Many people with liver problems are able to manage their condition by keeping to a sensible diet. However, others may need specialist advice so it is important that you talk to your doctor in addition to the information provided here.
If you have questions about your diet, but cannot find the answers the following sections, or if you need further help, please ask to see a Registered Dietician.
If you have already been given dietary advice you should not make changes without first talking to your doctor or dietician.
You need food to power your body, giving it energy and the material it needs to grow and repair itself. When you eat food it is broken down in your stomach and intestine (gut) and three main nutrients are extracted:
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carbohydrates
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fat
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protein
These nutrients are then absorbed into the bloodstream and carried to your liver. Here they are
either stored or changed in such a way that your body can use them at once. At the same time your liver is also working to stop poisons and toxins from harming the body. If you have a liver problem then your liver may not be able to do these jobs as efficiently as it should.
Carbohydrate comes from starch and sugar and is found in bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, cereals, fruit and sweets. Carbohydrate is broken down in the liver to glucose, a form of sugar, which is used to make energy. Any glucose not used immediately for energy is stored as glycogen in the liver and in the muscles. When your body needs extra energy – when running for a bus, for example – the glycogen is quickly converted back to glucose. As well as storing glycogen, the liver helps control the level of glucose in the blood.
Fat comes from butter, cheese, oil, animal fat and from many ‘hidden’ sources, for example, biscuits, pastry, crisps and cakes. Fat can be used as a long-term energy store.
It also provides the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K and essential fatty acids.
Protein comes from foods such as meat, fish, eggs, nuts, pulses and dairy products. It is made up of units called amino acids and when these reach the liver they provide building blocks to make cells and tissues throughout the body.
Your body carries out millions of chemical reactions every day. To do this it needs a mix of vitamins and minerals in addition to the essential nutrients, carbohydrate, fat and protein. Most people can get all the vitamins and minerals they need by choosing a variety of foods from a normal, healthy, well-balanced diet (see Healthy eating on page 7). However, people with certain types of liver disease may need extra vitamins. If you are worried that your diet is short of vitamins, your doctor or dietician may prescribe vitamins or suggest you buy multivitamin tablets from your chemist. Vitamins and minerals sold as separate supplements are not recommended unless advised by your doctor or dietician.
In the same way that we measure distance in centimetres (cm), the energy in food is measured in units of calories (kcal). For example an apple will have about 50 calories and a Mars chocolate bar will have about 300 calories.
As a basic rule of thumb, healthy adult men are advised to eat about 2,500 calories every day and women 2,000 a day.