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What Are Diets for People With Liver Problems?

A healthy, balanced diet can have positive effects on the body. One of the most well-known curatives for a cold, after all, is chicken soup. However, diet can also have positive effects in helping the body deal with more serious issues, like disease. Diseases involving the liver can vary greatly, but the liver is one of the organs that benefits greatly from a positive change in diet.

  1. The Liver's Purpose

    • The liver performs different functions in the body, including making protein, storing fat (cholesterol) and changing carbohydrates into sugar to be used by the brain and red blood cells. The liver also acts as the body's filtration system. Consequently. when the liver cannot properly filter and process what is put into the body, the body can experience a multitude of symptoms. There is not a specific liver diet to "cure" these symptoms, but there are ways to aid the liver in performing its duties.

    What to Avoid

    • Because of its role with protein production and fat storage, protein and fat consumption must be closely monitored. Eliminating foods with a high saturated fat content will help in cutting back on the amount of protein and fat the liver must process. Red meat, butter, hydrogenated oil, ice cream and processed foods (think potato chips and cookies) should be consumed infrequently, if not eliminated from the diet. In addition to restricting certain foods, you should abstain from alcohol and drugs because of the role the liver plays in eliminating toxins. The fewer toxins put into the body, the fewer the liver will have to remove.

    Foods to Enjoy

    • Including lean proteins, such fish, chicken breast, turkey, vegetable proteins (found in legumes in beans) and nuts in the daily diet eases the work the liver must do in processing and storing foods. Increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables will also ensure that the body is ingesting antioxidants, which can help restore cell function in the body. Try to vary the fruits and vegetables eaten, paying attention to the color in particular. Blueberries, cherries, oranges, grapefruit and pineapples are all high in antioxidants and vitamins. For vegetables, make sure to include dark leafy greens like spinach and kale. The same applies for the vegetable proteins. Picking fruits, vegetables and beans that are highly saturated in color will lead to healthier food choices that will ultimately ease the work of the liver.

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