Eat healthy for speedy recovery!
The food we eat not only provides us with energy to carry out daily activities but also plays an essential role in keeping us healthy and disease-free.
Whenever suffering from any health-related ailments, it is advised to
take special care of the eating habits for a speedy recovery and the
same goes for jaundice. Jaundice is a common disease related to the
liver and occurs widely in newborns, young children, and
immune-compromised adolescents and adults.
Jaundice is a buildup
of bilirubin in the blood, which is a yellow pigment released during the
breakdown of red blood cells. This happens when the normal function of
the liver is hampered due to some reason, which is typically responsible
for clearing out all the toxins and damaged cells from the body. Too
much bilirubin pigment causes the skin, eyes, and gums to turn yellow.
How your food choices influence your recovery
One of the major functions of the liver is
to produce bile juice that helps the small intestine to break down fats
into fatty acids. Besides, our liver is also responsible for removing
toxins from the body and metabolising digested nutrients.
All the foods and drinks we consume are metabolised differently and for
that our liver has to work in a different manner. Some foods are
liver-friendly and are easy to digest, while others put too much
pressure on the organ, making it work harder. When being diagnosed with
jaundice, the patients are generally advised to eat liver-friendly foods
to protect it from further damage.
Foods and drinks that good for the liver
Including healthy food rich in enzymes,
antioxidants and nutrients in the diet can help to overcome
liver-related complications and improve your health conditions.
Water
The most important step is to stay hydrated.
Water makes the work of the liver easier by helping in the digestion
process and flushing out toxins from the body. Drink at least 2 litres
of water daily for a speedy recovery.
Fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are a powerhouse of
nutrients, which can help to overcome fatigue. But most importantly, it
contains antioxidants and fiber, which can ease the digestion process.
All kinds of fruits and vegetables are good for health, but some are
more liver-friendly like grapes, lemon, sweet potatoes, tomatoes,
carrots and spinach.
Food rich in digestive enzyme
Food-rich in the digestive enzyme is also
proven to be beneficial in jaundice. Honey, pineapple, papaya and mango
are some food items that have naturally occurring digestive enzymes.
Nuts, legumes and whole grains
All the three food items are rich in antioxidants and fiber which can be beneficial for the liver.
As
per a 2013 study, oats can improve the functioning of the liver if
consumed regularly for 12 weeks. Even walnuts are considered good for
liver health.
Foods and drinks that are bad for liver
Foods and drinks that can make the liver
work harder should be limited or completely avoided when suffering from
jaundice. Having these food items can decrease your recovery rate.
Refined and processed foods
When suffering from jaundice one has to
stay clear of fried, processed and extra spicy foods. Processed foods
contain a high amount of sugar, which can impair the functioning of the
liver.
Similarly, a diet high in refined salt may also be
troublesome as it can damage your liver and lead to water retention in
the body.
Processed foods also contain fats which can lead to fat buildup in the liver.
Alcohol
Alcohol is again difficult to digest.
Moreover, it contains compounds that can be toxic to the liver when
suffering from jaundice. It can cause liver inflammation and fibrosis.
People suffering from jaundice should completely avoid alcohol for a
while.