Misconceptions about eating with people with liver disease

For people with cirrhosis, eating liver is not necessarily beneficial, but it can cause indigestion because it is high in fat, many of which will increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Master, doctor Vo Hong Minh Cong, Head of Department of Internal Medicine of Gia Dinh People's Hospital said that cirrhosis is a disease that is silently but dangerous, often without or without manifest .

The liver is seen as a "plant" for processing, synthesizing, storing nutrients and discharging toxins to maintain all life activities of the body. Nutrients such as sugar, protein, fat, minerals or vitamins from the food after being digested and absorbed into the blood will be transferred to the liver for metabolism, storage and excretion. The liver also has the function of metabolizing and eliminating alcohol.

Once the liver becomes fibrous, liver failure will lead to indigestion, a feeling of fullness, loss of appetite or a feeling of nausea . The frequency of malnutrition in people with hepatitis accounts for 20-60%. The more severe liver failure is, the more severe and severe the frequency and severity of malnutrition, especially in advanced cirrhosis.

Malnutrition is detrimental to patients with cirrhosis, because the body is tired, has weak walking, is susceptible to infection by the body, reducing its resistance, prone to complications and death. Patients with severe malnutrition will have poor quality of life and reduce survival.

With the concept of "eating anything," many liver patients eat liver quite often, affecting health.(Illustration)

Malnutrition has the following manifestations:

- Poor appetite or eating (less than 50% compared to normal).

- Unintentional weight loss (in non-conformable cirrhosis, no abdomen).

Note: Short-term rapid weight gain can be a sign of leg swelling or abdomen.

- Muscle atrophy or loss of subcutaneous fat.

- Weak travel, tired.

Some misconceptions in liver disease nutrition

What to eat

The truth is that the liver contains a lot of protein and vitamins that are good for normal people 's health if they don't eat much and often. For people with cirrhosis, eating liver is not necessarily beneficial, but it can cause indigestion because it is high in fat, many of which will increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In the case of cirrhosis due to pathology accumulating iron or copper, eating liver is dangerous, because it will make the liver worse and worse.

Avoid eating eggs

Eggs are a good source of protein for the body, especially containing many beneficial amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine or valin. At the same time, eggs have many vitamins that liver patients really need, such as vitamins B, A, and D. However, because eggs are high in cholesterol, patients can eat up to 2 fruits / week.

Avoid eating fat

The truth is that fat (found in oil and fat) is important for the body because it is a good source of energy for people with cirrhosis (1 g fat for 9 kcal, compared to 1 g sugar for 4 kcal, 1 g protein for 4 kcal), helps regenerate damaged tissue. Fat also participates in the function of regulating vessels, blood pressure, immunity . So fat is also needed for people with liver disease, so they need to eat a moderate amount. Only eat less in case of indigestion or cholestatic jaundice.