Avoiding Fatty Foods for Treatment of Jaundice

Jaundice, in most of the cases is indicative of some form of liver disease. Jaundice is a result of high bilirubin levels in the body which is responsible for giving a yellow discoloration to your skin and sclera of the eye (whites of the eye). Bilirubin is a dark greenish yellow pigment which is a result of normal catabolic breakdown of the red blood cells. This pigment is then carried to the liver via the bloodstream and excreted in the intestines as a component of bile. Bile is a pre-requisite in the digestion of fatty acids in the intestine. If liver fails to perform this process or if bilirubin can not be excreted in bile then its levels can rise in the bloodstream giving a yellow pigmentation to your skin. High bilirubin level in the body is mostly due to some manifestation or problem originating within the liver (it may also indicate problems outside liver).

For example scarring or inflammation of liver can impair its ability to get rid of excess bilirubin in bile. If you eat a meal loaded with fat then as fat reaches your intestine it will send signals to the brain to excrete bile from the gall bladder for its digestion. This in turn poses undue load on the already damaged liver and can further worsen the situation. Thus it is advised to eat a low fat, well balanced, light meals when you have jaundice or when your bilirubin levels are high. The nutrients from the balanced meal will help the liver cells to heal faster without causing any burden on the digestive system. However as your bilirubin levels fall you can add simple monosaccharides like cream or butter gradually in your diet. To increase palatability you can also include fats from invisible sources in your diet like milk and milk products and eggs in moderation.

Another reason to avoid fatty foods when you are suffering from jaundice is that your activity level is too low. For faster recovery you are advised to take rest as much as possible and avoid any kind of strenuous activity. If you have a meal loaded with fat without much activity then there will be digestion problems for sure which can come in the way of your recovery. Before changing your diet or lifestyle in any major way it is best to consult your specialist as he knows your case history the best.