Dietary Management for Alcoholic Liver Disease

It is the most common cause of liver disease and is a result of excessive intake of alcohol. It arises in chronic drinkers who have been abusing alcohol from a long time. Alcoholic liver disease does not arise in all binge drinkers.
The exact reasons for it occurring in some and not occurring in others is not known. However some causes and risk factors have been identified.

Alcoholic Liver Disease

Causes

1. Occurs more In genetically inclined people
2. Females are more susceptible to develop alcoholic liver diseases
3. A large quantity of alcohol consumed over a period of 10 to 20 years
4. Its chances increase in the presence of hepatitis C infection

what happens in Alcoholic Liver disease?

1. Due to continuous alcohol intake, there are deposits of fat in the liver causing liver enlargement causing fatty liver. Inspite of this change when the person stops drinking alcohol the liver cells come to their normal state.
2. If the state of alcohol abuse continues, the liver cells undergo inflammation. This stage is called stage of Alcoholic hepatitis. In this stage recovery is possible, but the scarred cells remain
3. After inflammation there occurs hardening of the liver cells. At this point of time the liver cannot function within its normal domain. As liver damage progresses, the cells are unable to remove pigments like bilirubin leading to their accumulation in the body.
4. This causes the skin and eyes to become yellow (jaundice). The urine also becomes darker in color. This stage is called Cirrhosis. The damage cannot be reversed. Also as the liver's functions decrease, the liver cells begin to release toxic substances like ammonia which when enter the brain can cause damage to itPeople who are chronic alcohol drinkers often substitute alcohol for food. Therefore malnutrition is often seen. The body does not get the required calories and nutrients

Symptoms: a history of alcohol ingestion is present always

• Liver appears to be enlarged on examining the abdomen
• There could be right upper abdomen discomfort
• Nausea and vomiting occasionally
• Fatigue
• Loss of Appetite
• Mood Changes
• Fever
• Spider nevi
• Jaundice (yellowness of skin and eyes)
• Mental confusion

Dietary Management

• Do not skip breakfast. A healthy break fast everyday will improve digestion, give you energy and make you feel full throughout the day.
• Eat variety of foods each day to help your liver work as well as possible and to keep a healthy weight.
• Increase the intake of fruits and vegetables in your diet as they provide lot of vitamins, minerals and energy and fiber helps to expel any accumulations of fats in the blood.
• Eat several small meals throughout the day instead of large meals to make sure you get enough calories.
• Include whole grains and high fiber foods like brown rice, Bulgur wheat, nuts and seeds.
• Include proteins in the form of lean chicken, fish rich in omega -3 like salmon, tuna.
• Include a vegetable juice daily in your diet.
• Ensure adequate hydration. Drink at least 2- 2.5 liters of water every day.
• Eat foods that help the liver to detoxify such as onions, garlic, beans, broccoli and cabbage.
• Use only 2-3 tsp oil for cooking (especially olive oil, safflower oil, and sunflower oil)
• Avoid saturated fats and simple sugars.
• Avoid alcohol and other unhealthy beverages.
• Avoid fatty, spicy and oily foods as they put additional strain on the liver.
• Avoid all kinds of processed, canned foods, pickles
• Reduce the intake of salt in the diet.
• Start with an exercise program under expert guidance.

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Info is really nice,hepititis C infection is what?