What I should eat if I have cirrhosis of the liver?

Condition analysis:
It is not necessary to avoid meat in the vast majority of patients with cirrhosis, but it doesn't mean there are not situations where meat intake should be avoided.

The reason for this advice is that in end stage cirrhosis, patients can get a condition called hepatic encephalopathy (a state causing confusion and sometimes even death) which is due to failure of the liver to remove excessive ammonia from the blood stream. An excessive protein load from meat sources (which contain different types of amino acids compared to plant sources) can precipitate encephalopathy in a subset of patients who have advanced liver failure.

However with time people and doctors alike tend to lose the finer details of why it should be avoided and apply it to more generalised situations such as all patients with cirrhosis which is wrong. This often leads to patients unnecessarily restricting their protein intake which actually leads to malnutrition in these patients.

Instructions:
Milk thistle is another useful remedy for cirrhosis. Although it will not reverse the existing liver damage, it can help protect against further damage.

It contains an active ingredient called silibinin with strong antioxidant properties and detoxifying and hepatoprotective effects.

Early research suggests that this herb can be useful for people with alcohol-related liver disease, but more research is still needed.

Milk thistle is available in supplement form as liquid extract, capsules and tincture. Consult your doctor for proper dosage and suitability for your condition.

Note: Milk thistle may not be suitable for those suffering from complications like variceal bleeding or ascites due to cirrhosis. It is also not recommended for people with a history of hormone-related conditions.