Worried about what to feed your loved one who is suffering from jaundice ? Don’t worry , we are here for your rescue. Read on about this Indian Diet plan for Jaundice . Jaune is a French word meaning yellow. Jaundice is a condition where there is yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes and of the sclera of the eyes. Thus, the condition is known as jaundice. There is an elevated bile pigment named bilirubin in the blood hence it is also referred as hyper bilirubinemia.
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What is Jaundice?
Before we see about details of Indian diet plan for Jaundice, Let us first read about what jaundice actually is . Various medical conditions that affect the normal metabolism or excretion of bilirubin exhibit jaundice as symptom. Red blood cells form bilirubin on breakdown. This bilirubin is transferred to liver for further metabolism. Liver again transfers the processed bilirubin to gall bladder for storage. The excess bilirubin is then excreted through intestines in the faeces or in urine.
If this normal metabolic process is not functioning as required, there is accumulation of bilirubin in blood and is deposited under skin. This bile is a greenish yellow colour pigment. Thus, in jaundice there is yellow discoloration.
Classification of Jaundice:
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Pre-hepatic:
There is a defect before secretion to the liver. There is rapid breakdown and destruction of the red blood cells. It is over the liver’s capacity to process it.
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Hepatic:
The problem arises within the liver. Liver’s inability to properly metabolize and excrete bilirubin causes hyper bilirubinemia.
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Post-hepatic:
There is an obstruction in normal drainage and excretion of bile from the liver into the intestine which leads to increased levels of conjugated bilirubin in the bloodstream.
Conditions exhibiting jaundice:
Hepatitis, cirrhosis and gall stones exhibit Jaundice as their major symptom. Biliary atresia, pancreatitis and pancreatic or gall bladder cancer also exhibit Jaundice. Other diseases include inherited defects of liver.
How to diagnose jaundice?
Initial tests involve Liver function tests, complete blood count (CBC) and electrolyte panel. Testing of lipase levels, hepatitis and a urinalysis might also be done in most cases. Computerized tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cholescintigraphy (HIDA scan) gives detail status of organs involved.
Diet during jaundice ( What to eat and what to avoid in jaundice):
To remove excess bilirubin a generous intake of water is necessary. Hence Requirement is of more than 3 – 4 liter in a day. Thus, initially when jaundice is diagnosed preference should be given to a clear liquid diet every two hourly. This reduces the load on liver. Clear liquid includes fruit juices, dal or rice water, vegetable stalk, vegetable soup or chicken broth.
Once the patient tolerates this without any nausea or vomiting, start with a full liquid diet. This includes buttermilk, yogurt smoothie, liquid mixture of dal and rice or curd and rice or liquid porridge.
Within a day or two, start with soft easy to digest food and very low in fat. Water intake has to be over 3 liters throughout the course of jaundice. Soft khichadi, porridge, curd rice and upma should be good. Be generous with carbohydrates, as it is required to build liver cells. Avoid any oil as it is processed in liver, which is already compromised due to jaundice. Coconut oil or ghee can be used sparingly (1 – 2 teaspoon/day) .
Indian Diet Plan for Jaundice :
Here is a one day sample of Indian Diet plan for Jaundice.
Empty stomach – Lemon juice with water OR Amla Juice Or Bael sharbat
Breakfast – Oats porridge or Vegetable Upma or Egg white Omlette with asparagus
Mid-morning – 1 glass Sugarcane Juice
Lunch – 1 Cup Curd Rice + 1 cup raddish leaves vegetable + 1 glass buttermilk
Mid-afternoon – 1 Banana (medium)
Snack – 1 glass Fruit smoothie (any fruit + curd/milk + 1 teaspoon honey)
Mid-Evening – 1 glass Sugarcane Juice
Dinner – 1 Cup Tomato Soup + Vegetable Khichdi OR Chicken broth with Khichadi
Bedtime – 1 Cup Milk
Note: Consume any leaves extract or juice mentioned below through out the day for better effect
Foods to include in Indian Diet plan for Jaundice:
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Sugarcane:
Sugarcane has simple sugars that help rebuild liver cells. Chewing the sugarcane helps in removing the bile through the body. Or even sugarcane juice will help. Just ensure the juice is hygienic. Drink juice twice daily for better results.
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Banana:
Banana is high in antioxidants and potassium. Both help in flushing out toxins from the liver. Crush ripe banana, add some honey and take this at least twice a day for good results. (Read –Foods rich in complex carbs )
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Buttermilk:
Buttermilk is light to digest. It has probiotics that are required for normal gastrointestinal function. Having buttermilk at least thrice a day is advisable.
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Tomato juice:
Tomatoes contain vitamin C and potassium which helps in detoxifying the liver. Take tomato juice empty stomach, early in the morning to relieve jaundice symptoms.
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Lemon:
Lemon is high in antioxidants. It protects liver cells from further damage as it unblocks the bile duct from accumulated bile fluid. Squeeze a lemon in water and consume it at east thrice a day. (Read – Benefits of lemon juice )
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Gooseberry:
Gooseberry is rich in vitamin C that alleviates the symptoms of jaundice. ( Read benefits of Amla / Indian Gooseberry)
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Barley:
Barley has diuretic property. It helps to remove all toxins and bile from body through urine. Boil a tablespoon of barley water in a litre of water. Drink this water throughout the day.
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Wheat grass:
Wheat grass triggers the enzymes involved in rejuvenating the liver cells. While juice of Wheat grass is very effective in normal functioning of liver.
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Radish leaves:
Jaundice induces nausea and vomiting. Radish leaves increases appetite and regularizes the bowel movements. Boil radish leaves in water and have it for ten days for desired effect.
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Basil leaves:
Basil leaves help in restoring normal liver function. Make a paste of basil leaves and add half a glass of freshly prepared radish juice to it. Drink this daily for about two to three weeks for better results.
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Papaya leaves:
Add one tablespoon of honey to one teaspoon of papaya leaves paste. Eat this regularly for about one or two weeks. This is a very effective home cure for jaundice. (Read benefits of papaya )
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Bael leaves:
Bael leaves balances the metabolic pH in the body. It helps to detoxify the body too. Once in a day consume bael leaves powder with a glass of water.
You may be interested in reading –
Foods to Avoid in Indian Diet plan for Jaundice:
- Spicy and fried foods
- Junk foods. Liver needs to produce more bile to digest these foods and that may aggravate the condition.
- Alcohol, coffee and tea add more toxins to the liver.
- Non-pasteurized milk which is high in microbes.
- Pulses and legumes
- Non Vegetarian food as it involves liver for it metabolism.
End Note: Correct food choices, ample of water, adequate rest and moderate physical activity with appropriate medical treatment is the key to treat jaundice. Hope this Indian diet plan for Jaundice be of help to you and cure your loved one !
Very useful tips to cure jaundice and indigenous dietry plan.thanks
Thank you for reading at Dietburrp
Hi,
Can you provide customized iet plan for liver cirhossis and liver cancer as well?
Hi Shrinidhi ,
sorry we dont have any such provision right now .
it is mentioned to eat dal rice liquid form, but also said to avoid pulses ; dal is pulses ; and is it safe to eat curry fish, green tea, almonds, dates? thankyou
Hi Rajesh ,
yes you need to eat pulses in restrictions. a little bit is ok , as for vegetarians there are very less sources of protein . fish is fine , but the curry needs to be low fat . green tea , almonds and date are all good.
Banana has been simply restricted by our doctor now who to follow
Hi Sushant ,
try to go without banana for some time , there may be some other reasion for your doctor to ask you to not eat this . the above mentioned diet is a general diet thats suits almost every individual on an average , but there may be some special cases.
Can i eat curry-rice i have bilirubin lvl 11.53
Hi Amit , rice is good to have. which is the curry that you want to have ?
i am having bilirubin lvl 1.9 with hepatitis a lvl 7.4 and b lvl 19.7 .so which diet i should follow.
Hi Aman ,
sorry i do not have a suitable diet plan for ypu ready yet .
Payal Banka I want have yellow curry which is also called besan curry.
Hi Amit ,
Yes you can have a little besan in your diet . The only reason we avoid it is because it can form gas if you are inactive or o bedrest .. so look in to this . if it suits your digestion , then have it , or else avoid it .
I am a b-all diagnosed patient, chemotherapy is being given to me..recently my last report showed increased bilrubin 8.6 ,so chemo was stopped until bilrubin gets normal can you give me a one diet plan to what to eat throughout the day…it will be so much of help.
Hi Yuvraj ,
The diet plan mentioned above can be followed for help . just that , because you take chemos, it is best to avoid anything raw . have salads also in boiled / steamed form . fruit juices too should be heated , and then cooled . and had.
my report says
Bilirubin total – 1.04
Bilirubin conjugated – 0.65
Bilirubin unconjugated – 0.39
so can I eat chicken curry?
you can have barbecued , or grilled chicken or chicken soup .
can i eat curd with khichdi or drink real juice mix? my bilirubin 3.4…what i eat or not? plz answer me mam?
you can have cur at room temperature . juice should be home made .
Can we give boiled potato in the jaundice
yes you can .
My bilirubin is 9.2 can i eat rice pulav
yes you can have soft cooked rice .
Hi , My SGPT ( ALT) test is 48.0 IU/L . So now which diet i should follow ? Having jaundice.
you can follow the diet plan mentioned above
I am eating beans ,cabbage , loki , tomatoes,with curd . Dalia with fruits .idli.
Coconut water , green tea , red kishmish water on empty stomach, Mooli ka juice , butter milk and tamarind water .
Kharbooja , strawberry , pear , apple chikoo.
And plenty of water .
every thing else is good . tamrind should be avoided
Hi. Is Banana, Jaggery, Dates allowed during Jaundice?
yes . banana jaggery and dates are all allowed .
Is it okay to drink sugarcane juice for a diabetic patient during jaundice? If no, then what can be taken as it’s substitute?
Hi Devi ,
if the sugar levels are beyond normal , than juice is better avoided , you can have other carbs like rice , potato instead of juices .
My Total Bilirubin lvl is 4.47
SGOT :-343
SGPT:- 381
Is it Severe ? How much time to recover ?
Diet plan follow? Salt or Black Salt?
Thanks for sharing information tips here.I am always searching tips over the internet.
I am suffering from jaundice for more than 12 years. Doctor say its a harmless as it is gentic that is gilbert syndrom with hemolytic anemia.
Can i completely cure it.
Hi Dawa ,
it calls for symptomatic trewatments .
I was.. suffering from serious jaundice blueriibin was 31.34 than after a month it gradually decreased ….so what is deity plan n is chapati and tea good for it
Hi Akash , if your current levels are within normal range and you dont hae any other medical issues ,you can follow a normal routine diet . avoid anything in excesss, like excess salt , sugar , oil , fat , eat every thing in nominal amount.
Mam
My total bilirubin is 1.4mg/dl
Direct bilirubin is 0.6mg/dl
Indirect bilirubin is 0.8mg/dl
Wat dis condition means?
Can I follow dis diet plan?
Hi ,
have you showed it to your doctor ? they will help you fine , your total bilirubin is only slightly high .. but only a doctor can give you a diagnosis.
I have bilirubin 1.41mg/ dl and i am 33 weeks pregnant ,what dietbshould i follow? Can i have rice ,vegetable curries and chapati??
Hi Kiran , yes , you can .. just avoid fats .. and low class proteins . check the diet mentioned above , have this for 1 week and it will come to normal.
Hi Payal, I have just come across your web, and hope you can help a little. At this stage any help is something. My father has Chronic Heart, and Kidney Failure with type 2 Diabetes. He has been diagnosed with Final stage heart failure since 2012, and by the grace of God and my mother, still have my father with us. However, his health and given his age of 78 over recent time has weakened, but due to his mind strength managed to keep going. However, and suddenly he has developed jaundice in the last 2 weeks and after hospital and Doctors report, due to his other conditions, they cannot give him anything for his jaundice and he as recently very little appetite. He is a strict vegetarian and does not smoke or drink alcohol. We are remaining positive in approach, but also worried. We are Gujarati Indian and live in Leicester, UK. We have seeked advice from an Indian Dr friend about recommendations on food to help reduce jaundice. Could you perhaps also give a little guide on foods that can be consumed. He cannot drink too much water as he has heart failure, but needs to drink it for kidney and liver. So a bit of a juggle. His feet are swollen too, for some time. I would like to know if you could suggest some foods and drinks, which can reduce the jaundice to see what helps please. I am not ready to give up the fight. He does however have a coarse liver and Dr believes it is Liver failure. I can’t understand how liver failure has developed as considered rare with heart failure patients. Many many thanks. XXX
Hi Rita ,
Kudos to you and your mom .. i pray for strength for your family …
well liquid juggle is there , so is there an liquid limitation from doctor;’s end ? let me know .. for jaundice and kidney , the food items mentioned above are all good for him .. but obviously we need to restrict his liquid . is he on dialysis ?
Hi How can be unconjugated Bilirubin curred.
Hi Total Bilirubin is 3.0 in that conjugated is 0.5 and unconjugated is 2.5. so what diet is preferable.
Mam Can I eat omelette
yes you can eggs are good protein ..