The ascites diet is simple to follow, as it consists especially of reducing the salt in the diet and increasing the consumption of diuretic foods, such as cucumber, beet, pineapple, watermelon or tomato.
To reduce the salt in the diet, without losing flavor in meals, aromatic herbs such as basil, bay leaf, parsley or lemon, ginger, garlic, onion and vinegar can be used. It is also part of the nutritional treatment for ascites to limit the water intake to 500 ml per day, and it can be in the form of therapeutic tea, such as boldo tea, wormwood and picão.
Foods banned in ascites
In the diet for ascites it is important to eliminate foods rich in salt from the diet, such as:
- Embedded; Canned; Pre-prepared foods; Ready-made seasonings, chicken broths; Sauces; Snacks; Soft drinks; Ajinomoto.
In addition, it is important to remove the salt shaker from the table and read the food labels, as the salt may appear under other names, such as monosodium glutamate, sodium cyclamate, sodium saccharin, sodium alginate, sodium hydroxide, sodium pectinate sodium, sodium propionate, disodium phosphate, sodium benzoate, sodium bicarbonate or sodium caseinate, for example.
Some medications may also have salt in their composition, such as effervescent salts, laxatives or sodium dipyrones, so it is important to get medical advice or a specialized nutritionist when a specific diet is made for a health problem, as in the case of ascites diet.
Also see which home remedies are indicated for ascites.
Chylous ascites diet
In the chylous ascites diet, in addition to reducing dietary salt, it is also necessary to decrease the amount of fats that are ingested. Therefore, in addition to avoiding the foods on the list above, it is also important to avoid fried foods, as well as using oils and olive oil to season salads or other foods.
In some cases, it may be necessary for the patient with chylous ascites to feed through the vein, prescribed by the nutritionist at the hospital, so that the patient has all the nutrients necessary for recovery.
Ascites is a symptom that is usually related to diseases such as liver cirrhosis or heart failure. To learn more about diet for liver cirrhosis see: Diet for cirrhosis.
Diet menu for ascites
This example of a menu for ascites can be part of the diet for ascites, however, the diet of these patients is very specific and must be accompanied by a nutritionist. These guidelines are not a substitute for consultation with the doctor.
Breakfast - natural yogurt with granola and apple.
Lunch - grilled turkey fillet with rice and arugula salad, red cabbage and tomato seasoned with lemon and ginger. For dessert, pear.
Snack - 1 glass of orange juice with 2 toasts and cheese without salt.
Dinner - grilled salmon with boiled potatoes and sauteed celery with garlic, onion, vinegar and lemon. Grapes for dessert.
This ascites diet menu is an example of a food day, which should be discussed with the doctor who accompanies the patient.
