I should drink this much

In the early stages of liver cirrhosis there is usually no reason to change the amount of water you drink. However, this should always be discussed with the treating physician. In principle, alcohol of any kind should be avoided.

If cirrhosis of the liver is already advanced, dropsy may develop. In this case, it may be necessary to limit the amount of alcohol drunk in order to reduce water retention and improve the patient’s general condition. In most cases, a fluid intake of one to one and a half liters per day is then recommended. However, the exact amount to be drunk can vary from patient to patient and should always be coordinated with a doctor to suit the therapy concept.

I should consume so many proteins

The amount of protein to be ingested daily also varies depending on the stage of liver cirrhosis. Basically, patients with liver cirrhosis have an increased protein requirement. Protein-rich foods, such as nuts and dairy products, are therefore highly recommended.

However, in the case of more advanced diseases, the body may have an increased amount of ammonia. This can cause a functional disorder and damage to the brain, known as hepatic encephalopathy. In order to prevent this, proteins consisting of branched-chain amino acids should be taken in. These include, for example, milk, soya products and legumes. Animal protein sources such as meat and eggs should be avoided at this stage.

The renunciation of alcohol in cirrhosis of the liver

Alcohol abstinence has a very important place in the diet of patients with liver cirrhosis. Alcohol is one of the most common causes of fatty liver. If regular consumption of alcohol continues, fatty liver is transformed into cirrhosis of the liver.This conversion can then no longer be reversed. However, patients in whom alcohol abuse is not the cause of cirrhosis of the liver also benefit from abstaining from alcohol. Otherwise, the alcohol only further damages the liver, which is already severely affected, and cirrhosis of the liver progresses more rapidly.