Jaundice can affect anyone – it is most frequent in newborn babies, but it can also affect adults.
An accumulation of bilirubin in the blood causes jaundice. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment produced when red blood cells are broken down.
Too much of this pigment causes fever, exhaustion, vomiting, and yellowing of your skin, eyes, and tongue. The body becomes very weak and susceptible to various disorders.
However, following a balanced diet can help with the jaundice symptoms.
Here, I am going to dig into the diet for jaundice – food you should and avoid.
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How Does Diet Affect Jaundice Recovery?
The diet of a person has a considerable impact on the recovery and prevention of jaundice.
Everything you eat and drink is processed by your liver. It aids in the absorption of nutrients from food and the conversion of those nutrients into energy. Toxins and old, damaged blood cells are also moved out of the body via the liver.
When this process is interrupted, the waste product bilirubin might accumulate. Jaundice can occur as a result of this.
Your liver function is directly influenced by what you eat and drink. A nutritious diet assists your liver to function more effectively and eliminate toxins from your body. This can help you get rid of your symptoms and lower your chances of getting jaundice again.
Jaundice Treatment Food
Here, you’ll be reading about a list of jaundice treatment food that you should and shouldn’t consume to protect your liver health.
Diet for Jaundice – What to Eat?
Certain meals and beverages have been shown to have a positive impact on liver health. Including them in your diet or increasing your intake may help to alleviate your symptoms and improve your overall health.
This includes the following:
Water
Drinking plenty of water is the first and most important step in the recovery process. Water not only keeps you hydrated, but it also aids in the removal of toxins from your system thereby aiding your liver to filter.
It is highly recommended that you drink plenty of water throughout the day, and you can add some lemon, mint, or cucumber to make an infused water concoction.
Drinking water throughout the day will keep your electrolyte balance in check and help you recover from weakness.
Know how much you should drink per day.
Coffee and Herbal Tea
Coffee and herbal teas are abundant in antioxidants and caffeine, both of which can aid with toxins clearance by your liver..
Coffee, when used in moderation, has been demonstrated to lower the risk of liver diseases such as cancer and fibrosis (scarring), as well as halt their progression.
Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidants and fibre, which can help prevent liver damage and improve digestion.
Although all fruits and vegetables include some liver-friendly elements, many varieties are particularly useful for liver problems. Some of these that are among good diet for jaundice include:
- Citrus fruit such as limes, grapefruit, lemons, etc
- Blueberries and grapes
- Yams, pumpkin, sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes, ginger, and garlic
- Avocados
- Melons
- Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and broccoli
- Turnips, beets, and carrots
- Spinach
- Collard greens and mustard greens
People should eat entire fruits and vegetables. Avoid high-calorie, low-fibre items like fruit juices for best health advantages.
Lean Proteins
Lean proteins put less stress on the liver. These include lentils, fish, and tofu. So, substitute red meat with lean proteins as a jaundice treatment food.
Whole Grains
Another diet for jaundice treatment includes whole grains. Whole grains contain a lot of nutrients that are good for the liver. They’re high in omega-3 fatty acids, fibre, antioxidants, and minerals.
According to a research study, consuming oats that are rich in beta-glucan, for 12 weeks, was linked to boost liver function.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is not only the herb. It is antioxidant rich jaundice treatment food. Also, it contains silymarin. Silymarin promotes the regeneration of injured liver cells.
You can get a speedy recovery from jaundice using it. How? You can add milk thistle leaves to your salad, roast its seeds for a lunchtime snack, or brew a fresh herbal tea.
Although milk thistle is generally safe, if the patient has any of the following problems, he or she should visit a doctor before taking it:
- is expecting a child
- is breastfeeding mother
- Is there hormone-related cancer?
- is taking any medications
You can consult with the best hepatologist in Lahore. You can also make an appointment via Healthwire.pk or make a call at 042 32500989.
Coconut Water
Coconut water is high in nutrients that are good for the liver. It is rich in antioxidants, which aid in the battle against free radicals that can harm your body.
It not only increases your immunity but also helps you avoid getting jaundice again. Other coconut water benefits include hydrating the body and helping in the maintenance of a healthy fluid balance.
Dietary Fibres
Include a lot of fat-soluble fibre in your diet as a jaundice treatment food. Because it’s easy to digest and doesn’t take up much energy.
Increasing dietary fibre consumption aids in the removal of toxins while also improving the liver’s overall function.
A fibre-rich diet includes whole grains, almonds, berries, vegetables, and fruits. It also helps boost immunity, regulate bowel movements, and promote bile juice advancement in the liver.
Diet for Jaundice – What to Avoid?
It’s critical to stay away from or limit foods and beverages that can harm your liver more. Here is the list of foods you need to avoid with jaundice.
Refined Sugar
Refined sugar, as well as other types of processed sugar, can all lead to liver fat buildup. Many processed meals high in sugar are also high in fat, increasing the potential of liver injury.
Aside from refined sugar, limiting artificial sweeteners is an excellent method to prevent liver stress.
Alcohol
Alcohol should not be consumed until your jaundice is totally gone. Alcohol wreaks havoc on your liver.
If you have jaundice as a result of consuming alcohol, you should continue to avoid it even after you have recovered. If you need assistance quitting, tell your doctor.
Iron
It’s crucial to keep track of your iron intake. Too much iron in the body can cause liver cirrhosis. If you want to lessen your liver troubles, you need to find out how much iron you should take. You should track the intake of milk powder that contains iron and other minerals.
Raw or Undercooked Fish
Toxins in raw or undercooked fish and shellfish can harm the liver and other digestive organs. There’s also a chance they’re infected with viruses, germs, and parasites that can harm the liver.
Beef and Pork
Meats strong in animal amino acids and lipids, such as beef and pork, can be difficult to digest and put a load on a damaged liver. Therefore, avoid beef and pork by substituting it with lean proteins.
Cut Down Salt
A high-salt diet damages the liver and causes water retention. Getting rid of processed and canned items from your diet is an easy way to reduce sodium intake.
Take Away!
An accumulation of bilirubin in the blood causes jaundice. Eating a healthy and well-balanced diet for jaundice can help relieve and prevent jaundice symptoms thereby supporting liver health.
