Looking for help with food and drink with cirrhosis of the liver

Posted by alexandern @alexandern, Jul 23, 2023

I've been diagnosed (via bloodwork) with cirrhosis of the liver. I'm not sure if it's safe to drink non-alcoholic wine that has 0.5% alcohol or less typically.

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Maybe ask your physician who ordered the bloodwork? Personally I wouldn't want to chance it.

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Ask to speak to a nutritionist. If your medical center doesn’t have one, find one in your community. Cirrhosis of the liver is serious. If alcohol is the cause of your cirrhosis, don’t consume any at any percent.
You can Google nutrition for cirrhosis of the liver and find some helpful info. But start with your doctor.

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Hello

I am so sorry that you found out that you do have cirrhosis of the liver.
It could be either fatty liver or alcohol-related.
I had the same problem 5 years ago and was lucky enough to obtain one via a live liver donor.
Since you brought this up, please stay away from any alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages.
Even a bit of alcohol can accelerate your liver disease.
The only cure is a transplant since the liver cannot be repaired.
It is a very long process since there are very few livers available in the system.
Just take care of yourself and just concentrate and contact the transplant team for the process one has to go though depending on the hospital.
all the best

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Welcome, @alexandern. I agree with the helpful advice from fellow members @scolio @gigi4 @jamesduaiswamy
that you may wish to check with your doctor about drinking non-alcoholic wine with trace amounts of alcohol.

According to this article:
- Avoidance of Alcohol for Patients with Cirrhosis https://www.hepatitis.va.gov/cirrhosis/cirrhosis-alcohol.asp
"There is no safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed by patients with cirrhosis."

If you're accustomed to having a glass of wine now and then, it can be hard to give up, especially in social settings. But is sounds like your health might demand prudence and finding a different drink of choice. When abstaining in social settings, I found it helpful to still use nice glassware and stemware for my non-alcholic cranberry juice and sparkling water.

What helps you to say no to wine?

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Try some of the new "mocktails" I have been reading about; you can order one in any good bar. Or the non-alcoholic "alcohols," some of which are very good. I understand that there is non-alcoholic beer as well. Please do not imbibe in alcohol.

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@colleenyoung

Welcome, @alexandern. I agree with the helpful advice from fellow members @scolio @gigi4 @jamesduaiswamy
that you may wish to check with your doctor about drinking non-alcoholic wine with trace amounts of alcohol.

According to this article:
- Avoidance of Alcohol for Patients with Cirrhosis https://www.hepatitis.va.gov/cirrhosis/cirrhosis-alcohol.asp
"There is no safe amount of alcohol that can be consumed by patients with cirrhosis."

If you're accustomed to having a glass of wine now and then, it can be hard to give up, especially in social settings. But is sounds like your health might demand prudence and finding a different drink of choice. When abstaining in social settings, I found it helpful to still use nice glassware and stemware for my non-alcholic cranberry juice and sparkling water.

What helps you to say no to wine?

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Tonic water with a lime wedge in a fancy glass- for me seems like a "real drink."

I started drinking this at work-related social events because it looks like a drink. Now, it relaxes me like a drink. haha

Grape juice with lime might taste like wine...

Maybe what you want to do is to re-create all of the circumstances you associate with a relaxing drink-- but without the alcohol.
Good luck! Keep us posted : )

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Thank you. I've been creating delicious "mocktails" with freshly juiced fruits...when I am sitting down to read my bible and devotionals and/or watch TV. You can get pretty creative with them.

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@maryecox

Try some of the new "mocktails" I have been reading about; you can order one in any good bar. Or the non-alcoholic "alcohols," some of which are very good. I understand that there is non-alcoholic beer as well. Please do not imbibe in alcohol.

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Thank you, Mary. Yes, I have been creating delicious "mocktails" with freshly squeezed fruit juices. Very nice to sip on when relaxing in the evening. As well, Heineken has a 0.0% beer that is actually quite good. Pity nobody makes a decent 0.0% wine. No matter...I'm very happy with my new pescatarian dietary regimen. I don't miss booze or meat at all.

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Kentucky 74 gets rave reviews as a non alcoholic bourbon.

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Thank you, Mary. I appreciate your suggestion. Kentucky 74 has 0.5% alcohol and I can't have that. I was told by my doctor to avoid ALL alcohol no matter the low percentage.

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