Indian Diet plan for Jaundice ( What to eat in jaundice )

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.

Image :Copyright: lculig / 123RF Stock Photo

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:

• 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.

• Hepatic:

The problem arises within the liver. Liver’s inability to properly metabolize and excrete bilirubin causes hyper bilirubinemia.

• 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:

• 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.

• 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 )

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 )

• Gooseberry:

Gooseberry is rich in vitamin C that alleviates the symptoms of jaundice. ( Read benefits of Amla / Indian Gooseberry)

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 )

• 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 –

• Indian diet plan for Fatty liver
• Indian diet plan for hepatitis A, B, C, D and E

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 !