The basic principle is to consume a diet rich in "high protein" and "adequate calories." In the past, the treatment of liver diseases placed great emphasis on restricting the intake of fat and protein for patients, because clinical experience showed that when patients with decompensated cirrhosis ingested a large amount of protein at once, they often developed hepatic encephalopathy, leading to confusion and even coma. However, an experiment conducted 40 years ago brought about a major transformation known as "a great revolution in the treatment of liver diseases." In this experiment, high-protein, high-calorie foods were fed to experimental mice with cirrhosis. The results showed that these foods had a surprising effect on promoting the recovery of cirrhosis in the experimental animals. When these results were applied to patient treatment, it was similarly found that the mortality rate of cirrhosis patients was significantly reduced. The reason for this is that high-protein, high-calorie foods can improve the liver's metabolic function, promote the repair and regeneration of liver cells, and restore liver function, thereby improving the patient's condition. Since then, "high protein" and "adequate calories" have become the basic principles of nutritional dietary therapy for liver disease patients, a principle that has continued to this day. Of course, this principle must also be adjusted according to the patient's condition. For example, if the condition is severe, during the active phase of liver disease, or in the late stages of liver disease, a high-protein diet should not be applied. For patients with chronic hepatitis and other patients with milder, stable liver diseases, there is no need to strictly adhere to this principle, as long as they can maintain adequate nutrition.
Patients with liver disease, especially those with chronic liver disease, should pay full attention to nutritional balance in their diet. They must consume the following four types of food daily to help with liver recovery:
1. Foods rich in protein, minerals, vitamins, and fat, such as milk, dairy products, and eggs. These foods are known for their rich nutritional value.
2. Foods such as fish, meat, and soy products. After being absorbed by the body, these foods help the growth of blood and muscle tissue.
3. Foods rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vegetables, melons and fruits, tubers, mushrooms, and seaweed. These foods help maintain the body's nutritional balance.
4. Carbohydrates such as rice and grains, as well as sugar and oil. These foods supplement the body's heat and provide the basic energy for life activities.
Generally speaking, for an adult weighing 60 kilograms, the daily intake should be 75 grams of protein, 60 grams of fat, 240-300 grams of carbohydrates, and 7.53-8.37 megajoules (1,800-2,000 kilocalories) of energy. This translates to approximately: 500 grams of milk, 1 egg, 150 grams of lean meat, poultry, fish, or shrimp, 500-750 grams of vegetables, 50-100 grams of tofu or soy products, 200-250 grams of staple food, 250 grams of fruit, and less than 25 grams of cooking oil.