How to Restore Pancreas & Liver Function With Nutrients
The pancreas and liver are both vital organs. If your pancreas or liver ever stopped functioning properly, your life would be in danger. Taking care of both organs through diet, exercise and limited alcohol intake will promote both organs to maintain healthy functioning. If your liver or pancreas ever do stop functioning properly, certain nutrients can help restore healthy function. Consult with your doctor if you think your pancreas or liver do not function properly.
Consult your doctor and a dietitian before you begin a diet to mitigate the symptoms of liver or pancreatic problems. Dietary recommendations may vary depending on your specific condition and the condition of your organ or organs, and malnutrition is common with pancreatic and liver issues. Since malnutrition can lead to a variety of serious problems, including death, working with your doctor is necessary to come up with a diet that works for you.
- The pancreas and liver are both vital organs.
- Consult your doctor and a dietitian before you begin a diet to mitigate the symptoms of liver or pancreatic problems.
Side Effects of Eating Raw Seafood
Learn More
Increase your consumption of carbohydrates and protein. Liver disease is a general term for a variety of diseases that cause impaired liver function. The liver is responsible for a variety of bodily functions, including protein synthesis, cholesterol production and carbohydrate storage. Common symptoms of liver disease include jaundice of the skin and eyes. Manipulating your diet to stimulate proper liver function may not treat your condition, but it could help promote healthy liver function. Increasing dietary carbohydrates and protein may promote liver function and will supply your body with an increased amount of vitamins and minerals. Consume about 1 g of protein per kilogram of body weight. Limit sodium intake and consume vitamin supplements, especially B-complex vitamins.
- Increase your consumption of carbohydrates and protein.
- Increasing dietary carbohydrates and protein may promote liver function and will supply your body with an increased amount of vitamins and minerals.
Eat foods that contain folate, lycopene and healthy fat, such as olive oil. A variety of diseases and disorders can impair pancreas function. The pancreas secretes insulin, a hormone that plays an integral role in digestion. Eating sources of folate, lycopene and healthy fat can increase pancreatic function and prevent pancreatic cancer. Folate is found in leafy greens, breakfast cereals, noodles and beans. Lycopene is available in tomatoes, and olive oil is a healthy fat available in most supermarkets.
Related Articles
References
- Medline Plus: Diet -- Liver Disease
- The Healthier Life: Pancreatitis -- The Nutrients That Can Offer Relief
- Medline Plus: Liver Disease
- NaturDoctor.com; Nutritional Support for Pancreatic Cancer; Ronald Steriti, ND, PhD
- Cleveland Clinic. Cirrhosis of the Liver. Reviewed January 11, 2019.
- David S, Hamilton JP. Drug-induced Liver Injury. US Gastroenterol Hepatol Rev. 2010;6:73–80.
- American Liver Foundation. Medications.
- Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. Is Acetaminophen Safe to Take When You're Drinking? Published December 19, 2017.
- University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine. Methyldopa. Revised September 17, 2018.
- Elsevier Science Direct. Hypervitaminosis A. Published 2015.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Vitamin A. Updated December 3, 2013.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury: Niacin. Updated February 2, 2014.
- Amathieu R, Levesque E, Merle JC, et al. Insuffisances hépatiques aiguës sévères d'origine toxique : prise en charge étiologique et symptomatique [Severe toxic acute liver failure: etiology and treatment]. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2013;32(6):416–421. doi:10.1016/j.annfar.2013.03.004
- Devarbhavi H. An Update on Drug-induced Liver Injury. J Clin Exp Hepatol. 2012;2(3):247–259. doi:10.1016/j.jceh.2012.05.002
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Drug-Induced Hepatitis.
Writer Bio
Harper Jones has been a freelance writer since 2007. Her work has appeared in "Zink! Fashion Magazine," "emPower Magazine" and the "Washington Post." She has also published several health and fitness e-books and a book of short stories. Jones graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English and health sciences and currently works as a yoga teacher.