What to eat and what not to eat in jaundice

There are various foods that have proven benefits in promoting liver health. Most of these foods also prevent liver diseases. However, if you have jaundice, it is best to check in with a doctor to know which foods are safe for you.

Read more: Foods to improve liver health

Sugarcane juice is traditionally used as a remedy for jaundice. Patients are often recommended to take sugarcane juice for a speedy recovery. 

Experts say that sugarcane juice has a lot of compounds that are known to promote liver health and reduce inflammation. Animal studies indicate that sugarcane juice does have protective effects on liver function. However, more studies are needed to confirm the benefits of sugarcane juice in patients with jaundice.

The following foods should be avoided if you have jaundice:

• Green tea: Although green tea contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory substances, there is a lot of controversy on the effects of green tea on the liver. While some studies show that green tea reduces the risk of various liver diseases, there are some experts who suggest that regular consumption of green tea causes liver damage.
  If you have jaundice, it is best that you either avoid green tea or talk to your doctor to know how much green tea is safe for you.
• Nightshade family (potatoes, brinjal and tomato): If you have jaundice due to an underlying liver disease, it is best to stay away from all the plants of the nightshade family. Animal studies show that these plants have a toxic effect on liver cells and increase the levels of the enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) in the blood - ALAT is a marker of liver damage. Some other plants of this family include peppers, tobacco, datura, and ground cherry (rasbhari).
• Alcohol: Alcohol is primarily metabolised in the liver, hence if you tend to drink a lot of alcohol, your liver gets impacted the most. One of the first things that alcohol does is increase fat deposition in your liver, leading to alcoholic-fatty liver disease.
  Regular alcohol consumption leads to liver fibrosis and liver damage and, in severe cases, cirrhosis and eventually liver failure.
  If you already have a liver condition and are showing signs of jaundice, it is best to avoid alcohol completely. (Read more: Effects of alcohol on the body)
• Saturated fat: Overconsumption of saturated fats is one of the contributing factors for fatty liver disease - one of the possible underlying causes of jaundice. It also promotes weight gain and obesity, which are the risk factors for liver disease. If you already have liver disease and jaundice, it is best to stay away from saturated fats. Some of the sources of saturated fats include dairy products like butter, ghee, milk, coconut oil, lard, processed meats like salami, and sausages.
• Salt: Animal studies indicate that excess salt consumption can damage your liver in the long run. Salt is chemically sodium chloride; your body needs sodium to maintain electrolyte balance and blood pressure. If you add a lot of salt to your food, it would disrupt the electrolyte balance.
  Sodium alters the shape of your liver cells and keeps them from proliferating. Sodium also promotes liver fibrosis. So, physicians suggest that jaundice patients should reduce their salt intake - this includes the salt you add to home-cooked food as well as the "invisible" salt in processed and packaged foods.
  Packaged food also contains a lot of preservatives which are harmful to your liver. You should avoid eating packaged food like chips and biscuits if you have jaundice.
• Sugar: Your liver is responsible for providing as well as storing sugar in your body. Too much sugar gets converted to fats in the liver through a process called lipogenesis. Both fructose and other kinds of sugars are shown to be mediators of fatty liver disease.
  A research study published in the journal PLoS ONE indicated that reducing the intake of fatty foods in liver diseases is only helpful if you also reduce your total sugar intake.
  If you already have a liver condition and hence jaundice, your liver would have to work more to clear all the extra sugar from your system. This could be detrimental to your health.
  Since processed and packaged foods have a lot of added sugar, it is best to avoid them too.
• Meat: Rich cuts of meats like lamb and mutton can be difficult to digest, though lean cuts of chicken and fish may be easier to consume. That said, it might be a good idea to stick to plant-based proteins like legumes while you are recovering from jaundice. Patients should also avoid processed meats like salami and bacon as they can be salty as well as rich.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are among the most important components of a healthy diet. They contain fibre, water, minerals and vitamins which help to fulfil your recommended daily requirements for macro and micronutrients.

Also, most fruits and veggies are rich in antioxidants and other compounds that together reduce liver damage and inflammation, improve metabolism and lower cholesterol levels. Here are some fruits and vegetables you should eat in jaundice:

• Studies have shown that any plant from the Allium genus - onions, leeks, garlic, and shallots - has hepatoprotective activity.
• Citrus fruits including lime, lemons, oranges and mandarins and vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, bok choi, and cauliflower are considered to be good for the liver. 
• Other vegetables and fruits that are suitable for patients with various liver conditions include sweet potatoes, yams, beetroot, carrot, papaya, banana, avocado, fig, watermelon, pineapple, mango and pomegranate.

Whole grains are rich in fibre - a complex carbohydrate that helps promote digestion - and various other bioactive compounds that not only promote liver health but also keep liver diseases at bay. 

Grains like maize, oats and sorghum are rich in antioxidants, brown rice has anti-inflammatory activity, wheat promotes fat metabolism and barley is effective in preventing fatty liver. 

According to a study published in the journal Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, oats have hepatoprotective properties (prevents liver damage). They also help reduce body weight.

Studies have shown that drinking two cups of black coffee per day can arrest the progression of liver disease. It can also reduce your risk of getting liver disease.  

Various mechanisms have been proposed to explain the beneficial effects of coffee on liver health:

• First, coffee is rich in antioxidants which reduce inflammation and prevent liver damage.
• Second, coffee has antifibrotic properties - it prevents liver fibrosis.
• Third, coffee promotes liver detoxification.
• And finally, it reduces fat deposition in the liver.

However, you should avoid drinking too much coffee as it may cause high blood pressure, headaches and insomnia.

Water plays an important role in almost every process going on in your body. It helps flush out the toxins and also aids digestion. 

Dehydration severely impacts every organ of the body and may even lead to liver damage. So, experts suggest that you should drink at least two to three litres of water every day - about eight to 10 glasses. 

Alternatively, you could drink lemon water. Studies have shown that lemon juice is loaded with antioxidants and is hence effective in improving liver function, especially in the case of alcohol-induced liver damage.