WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
Liver failure changes the way the body processes protein
and sodium. This condition may also cause a build-up of water
in the abdomen. Your doctor or a dietitian will tell you how
much protein, sodium, and liquid your body can handle each day
without over-stressing the liver.
WHAT YOU SHOULD
DO
Follow the guidelines listed below. Check with your
doctor before taking any vitamin or mineral supplements. If
your symptoms get worse, your diet and other therapy may need
to be changed.
Protein Limit
Most people with liver failure cannot eat more than 40 to
60 grams of protein per day. Your doctor or dietitian will
establish the best daily limit for you. Do
NOT exceed it. Read labels to determine the protein
content of canned or packaged foods. Use the chart below to add
up the grams of protein in your daily
intake.
-
1 slice bread or 1 medium (2
1/2 inch) dinner roll---3 grams
-
One 1-inch square of
semi-soft or hard cheese, such as cheddar---7
grams
-
1/2 cup cooked dried beans,
such as pinto, kidney, or navy---7 grams
-
1/4 cup cottage cheese---7
grams
-
1 large egg---7
grams
-
1 ounce meat, fish, or
poultry---7 grams
-
3 ounces meat, fish, or
poultry---21 grams
-
1 cup milk or yogurt---8
grams
-
1/2 cup cooked pasta, rice,
macaroni, or noodles---3 grams
-
2 tablespoons unsalted peanut
butter---7 grams
-
1/2 cup mashed potato or a 3
inch baked potato---3 grams
-
1/2 cup tofu---7
grams
-
1/4 cup canned tuna or
salmon---7 grams
-
1/2 cup cooked vegetables or
1 cup raw vegetables---2 grams
Sodium Limit
Most people with liver failure need to limit themselves
to less than 2,000 milligrams of sodium a day. That means
avoiding all foods on the list below. For your exact sodium
limit, ask your doctor.
-
Bacon and bacon
fat
-
Barbecue sauces
-
Bouillon cubes
-
Buttermilk
-
Canned, salted, or smoked
fish or meat, such as ham, hot dogs, lunch meats, chipped
or corned beef, anchovies, sardines, pickled herring, and
lox
-
Canned tomato and vegetable
juices
-
Cheese spreads, cottage
cheese, and processed cheeses, such as
American
-
Chili sauces
-
Salted crackers, such as
saltines or soda crackers
-
Dried soup, sauce, and gravy
mixes
-
Garlic salt
-
Instant potatoes, noodles,
rice, stuffing, and casserole mixes
-
Meat
tenderizers
-
Olives
-
Onion salt
-
Pickled vegetables, such as
cucumbers, onions, peppers, and hot dog
relish
-
Prepared mustard,
horseradish, or more than 1 tablespoonful of regular salad
dressings
-
Regular canned soups and
canned vegetables
-
Popcorn, nuts, pretzels,
potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, and other salted
snacks
-
Sauerkraut
-
Sausage
-
Seasoning salt
-
Soy sauce
-
Steak sauces
-
Table salt
-
Worcestershire
sauce
Liquid Limit
Most people with liver failure should drink no more than
1 or 2 quarts (48 ounces) of liquid per day. Water, other
beverages, soups, and foods cooked in liquid all count towards
this limit. For your personal liquid limit, check with your
doctor. Do
NOT exceed it. The list below gives you different ways
of measuring your liquids.
-
1 Tablespoon equals 15 cc
(cubic centimeters)
-
2 Tablespoons equal 30 cc or
1 fluid ounce
-
2 fluid ounces equal 1/4 cup
or 60 cc
-
4 fluid ounces equal 1/2 cup
or 120 cc
-
6 fluid ounces equal 3/4 cup,
180 cc, or 1 small coffee cup
-
8 fluid ounces equal 1 cup,
240 cc, or 1 small milk carton
-
12 fluid ounces equal 1-1/2
cups, 360 cc, or 1 soda can
-
16 fluid ounces equal 2 cups,
480 cc, 1 pint, or 2 small milk cartons
-
32 fluid ounces equal 4 cups,
960 cc, 1 quart, or 4 small milk cartons
-
1-1/2 quarts
equal:
-
-
1440 cc
-
1500 mL
(milliliters)
-
4 soda cans
-
6 small milk
cartons
-
6 cups
-
3 pints
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