Is there special diets for people with liver problems?

Question

I know someone who has hep C and want to know are there special diets or other things such as herbs to take to

help increase energy levels.

 

Answer 1

You ask a good question.  I recommend that you research for a good answer.  The website, "WebMD" would be an excellent place to start.  If this person has health insurance, look on the website of that company.  In 2013 these sites have many resources to help with these concerns. 

Answer 2

 

There are a ton of herbs to take and I think your best bet would be to see a Naturopathic Doctor who specializes in this for this concern.  I know tons of liver herbs and formulas but it would be unprofessional to answer this without knowing the individual's case.  

 

In addition to your search for liver herbs, also consider diet, immune boosting herbs and foods and homeopathy.

 

Answer 3

I agree that WebMD is an excellent launching point for research. It is also true that many health insurance companies do have a number of resources -- remember that it is in their best interests for those they cover to stay in good health (less need for payouts).

 

Another good resource is the National Liver Foundation. They actually have a page about this that you can find here: http://www.nlfindia.com/patients/diet_nutrition.asp

 

They have much more than this, but this small bit was copied directly from their website:

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Diet For A Healthy Liver

A balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, animal protein with a fat - carbohydrate - protein ratio of 30% - 50% - 20% unless specific problems such as diabetes, kidney disease etc dictate otherwise. ·

Plenty of fluids
Avoidance of excess alcohol
Pack your diet with antioxidants
Anti-oxidants protect against free radical (produced in all of us due to body's metabolic processes) injury. Apart from protecting the liver and helping in its recovery if damaged, they have been shown to inhibit cancer cells, fight the ageing process and protect the sight.

Antioxidants are abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods including nuts, grains and some meats, poultry and fish. Below are some of the anti-oxidants and their best food sources.

Beta-carotene
Found in many foods that are orange in color, including sweet potatoes, carrots, apricots, pumpkin, and mangos. Some green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale are also rich in beta-carotene.

Lycopene
A potent antioxidant found in tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots, oranges

Selenium
Selenium is a mineral, not an antioxidant nutrient. However, it is a component of antioxidant enzymes. The amount of selenium in soil, which varies by region, determines the amount of selenium in the foods grown in that soil. Plant foods like rice and wheat are the major dietary sources of selenium in most countries

Vitamin A
Foods rich in vitamin A include liver, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk, egg yolks and mozzarella cheese.

Vitamin C
This can be found in abundance in citrus fruits (lemons, oranges etc.), cereals, poultry and fish.

Vitamin E
This is found in almonds, in many oils including safflower, corn and soybean oils, and also found in mangos, nuts, broccoli and other foods.

A host of over-the-counter anti-oxidant preparations such as Salymarin (milk thistle) can be taken although unnecessary if above foods are taken in good quantities.