Liver Health Diet: Complete Guide

Last updated: 20 February 2026

A liver diet or healthy liver diet is an eating pattern that supports liver health–for example by limiting alcohol, avoiding excess saturated fat and added sugar, and maintaining a healthy weight. This page also covers a diet for gallstones (and the best diet for gallstones) and the liver shrinking diet, which is a short-term, medically supervised plan used before certain surgeries. A liver diet can help in fatty liver disease (NAFLD) when combined with weight loss; a diet for gallstones may reduce symptoms by avoiding large fatty meals. The liver shrinking diet is only used under your surgical team’s direction. This guide explains what these diets are, what to eat and avoid, and how they work. This page is for education only. Liver disease and gallstones need proper diagnosis and care–always follow your doctor’s or dietitian’s advice.

Disclaimer: The information on this page is for education only and does not replace advice from your doctor or dietitian. Liver disease and gallstones need proper diagnosis and treatment. The liver shrinking diet is a medical protocol–do not follow it unless prescribed by your surgical team. Do not change your diet or medication based on this article alone.

Below: what a liver diet, healthy liver diet, diet for gallstones, best diet for gallstones, and liver shrinking diet are, what to eat and avoid, benefits and risks, a sample day, and answers to common questions. You can use our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator with your healthcare team if you have a weight or calorie goal.

What is the liver diet and healthy liver diet?

A liver diet or healthy liver diet is not one fixed plan but an eating pattern that supports the liver. General principles include:

  • Limit or avoid alcohol–especially important if you have or are at risk of liver disease.
  • Avoid excess saturated fat and added sugar–both can contribute to fatty liver (NAFLD) when combined with excess calories and weight gain.
  • Maintain a healthy weight–weight loss, when needed, can improve fatty liver. Use our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator with your doctor’s approval.
  • Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, and lean protein–Mediterranean-style eating is often recommended. See our Mediterranean diet and low-fat diet guides for ideas.

For fatty liver (NAFLD), guidelines often recommend weight loss (if overweight), reducing sugar-sweetened drinks and refined carbohydrates, and limiting saturated fat. A healthy liver diet supports medical care; it does not replace it. If you have cirrhosis or other liver disease, your doctor or dietitian will give you a tailored plan (e.g. protein, sodium, or fluid limits).

Diet for gallstones and best diet for gallstones

Gallstones are stones in the gallbladder. A diet for gallstones or best diet for gallstones often aims to reduce symptoms (e.g. pain after fatty meals) and support a healthy weight. It typically involves:

  • Eating regular meals with moderate fat–very low-fat diets are not always recommended and can sometimes be counterproductive; your dietitian can advise.
  • Avoiding large, very fatty meals that can trigger gallbladder contraction and pain.
  • Losing weight gradually if overweight–rapid weight loss can increase the risk of gallstones. See our weight loss diet guide and use a moderate calorie deficit with your doctor’s guidance.

The best diet for gallstones is one tailored to you–some people need surgery regardless of diet.

Liver shrinking diet

The liver shrinking diet is a short-term plan used before certain surgeries (e.g. bariatric surgery, some liver operations) to reduce liver size and make the procedure safer. It is usually very low in calories or carbohydrates and is prescribed for a set period (e.g. 1–2 weeks) by your surgical team. Do not follow a liver shrinking diet on your own. It is a medical protocol and must be supervised. See our digestive conditions diet (bariatric diet) for post-surgery eating–the liver shrinking diet is the pre-surgery phase only.

How the liver diet and related diets work

Liver diet / healthy liver diet: Reducing alcohol, excess calories, saturated fat, and added sugar reduces the workload on the liver and can help reverse or prevent fatty liver (NAFLD) when combined with weight loss. There are no phases–you follow the pattern ongoing.

Diet for gallstones: Avoiding large fatty meals reduces the chance of painful gallbladder contractions. Gradual weight loss (if needed) may reduce the risk of new stones; rapid weight loss can increase risk. The best diet for gallstones is individual–your doctor or dietitian will advise.

Liver shrinking diet: A very low-calorie or low-carb intake for a short time reduces liver fat and size, making surgery safer. It is time-limited and prescribed–do not start it without your surgical team.

What to eat and what to limit

The table below is a general guide for a liver diet / healthy liver diet and diet for gallstones. It does not apply to the liver shrinking diet, which is set by your surgical team. Your doctor or dietitian may give you a different list (e.g. if you have cirrhosis or advanced liver disease).

Eat (liver diet / diet for gallstones) In moderation Limit or avoid
Vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, pulsesLean meat, poultry, fish, eggs; healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, avocado)Alcohol (especially with liver disease)
Lean protein; fibre-rich foodsFor gallstones: spread fat through the day, avoid large fatty mealsExcess saturated fat, added sugar, sugary drinks
––Highly processed foods; unprescribed supplements (some harm the liver)

For fatty liver, weight loss and reducing refined carbs and saturated fat are often emphasised. For gallstones, avoid large fatty meals that trigger pain; the best diet for gallstones is tailored by your doctor or dietitian.

Potential benefits (with caveats)

Benefits are described in general terms–individual results vary. This is not medical advice.

  • Liver health: A healthy liver diet that limits alcohol, excess fat and sugar, and supports a healthy weight may help prevent or improve fatty liver (NAFLD) in some people.
  • Gallstones: A diet for gallstones that avoids large fatty meals may reduce pain episodes. Gradual weight loss (if overweight) may help in the long term; the best diet for gallstones does not replace medical or surgical treatment when needed.
  • Liver shrinking diet: When prescribed, the liver shrinking diet can reduce liver size and make surgery safer. It is only for the pre-surgery period under supervision.

Evidence: dietary modification is recommended in guidelines for NAFLD and for gallstone symptom management. Diet supports but does not replace medical care.

Risks and who should be cautious

A liver diet or diet for gallstones that is balanced and followed with professional advice is generally safe. Important points:

  • Liver disease: If you have cirrhosis or advanced liver disease, your diet may need to be tailored (e.g. protein, sodium, fluid). Do not restrict protein or make big changes without your doctor or dietitian.
  • Gallstones: If you have severe or repeated symptoms, surgery may be needed regardless of diet. Do not delay seeing your doctor.
  • Liver shrinking diet: The liver shrinking diet is very restrictive and is only for the short pre-surgery period. Do not follow it without your surgical team’s prescription and supervision.
  • Rapid weight loss: Losing weight too quickly can increase the risk of gallstones. If your doctor advises weight loss, do it gradually–use a moderate calorie deficit with their guidance.

Before starting a liver diet, diet for gallstones, or any weight-loss plan, speak to your doctor or dietitian.

Sample day (liver diet / diet for gallstones style)

This is one example of a day that fits a general liver diet or healthy liver diet and can work for many people on a diet for gallstones (smaller meals, moderate fat, no large fatty binges). It is not a liver shrinking diet–that is prescribed separately by your surgical team.

  • Breakfast: Porridge with fruit and a handful of nuts, or eggs with wholegrain toast and avocado (moderate amount). Avoid alcohol and excess sugar.
  • Lunch: Salad with grilled chicken or chickpeas, olive oil, and wholegrain bread. Or soup with bread and a small amount of cheese. Include vegetables.
  • Dinner: Grilled or baked fish or lean meat, vegetables, rice or potato. Use herbs and lemon instead of heavy sauces. For gallstones, avoid one very large fatty meal.
  • Snacks: Fruit, yogurt, nuts, vegetable sticks. Limit sugary snacks and alcohol.

For more ideas, see our Mediterranean diet, heart-healthy diet, and weight loss diet guides. If you need to lose weight for fatty liver, use our calorie deficit calculator and TDEE calculator with your doctor’s or dietitian’s approval.

Frequently asked questions

A liver diet or healthy liver diet is an eating pattern that supports liver health: limiting alcohol, avoiding excess saturated fat and added sugar, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, and lean protein. For fatty liver (NAFLD), weight loss and reducing sugar and saturated fat are often recommended. It supports but does not replace medical care.

A diet for gallstones often involves eating regular, smaller meals with moderate fat (very low-fat diets can increase gallstone risk in some cases); avoiding large fatty meals that can trigger pain; and losing weight gradually if overweight. The best diet for gallstones is one tailored by your doctor or dietitian–some people need surgery regardless of diet.

A liver shrinking diet is a short-term plan used before certain surgeries (e.g. bariatric or liver surgery) to reduce liver size and make the operation safer. It is usually very low in calories or carbohydrates and is prescribed by your surgical team. Do not follow a liver shrinking diet on your own–it is medical and must be supervised.

On a general liver diet or healthy liver diet you can eat vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, lean protein (fish, poultry, pulses), and healthy fats in moderation. Limit alcohol, excess saturated fat, added sugars, and highly processed foods. For fatty liver, weight loss and Mediterranean-style eating are often recommended. See the article table and your doctor or dietitian for a personalised plan.

For liver health, avoid or limit alcohol (especially if you have liver disease), excess saturated fat and added sugar, and very high-calorie diets that lead to weight gain. Avoid unprescribed supplements that can harm the liver. If you have gallstones, avoid large fatty meals that trigger pain. Your doctor or dietitian will give you a specific list.

For a general healthy liver diet or diet for gallstones, our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator can help you maintain weight or lose weight gradually if your doctor advises it. For a liver shrinking diet, your surgical team will set your intake–do not use standard calculators. For fatty liver, gradual weight loss is often recommended; use our calorie deficit calculator with your doctor’s approval.

Summary

A liver diet or healthy liver diet supports liver health by limiting alcohol, excess saturated fat and added sugar, and by maintaining a healthy weight–with plenty of vegetables, fruits, wholegrains, and lean protein. A diet for gallstones and best diet for gallstones typically involve regular meals, moderate fat, and avoiding large fatty meals; gradual weight loss if overweight. The liver shrinking diet is a short-term, medically supervised plan before certain surgeries–do not follow it unless prescribed. This page is for education only; your doctor or dietitian will tailor your plan. See our Mediterranean diet, weight loss diet, and digestive conditions diet (bariatric) for related reading. Use our calorie calculator and TDEE calculator only with your healthcare team’s guidance.

Use our calculators with this diet

Set your calorie target and plan meals with our free tools.

Other diet guides that may fit your goals.

Sources and further reading

This article is based on current guidance. For more detail, see:

  • Guidelines on NAFLD and dietary management (e.g. EASL, AASLD)
  • Guidance on gallstones and diet (e.g. gastroenterology and dietetic associations)
  • Pre-surgery liver shrinking diet protocols (surgical teams–do not self-prescribe)

Last updated: 20 February 2026. Content is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical or dietetic advice.

Content quality

Written by DietaBest Editorial Team

Medically reviewed by Dr. Alex Novak, MD (Internal Medicine)

Last updated:

This guide is for general education only and does not replace personal medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making major diet or lifestyle changes, especially if you have a medical condition or take medication.