Liver Shrinking Diet Before Bariatric Surgery: What Is It?

What Is a Liver Shrinking Diet?

Before bariatric surgery, your doctor may put you on a liver shrinking diet. This diet helps to reduce the size of your liver. That makes the surgery easier and safer. But what exactly is a liver shrinking diet about?

People with obesity often have a fatty liver, which makes bariatric surgery more difficult and dangerous. Liver shrinking diet is a low-calorie diet that helps to reduce the amount of fat in your liver and lose weight. This is a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet that includes mostly protein and vegetables.

The liver shrinking diet is a restrictive diet and should only be done under the supervision of a doctor or registered dietitian. This diet is not meant to be followed for a long period of time. It’s only meant to be followed for a couple of weeks before bariatric surgery.

What Is the Goal of a Liver Shrinking Diet?

Liver shrinking diets are used to reduce the glycogen stores in your liver. Glycogen is a sugar that is stored in your liver and muscles for energy. When you eat carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose and stores them as glycogen in your liver.

The goal of the liver shrinking diet is to reduce the amount of glycogen, fatty deposits and water in your liver. This makes the liver smaller.

What Is Bariatric Surgery?

Bariatric surgery is a type of weight loss surgery that helps people with obesity to lose weight. The surgery makes changes to the stomach and intestines so that the person feels full more quickly and can only eat small amounts of food. 

There are several different types of bariatric surgery, but all of them have the same goal: to help the person lose weight and keep it off. Surgery is usually only considered for people who have not been able to lose weight through other means, such as diet and exercise. Bariatric surgery can be an effective way to lose weight, but it is not a quick fix. People who have the surgery need to commit to making long-term changes in their diet and lifestyle.

Gastric Bypass and Laparoscopic Sleeve

Gastric bypass and sleeve gastrectomy are the two most common types of bariatric surgery. Both of these procedures involve removing a large part of the stomach. This reduces the amount of food you can eat and makes you feel full sooner. Gastric bypass surgery also involves rerouting the small intestine to a smaller stomach pouch.

Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is a newer type of bariatric surgery. A surgeon will remove a large part of the stomach and make the remaining stomach into a tube-like shape. This makes you feel full sooner and reduces the amount of food you can eat.

Why Is a Liver Shrinking Diet Necessary Before Bariatric Surgery?

The liver is the largest internal organ and has many functions, including removing toxins from the blood, producing bile to help digest fat, and storing nutrients. For these reasons, it’s important that the liver be as healthy as possible before undergoing bariatric surgery. 

While there are a variety of ways to shrink the liver, such as through medication or extreme calorie restriction, a specialized diet is often the most effective method. This diet typically consists of high-protein, low-carbohydrate foods that help to break down fatty deposits in the liver. In addition, patients are often advised to drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol during this time.

What Are the Benefits of a Liver Shrinking Diet?

There are some risks associated with a liver shrinking diet. While it may lead to short-term weight loss, a liver shrinking diet is not a sustainable or healthy way to lose weight in the long term. In fact, there are several risks associated with this type of diet. 

First, severe calorie restriction can cause weakness, dizziness, and headaches. However, before the surgery, patients will be closely monitored by their doctor and will be given any necessary supplements to avoid these side effects. 

Second, this diet can also cause constipation and dehydration. To avoid these problems, it is important to drink plenty of fluids and eat high-fiber foods. Finally, this diet should only be followed for a short period of time. If it is followed for too long, it can lead to malnutrition.

If you are considering bariatric surgery, talk to your doctor about whether a liver shrinking diet is right for you. They will provide you with a healthy diet plan to get the results you need. Following the liver shrinking diet on your own is not recommended, as it can be dangerous. However, with close monitoring and supervision from your healthcare team, this diet can help you to lose weight safely before your surgery.

What Can You Eat on the Liver Shrinking Diet?

A liver shrinking diet is a strict diet that consists of high-protein, low-carbohydrate foods to help you shrink your liver. Some examples of foods that you can eat on this diet include:

1. Protein: meat, poultry, eggs.
2. Fish/shellfish: salmon, tuna, crab, halibut, tilapia, trout.
3. Low-carbohydrate vegetables: leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, tomatoes.
4. Fruits: they’re considered high in carbs but are necessary for some vitamins, so 1/4 cup daily is allowed.
5. Dairy: yogurt, low-fat cottage cheese, skim milk.
6. Beverages: water is always the best. You can drink it with a sliced citrus fruit. Sugary drinks and caffeine should be avoided. Protein shakes are always a good option. One shake should not be more than 200 calories and should contain 20-25 grams of protein.

What Can’t You Eat on a Liver Shrinking Diet?

There are some foods that you should avoid while on a liver shrinking diet. These foods include:

1. Alcohol. It’s processed by the liver and can contribute to fatty liver disease.
2. High-fat foods: fried foods, fast food, processed meats, and baked goods.
3. Sugar: candy, soda, desserts, and other sweetened foods.
4. White flour: bread, pasta, cereal, and other refined grains.

This diet is not intended to be followed for a long period of time, so it is important to consult with your doctor before starting it. In addition, if you have any medical conditions, such as diabetes, it is important to speak with your doctor and do not attempt to follow the diet without supervision.

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