The Importance of a Low Protein Diet for Liver Disease

The Importance of a Low Protein Diet for Liver Disease
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The Role of Your Liver

The liver plays an integral role in the processing of food in the body. Protein is a nutrient which is of prime importance to the health of the human body. The liver and protein both complement each other. A healthy liver can be described as the body’s chemical processing plant. It not only regulates blood sugar, but it assists in producing blood clotting mechanisms, aids in nourishing new blood cells, while destroying old blood cells, among many other functions. A damaged liver cannot process protein well, since a build-up of ammonia in the bloodstream will result and create even more liver damage.

Liver Damage

If you are diagnosed as having liver damage, you will need to change your lifestyle and go on a low protein diet for liver disease; which means a limited intake of protein. The recommended Daily Value for the protein intake for a person with a healthy liver, in order to maintain good health, is 50 grams.

A person with liver disease however, is usually prescribed a diet of 4% to 8%. Protein is not completely eliminated from the diet, but it is important to eat high quality protein; this includes animal products such as meat, milk, fish, poultry, eggs and peanut butter, which are complete proteins.

Low-protein Diet for Liver Disease

You can also include in your low protein diet for liver disease, low quality or incomplete proteins. These are vegetable products and are found in breads, cereals, rice, pasta and dried beans. Use smaller portions of foods. For example, use thinly sliced meats in sandwiches, and fill them with vegetables such as lettuce, cucumber, chopped celery, parsley, apple and alfalfa sprouts.

Make vegetables your main dish, and treat meat as the side dish of your meal. Use low protein pastas and breads. Use smaller amounts of the stronger tasting cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, parmesan or Romano. It is important to increase your carbohydrate intake.

When you reduce your protein intake, your calorie intake is also reduced. In order to maintain a healthy weight you need to substitute with heart-healthy fats, which have minimal protein content. Use polyunsaturated vegetable oils like corn, safflower, cottonseed, soybean and sunflower; and also olive oil.

When planning your meals, take into consideration that a 3.5 oz. of lean beef or 6oz. of cod each contain 32 grams of protein. The same amount of skinless chicken breast contains 31 grams, while the same amount of pork tenderloin contains 22 grams, and an equal amount of salmon filet contains 20 gms.1/4 cup of lentils or black-eyed peas or 1/3 cup almonds contain 12 grams of protein. 1/3 cup of cashews contains 9 grams of protein while 2 large eggs contain 14 grams. Reduce the portions of meats and adjust vegetables, nuts and seeds to suit. Ask a dietitian for help, if possible. Remember that an integral part of your treatment is to maintain a low-protein diet for liver disease.

References

1.The Complete Family Medical Care by Dr. Warwick Carter MB.BS.,FRAGGP,FAMA. Published 2003

2.Reference Values for Nutrition Labeling. https://www.netrition.com/rdi_page.html

3. Low protein Diet. https://www.gicare.com/diets/Low-Protein.aspx