Answers
What should I eat in jaundice?
Short answer
Eat normal, balanced home food with enough calories, and drink plenty of clean water. There is no need to avoid haldi, oil or salt used in normal cooking. Avoid alcohol completely, and do not take herbal remedies unless your doctor approves them.
Good choices
- Dal, rice, roti, khichdi and vegetables
- Curd, buttermilk and fruits
- Small meals every few hours if appetite is poor
- Plenty of boiled or filtered water
Myths to ignore
- Boiled food only: this causes weakness and slows recovery
- No haldi or oil: normal cooking amounts are fine
- Sugarcane juice or special home remedies cure jaundice: they do not, and unclean juice can spread infection
What to avoid
- Alcohol, completely, until your doctor says the liver has recovered, and longer for some causes
- Herbal products and medicines not prescribed by your doctor
- Street food and water from unsafe sources
Find the cause
Jaundice is a sign, not a disease. Most cases from hepatitis A or E settle in weeks, but a blocked bile duct, hepatitis B or a medicine reaction need specific treatment. Get liver tests and an ultrasound early.