Are you using liver cirrhosis diet recipes to treat late-stage liver disease? This is a serious condition that involves major scarring of liver tissue. If you’ve been diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver it’s critical to take steps to slow down liver scarring. The average weight of a human liver is 3.3 lbs. (1.5kg). Since this is the third stage of liver disease it can develop into end-stage liver disease and even liver failure. Are there any cures? The only real cure for liver cirrhosis is a liver transplant. However, the good news is you can also take steps to reduce tissue scarring. That includes holistic (whole-body) options that involve diet, exercise, stress-reduction, and sleep.
An anti-cirrhosis diet includes foods you should and shouldn’t eat. Some basics include lean meats/fatty fish, vegetables, and fruits. There are also some specific liver-friendly foods that you should consider adding to your diet. They include coffee/tea, nuts/seeds, broccoli, berries, and citrus. These foods can help with a body detox and also boost liver function, which is critical for cirrhosis patients. In many cases, a liver transplant can involve many complications involving the costs and logistics of finding an organ donor. Plan B can be diet/lifestyle changes.
What Is Cirrhosis of the Liver All About?
This is one of the most serious liver diseases that a person can have. More specifically it’s a late-stage liver disease that involves major and long-term scarring of liver tissue. Scarring actually happens during Stage 2 of liver disease that includes Fibrosis (scarring).
However, the scarring becomes worse during Stage 3. That’s because the major scarring prevents the organ from working properly. For example, its ability to make proteins and remove toxins is affected. Sometimes there are also complications including:
- Jaundice (yellowing skin/eyes)
- HE (Loss of focus, personality changes)
- Liver cancer
- High blood pressure (liver vein)
- Enlarged spleen
- Hepatitis A/B/C
If a person has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis it’s important to prevent end-stage liver disease, which involves liver failure. You can achieve this goal without medical procedures and prescription medicines. They include options like following a strict diet that includes cirrhosis-friendly ingredients.
It’s critical to know some basics about the liver’s function. It’s about the size of a football and is the largest solid organ in the body. The skin is the largest organ. The liver is also one of the most important organs. Some of its functions include:
- Fight infections
- Stores energy
- Clot blood
- Improve digestion
- Make proteins
- Filter toxins
There are various factors that can cause cirrhosis-causing damage. They include bile duct blockages, hepatitis infection, and heavy alcohol drinking.
The scar tissue produced by the liver is actually made to protect the organ from future use. Before this happens the liver swells due to inflammation. This is related to Fatty Liver Disease (FLD), which can be alcoholic or non-alcoholic.
However, over time scar tissue can form in the process known as Fibrosis. This causes an opposite effect so the liver actually shrinks. There are other factors like the scar tissues pushes on several liver blood vessels. This causes liver cells to die because it blocks blood flow.
Liver Cirrhosis: Diet Recipes
SALAD WITH GREENS
This one includes several healthy ingredients including the greens, which are good for liver-cleansing. The lemon juice is also an alkalizing ingredient that contains several nutrients. The enzyme is high in enzymes and can help to alkalize the blood. When buying the ingredients it’s helpful if they’re all organic.
PROVENCAL CARROT SALAD
This version is a Southern France dish. It includes sweet/juicy carrots. This salad is a good option to pair with other veggie salads. You can add garlic or serve it without the garlic. Carrots are high in Vitamin A and can benefit several benefits including liver, lungs, digestion, and blood.
There are other key ingredients. The parsley is high in Vitamin A/C, iron, and magnesium. Meanwhile, the mint is anti-bacterial and good for digestion.
GREEN SMOOTHIE
This one provides benefits like improving the digestive system, cleansing/detoxifying liver, and energy boost. It can include greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard. If you want to reduce the bitterness of the greens then you can add a banana. This will help to add sweetness and texture to the smoothie.
OATMEAL WITH FLAXSEEDS AND FRUIT
Make sure to go with steel-cut oats since they’re less processed than other varieties like instant oatmeal. Fresh fruit is well-known to be healthy due to the nutrients they provide. Meanwhile, flaxseeds have been trending in recent years as a healthy Keto-friendly food with low net carbs.
One of the plusses of this recipe is it includes several whole foods and is an inch to make. Steel-cut oatmeal is much healthier than instant oatmeal. Another option is oat “groats.” The downside is you’ll have to cook them for 30 minutes.
BEETS WITH MUSTARD GREENS
Here’s another recipe with beetroot. The mustard greens in the cleansing recipe help to clear slow blood and don’t require cooking. They also function as a liver cleanser. This makes it a perfect combo for cirrhosis patients.
Top Liver-Friendly Foods
NUTS
Health experts recommend consuming some servings of nuts/seeds during the week. The reason is that they’re high in nutrients like protein, healthy fat, vitamins/minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. They also contain several plant-based chemical compounds.
Tree nuts can provide several health benefits related to different body parts including heart and liver. One study showed that nuts boosted liver enzymes among NAFLD patients.
FATTY FISH
Options include: tuna, mackerel, trout, sardines, herring, and others. Studies show that the high amounts of omega-3s can provide several health benefits including heart health and brain function. The fats in fatty fish can also help with liver health. Some studies show they can help to prevent fat buildup in the liver.
CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES
This includes options like cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. The high-fiber vegetables are high in several nutrients including plant-based chemical compounds. Several studies that the vegetables might help to prevent liver damage and boost detox enzymes. These effects might continue when the veggies are cooked.
More research is needed. However, it seems that cruciferous veggies seem to help boost liver health.
BEET JUICE
Beetroot juice is a source of several nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This can provide various health benefits including heart health and less inflammation. Most studies about liver-friendly benefits of beets have included the juice. However, it’s likely the root veggies provide the same benefits.
OLIVE OIL
This oil is high in healthy fatty acids and can provide several health benefits. They include benefits to the heart, brain, hair, and skin. Studies show that olive oil can also benefit the liver. One study showed that a small amount might improve fat/enzyme levels among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Other studies show that olive oil can help to prevent fat buildup in the liver. This could prevent the need for liver cirrhosis diet recipes.
