Help

by Marsha
(Grindstone PA)

Can you help me my liver is in bad shape. They want me to be on a low carb + low protein diet. I have no idea what to eat. Can you help and how much protein and carbs should i have to try to help make it better I don't want to die Marsha

Hi Marsha -

This question is a little out of the scope of this site. Your diet will mainly depend on your basal metabolic rate, electrolyte levels, kidney function, blood sugar, etc, which can all be evaluated by a clinical dietitian and subsequent blood work up. He or she will determine your basal metabolic rate (BMR) and your body mass index (BMI) and use them to determine the exact number of calories your body needs.

He or she will also be able to calculate exactly how many grams of carbohydrates, proteins and fats you will need given your specific liver condition. In the case of liver disease, this is mainly determined by how severe the condition is, which is impossible to gauge over the internet.

My advice would be to contact your primary care doctor and have him/her refer you to a clinical dietitian for further evaluation of your diet so that you're getting what you need. I would especially advise against searching the internet for this answer. It is best to consult a dietitian to determine a very specific, customized diet catered to YOUR specific needs, including WHAT to eat and, sometimes, HOW to eat it.

There is no way that I (or anyone for that matter) would be able to determine these exact needs without a personal consultation and lab work.

I hope that helps at least a little. Thank you for the question!!

Ryan