Diets that shrink the liver are minimal in lipids, carbs, and calories. If you are having bariatric surgery—a procedure used to lose weight—a doctor might suggest this diet.
Your liver is your largest solid internal organ, making up roughly 2 percent of your total weight, yet you might not give it much thought until you have a liver issue.
An enlarged liver can be caused by various disorders. Before certain procedures, a doctor could advise dietary adjustments if the disease is diet-related.
This article examines a diet that shrinks the liver in more detail. What it is for, who should use one, and examples of diet menus.
What is a liver-shrinking diet?
A liver-shrinking diet, as the name suggests, aims to help you get smaller in the liver. The diet is strong in protein and low in fats and carbs. Physician recommendations about the precise caloric intake can differ.
A diet that shrinks the liver does this by forcing the body to expend lipid and glycogen reserves in the liver. The liver shrinks and becomes softer as a result of the liver's water content decreasing along with its glycogen stores.
Who needs to be on a liver-shrinking diet?
Before weight reduction surgery, your doctor can advise a diet that shrinks the liver. Bleeding risks may be elevated by an enlarged liver. Furthermore, if the liver is too big, the surgery may be more complicated since the surgeon may find it challenging to reach around it to operate on the stomach.
To assist a patient in getting ready for the dietary guidelines that follow weight loss surgery, doctors may also advise beginning a diet that shrinks the liver. People who already have fatty liver disease may already be eating similarly.
Your doctor's advise for the precise timing of starting a liver-shrinking diet before weight reduction surgery may take your body mass index (BMI) into account. In one study, participants started such a diet on average 6 weeks before surgery, but the time frames varied from 2 to 12 weeks.
What foods should you eat, and what foods should you avoid?
Among the items you might like on a diet that shrinks the liver are:
- chicken
- lean cuts of beef
- eggs
- Greek yogurt
- veggies that aren't starchy (like broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts)
On a diet intended to shrink the liver, specialists do not advise the following foods and drinks:
- alcohol
- sugary drinks and desserts
- jelly
- high-fat sauces and dressings
What are sample liver-shrinking diet menus that you can adopt?
The food suggestions for example liver shrinking diet are provided below, however, your doctor may have other suggestions. You must adhere to the particular advice that your physician gives you. Speak with your doctor or a nutritionist if you have any questions or concerns about adhering to your liver-shrinking diet as directed.
Eating four 325 millilitres (mL) (about 11 ounces) of prepared Slimfast protein meal replacement shakes every day with two servings of non-starchy veggies is one possible diet plan to decrease the liver.
An additional choice that consists of more substantial dishes is:
- breakfast is one serving of dairy and one dish of carbohydrates.
- lunch consists of two servings each of vegetables and protein.
- two servings of fruit as a midday snack
- Dinner is an evening meal with one protein, one vegetable, one dairy product, and two carbohydrate servings.
On this diet, an example daily menu could be:
| Breakfast | 1 bread slice paired with 30 grammes of light cream cheese |
|---|---|
| Lunch | 3 to 4 ounces of grilled chicken and a cereal bowl of salad greens with 6 to 8 cherry tomatoes and no dressing |
| Snack (morning and/or afternoon) | ½ banana, 1 cup of berries (or 2 servings of fruit per day, you can eat them at any time during the day) |
| Dinner | 4 tablespoons of brown rice, a fillet of salmon, a glass of skim milk, and one cup of boiled broccoli with one teaspoon of olive oil |
Doctors may advise consuming at least 64 ounces of water or other permitted fluids every day in addition to the items mentioned above. Consult your doctor to be sure of this dosage and to find out if you should take any additional supplements or a multivitamin.
FAQs
Foods like eggs, chicken, Greek yoghurt, and non-starchy veggies like broccoli are included in a diet that shrinks the liver. (You can learn more about which veggies are deemed non-starchy here if you're not sure.)
What is the best way to shrink the liver fast?
A strict 900kcal diet low in fat and carbohydrates will stimulate your body to burn fat stores and glycogen, which is stored as carbohydrates in the liver, helping to reduce the size of the liver. The goal of a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) is to entirely replace the typical amount of food consumed.
How can I tell if my liver is shrinking?
You wouldn't be able to determine whether your liver has shrunk in size without a CT scan. Your weight loss suggests that the liver-reduction diet is effective if you are adhering to the liver-shrinking diet prescribed by your surgeon.
Does fasting shrink your liver?
According to several studies, fasting may enhance liver function and may indicate a decrease in inflammation or fat deposition in the liver. Furthermore, during this fasting time, total cholesterol levels, which are known to be connected with NAFLD, may also improve.
Takeaway
A diet that shrinks the liver restricts lipids and carbs.
This kind of diet might be suggested by your doctor before weight loss surgery. It's crucial to adhere to any preoperative instructions given by your physician, and you should feel free to ask any questions you may have of your physician or dietician.
0 Comments