This section is from the book "Encyclopedia Of Diet. A Treatise on the Food Question", by Eugene Christian. Also available from Amazon: Encyclopedia of Diet.
Cirrhosis of the liver, or Hannot's Disease, is a condition of chronic inactivity in which the liver secretions are stored to excess from overeating, and are not thrown off generally on account of sedentary habits or inactivity.
Next to the stomach the liver is probably the most abused of all the vital organs. It is called upon to secrete all the surplus blood-sugar and to emulsify all fats taken into the stomach. The bile is largely drawn upon to combat narcotic and alcoholic poisons, therefore that condition called cirrhosis of the liver may be caused by the over-consumption of sweets, excessive use of alcoholic stimulants, together with the overcon-sumption of heavy foods such as red meats, cereals, white bread, acid fruits, or all of these errors may combine to cause cirrhosis.
The symptoms are usually pain in the epigastrium; nausea and sometimes vomiting in the morning; general loss of vitality and ambition; sallow complexion. A dull aching or a throbbing pain is often experienced, followed by a heavy, sluggish feeling, especially on rising in the morning. Alternate constipation and diarrhea, and a perceptible enlargement of the liver are frequent symptoms.
The diet should consist largely of fresh vegetables, nuts, salads and all edible succulent plants; also a limited quantity of the non-acid and of the milder acid fruits such as apples, peaches, plums, grapes, pears, including bananas, which are excellent when baked.
The heavier vegetables, such as green corn, potatoes, and all the legumes may be used moderately.
A liberal service of plain wheat bran should be taken at least twice a week in order to insure active intestinal peristalsis.
All stimulants, narcotics, sweets, condiments and irritating foods of every character should be omitted. The patient should drink copiously of pure water at meals, omitting all other beverages.
Acid fruits
Condiments
Fats
Gravies
Red meats
Stimulants and narcotics
Sweets
White bread
All legumes
Edible succulent plants Fresh vegetables Green corn
Liberal quantity of wheat bran
Limited quantity of -
Apples
Bananas
Grapes
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Nuts Potatoes Salads
Whole wheat thoroughly cooked
Cirrhosis of the liver is in most cases caused by the overconsumption of sweets, starches, fats and intoxicating beverages. Sweet and starchy foods should be limited and intoxicants of all kinds should be entirely omitted. An abundance of pure water should be taken at meals.
 
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