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Home > Education Resources > Liver Lowdown > Liver Lowdown Aug 2013 > Diet Recommendations

SOME LIVER DISEASES HAVE SPECIFIC DIET RECOMMENDATIONS

BILE DUCT DISEASE

Bile is a liquid made in the liver that helps break down fats in the small intestine. Bile duct disease keeps bile from flowing to the small intestine.
Diet Recommendations:

  • Use fat substitutes
  • Use kernel oil (i.e. canola, olive, corn, sunflower, peanut, flax seed oils) because it needs less bile to break down fats than other types of oil
CIRRHOSIS

Cirrhosis is the scarring and hardening of the liver.
Diet Recommendations:

  • Limit salt and foods that contain a lot of salt
  • Talk to your doctor about how much protein to have in your diet
FATTY LIVER DISEASE

Fatty liver disease is the build-up of fat in liver cells.
Diet Recommendations:

  • Limit foods that are high in calories
  • Eat foods that have fiber
HEMOCHROMATOSIS

Hemochromatosis is the build-up of iron in the liver.
Diet Recommendations:

  • Do not eat foods that have iron
  • Do not use iron pots and pans
  • Do not take pills with iron
  • Do not eat uncooked shellfish
HEPATITIS C

Hepatitis C is a disease of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus.
Diet Recommendations:

  • Limit foods that have a lot of iron
  • Do not use iron pots and pans
  • Limit salt and foods that contain a lot of salt
WILSON DISEASE

Wilson disease is the build-up of copper in the body.
Diet Recommendations:

  • Limit foods that have copper such as chocolate, nuts, shellfish and mushrooms
  • Do not use copper pots

Page updated: August 1st, 2013