such as lentils, radishes, garlic, onions, spinach, etc. These foods contain ether oil substances, which can cause adverse stimulation to the liver and gallbladder.
Foods to avoid
Suitable foods
1, the choice of staple foods: a variety of staple foods can be used, try to use B vitamins to preserve more coarse grains, mixed grains, such as whole wheat bread, knife beans, etc.
2, the choice of meat, milk: skinless poultry, fish, lean meat, etc., skinless chicken, duck, carp, lean lamb, etc., skim milk, skim cocoa milk, etc.
3, the choice of vegetables: can choose vitamin C-rich green leafy vegetables, choline content of high lettuce, lotus root, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, celery, amaranth, cauliflower, etc. (the texture of hard need to be chopped.
4, the choice of fruit: the same choice of vitamin C-rich seasonal fresh fruit such as red dates, plums.
5, other appropriate food containing more nucleotides.
Contraindicated foods
1.Prohibition of alcohol and stimulating food
Biliary cirrhosis should be prohibited fatty and high cholesterol; when there is ascites, salt intake should be limited; in liver coma, protein should be prohibited; in esophageal varices, hard food should be avoided and fluid or semi-liquid should be given; in upper gastrointestinal bleeding, food should be temporarily prohibited and supplemented with intravenous. In advanced cirrhosis with hepatic coma, protein intake should be strictly limited. Those with edema or ascites should have less salt or no salt.
2, eat less food containing a lot of coarse fiber and gas-producing food, aggravating the symptoms of abdominal distension.
3, prohibited foods: whole milk, cocoa milk made from whole milk, cold drinks with high fat content, fat-containing cookies, bread, eggs, cheese; added fat bagels, macaroni and cereals .
Preventive care
1, diet should provide adequate nutrition, food should be diversified, supply high value protein containing amino acids, multivitamins, low fat, less dregs diet, to prevent rough multi-fiber food damage to the esophageal veins, causing hemorrhage.
2, in cirrhotic patients with high blood ammonia or very poor liver function, protein intake should be limited to avoid liver coma. Those who appear ascites should enter low salt or salt-free diet.
3, cirrhotic patients daily measurement of abdominal circumference and measurement of urine volume, abdominal obesity can be a major method of self-identification of fatty liver.
4.Patients with cirrhosis should pay attention to the changes of bleeding, purpura, fever and psycho-neurological symptoms, and get in touch with the doctor in time.
5, cirrhosis patients should supplement selenium liver, selenium can make the liver glutathione peroxidase activity to normal levels, to play a good role in liver health.