What is jaundice?

Jaundice is a disease that is caused due to the inflammation of the liver. This is caused due to the virus present in the liver. This disease is also known as the multisystem disease because, in addition to the liver, nodes, spleen, bone marrow, pancreas and the gastrointestinal tract are also affected. Jaundice is caused by a number of viruses like the virus A, B, C, D, E and other newly discovered viruses like virus G.

There are some numbers of types of jaundice or hepatitis. They are namely hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. Of these hepatitis A and E are commonly occurring diseases in the nations with poor hygiene. These are acquired through eating the contaminated food and beverages. The other types of hepatitis are caused by the blood and blood products.

Dietetic management for jaundice

The dietetic management for jaundice has been devised from a number of studies conducted at different health centers. It is also observed that the persons who are following the steps according to the dietetic management improve a lot in jaundice than the people who eat at their own wish. The patients should have a diet that supplies energy of 3000 kcal and 150 g of proteins a day, supplemented with vitamins and other nutrients.

The intestinal proteins are metabolized in the liver and with the liver disease; it may cause the intestinal protein to get accumulated and hence leading to coma. But, to the contrary, proteins are needed by the liver to regenerate during the recovering process. Hence, this leads to the intake of limited and cautious amounts of proteins in the diet.

Proteins are completely avoided in the case of coma or pre-coma and only high carbohydrate diet is given. Fats can be consumed in normal level as it gives energy and d\only during the coma, fats are completely avoided because the fats are not metabolized in the liver due to the severe inflation.

The carbohydrates are very necessary in order to provide calories and are also helpful in reducing the breakdown of proteins. Fresh fruits, fruit juices, vegetables, biscuits, and honey are given if the person starts to intake orally. These foods are given in order to provide the carbohydrates and also to make an electrolyte balance in the body.

The permitted food substances for a person with jaundice are bread or chappatis made of wheat, maize, breakfast cereal of wheat, rice, milk and milk products, soups, fresh fruits, pastry, desserts, and beverages. The foods that are excluded from the diet are pulses, meat, eggs, nuts, spices, and condiments.