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A thoughtful place for people living with liver cirrhosis
In 2018, I went to the hospital. I was in liver failure and was diagnosed with advanced liver disease, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), and cirrhosis — which was called end-stage liver disease at the time. I know how overwhelming and confusing this journey can feel, but I never saw it as the end of my story. Even when doctors gave me grim predictions, and I read difficult statistics, I did not lose hope: If it was possible to regain health, then it was possible for me too. So, I kept learning, experimenting, and moving forward.
I created The Embrobi Shop to be the kind of place I wish I had back then — a warm, intentional space filled with thoughtfully chosen products, nourishing ideas, and simple supports that can help make the road feel gentler, more hopeful, and more doable.
Everything here is chosen with care.
These are not random products. They come out of years of research, real-life experimentation, and lived experience — all through the lens of low-sodium living, gut microbiome support, and building a healthier, more nourishing way of living. Low sodium is not just a personal preference here. It is a central part of caring for many people living with cirrhosis, especially when fluid buildup and swelling are involved. In my own case, sodium was making the fluid buildup and swelling in my body worse, and my doctor told me I needed to remove added salt completely and rely only on naturally occurring sodium. That meant not only putting away the salt shaker, but also learning to read labels carefully and becoming much more aware of how much sodium was tucked into everyday products. That is why everything here is chosen not only for flavor and quality, but for how it can support a gentler, more thoughtful, liver-nourishing way forward. By the grace of God, I have learned that even hard changes can become hopeful ones when we begin choosing what truly supports the body.
I Want to Share What I Learned
I am not a doctor, but I am a patient living this journey and sharing what I have learned along the way. I cannot offer medical advice, but I can share what helped me through the different stages of cirrhosis and what brought me hope. My prayer is that what you find here brings you both encouragement, nourishment, and joy.
💛 Emily
🌱 Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Embrobi LLC may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. I only share products I personally use, trust, and thoughtfully recommend. 🌱
Start Here: 3 Exciting First Steps for Low-Sodium Living
These are three of the first things I love to share, because they make this journey more flavorful, more nourishing, and much more hopeful.
Benson’s Table Tasty Salt Substitute
This was an exciting and true game-changer for me when I had to remove salt from my diet. It gave me that salty taste I had been craving, without potassium chloride — a big deal for many of us with cirrhosis. For me, it made low-sodium living so much more delicious!
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Broccoli Sprouting Kit
This kit made it easy to grow fresh broccoli sprouts right on my own counter in just 5 to 7 days. Broccoli sprouts are one of the most nourishing foods I added to my routine, and growing them at home meant better freshness and lower cost than store-bought sprouts. This is such a beautiful way to support our liver, feed our gut microbiome, and keep moving forward with hope.
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Organic Heirloom Broccoli Seeds
These are the seeds that bring the sprouting kit to life. Broccoli sprouts became one of my favorite daily nourishing foods, in part because they are known for sulforaphane, and even a tiny amount can add so much goodness. As a fun bonus, I also plant some in the garden and enjoy the broccoli leaves in my salads.
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A Companion for Your Liver-Thriving Journey
My Liver-Thriving Journal is a faith-filled, low-sodium lifestyle journal for you to write in as you gather your thoughts, questions, meals, prayers, healthy wins, body observations, recipes, and nourishing ideas along the cirrhosis journey. I created it from my lived experience after a 2018 end-stage liver disease diagnosis and years of learning to live, eat, pray, write, and keep moving forward with cirrhosis. Writing things down became a meaningful part of my own journey, and my prayer is that this journal gives you a peaceful place to notice patterns, remember small wins, and keep building your liver-thriving life — one small joyful choice at a time.
A Liver-Support Supplement I’m Grateful I Was Given
LiverMD by 1MD Nutrition
This was one of the first liver-support supplements given to me when I was very sick, and it is one I still take daily after years of researching liver health and learning what its ingredients actually do. Over time, I came to appreciate how thoughtfully this formula combines bioavailable milk thistle, NAC, ALA, zinc, selenium, and vitamin E support. It became one of the supports I was truly grateful to have in my journey, and one I absolutely feel confident sharing.
You can view the Amazon option below.
Cruciferous Vegetables: A Simple Daily Win for Your Liver Journey
This is not an affiliate recommendation. It is one of the most important food choices I want to joyfully encourage from my own experience.
When I was diagnosed and very sick, the nutritionist was giving me a long list of foods I could no longer eat, and I was trying to figure out what I could still eat. One of the questions I felt led to ask was, “Can I have broccoli?” She told me I could have as much broccoli as I wanted, so I began eating it every single day. At the time, I did not yet understand how meaningful that choice would become. Looking back, it was one of the quiet wins God placed in my path early. Even through the pandemic, I was buying frozen broccoli in bulk and eating it daily. It was filling, it felt like a healthy thing to do, and it became one of the simplest ways I could work with my body just by giving it some broccoli love.
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, broccoli sprouts, kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, bok choy, green and red cabbage, rapini, and mustard greens became deeply important in my journey. These vegetables bring fiber and plant compounds that help support the body’s own protective systems, and they also help feed the gut microbiome. That matters, because when the liver is already under strain, it helps to give the body foods that are kind, nourishing, and supportive in return.
This is about making things simple. It is about giving the body more of what God made for it. It is about building daily nourishment with foods that can truly help. When possible, I prefer organic here as one more way to be gentle with the liver and the gut microbiome. If I can reduce unnecessary chemical burden while feeding the body well, that feels like a meaningful win.
Helpful Tip:
Broccoli sprouts naturally bring strong sulforaphane-building potential, while fully grown broccoli can benefit from a little organic ground mustard powder after cooking to help support that process.
Start where you can, choose organic when possible, and let these beautiful, nourishing vegetables become a real part of how you care for your body each day. Have fun with them, smile, and be thankful for these awesome, helpful veggies!
Pantry Essentials for More Flavor, Vibrance, and Nourishment
These are some of the pantry helpers I came to rely on for bringing flavor, nourishment, and a little more joy into everyday cooking.
Organic Black Mustard Powder
I started experimenting with mustard seeds and powders because I wanted to recreate the mustard on store shelves without all the sodium. Then I learned how exciting it was that mustard powder can help support sulforaphane formation in cooked broccoli, and that made me love it even more. I use it in my salad dressings too, and it is such a fun one to get creative with in your own recipes.
Bragg Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
Organic raw ACV has been a constant throughout my cirrhosis journey. When I removed salt from my diet, I longed for foods with more intense flavor, and this became one of my favorite ways to add that bright tang back in. I also like having a tiny sip with water, or after meals for digestion support, and during times when my liver swelling or ascites felt especially overwhelming, I found that tiny sip especially helpful. I use a variety of vinegars for extra zing, but for me, ACV has remained the most beneficial one to keep on hand.
Benson’s Table Tasty
I love this Benson’s seasoning, and it is always in my cupboard. I add it to homemade dressings, pickled creations, eggs, vegetables, and all kinds of everyday dishes when I want more flavor and that extra yum without sodium or potassium chloride. It is also wonderful to bring to restaurants for plain grilled proteins and steamed vegetables.
TIP: Missing the high-sodium pickle aisle? No problem. Make your own pickled creations with Benson’s Table Tasty, vinegar, water, and spices of your choice — and pickle your favorite veggies!
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MicroIngredients Organic
Non-Fortified Nutritional Yeast Flakes
This is the non-fortified nutritional yeast I prefer. I sprinkle it on vegetables for that little non-dairy cheesy deliciousness, and I also use it to thicken dressings, sauces, and my evening homemade soup for extra body, protein, and added goodness. It is one of those simple pantry helpers that makes wholesome meals more flavorful and more satisfying.
Anthony’s Fortified Nutritional Yeast Flakes
This is the fortified nutritional yeast I use when I want that extra B vitamin boost, especially in my breakfast bowl smash. I add it to my hard-boiled egg, avocado, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, broccoli sprouts, Benson’s, home-pickled habaneros, and other flavor-packed goodness for a savory, nourishing start to the day. It is such an easy way to add cheesy-tasting flavor along with a little extra nutritional support.
MicroIngredients Organic Stevia Extract
Sugar is hard on the liver, especially for us with cirrhosis, and many “diet” sweeteners are not a good answer either. Even many stevia packets contain fillers that are not ideal for the gut microbiome, which is one more reason I was so excited to find this pure organic stevia extract from the stevia leaf. This 1 lb bag has about 1,418 servings, so only a tiny amount is needed — which makes it a long-lasting little sweetness helper in my kitchen.
God Gave Us Food with Purpose
One thing I’ve learned on this journey is that the foods God made often come with built-in wisdom. Seeds, nuts, herbs, vegetables, fruits, roots, and whole foods bring fiber, color, texture, minerals, plant compounds, and so much quiet support. The more I moved toward simple foods closer to how God made them, the more I felt like I was working with my body instead of against it.
And yes, I still smile when I look at walnut halves and see little brain shapes. Great one, God! 🧠🤗🙏 I call them “brain nuts,” and when we say our little walnut-snack grace, I pray, “Father God, thank You for blessing these brain nuts, in Jesus’ Name, amen.”
I very much eat with my gut microbiome in mind. That little army of microbes inside us has an important job, and when we feed it well, we can co-flourish together. The beautiful surprise is that these foods can be truly delicious too! Healthy does not have to mean boring — not even close. It can be filled with color, flavor, and joy.
“He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth.”
— Psalm 104:14 NIV
Small but Mighty: Nuts, Seeds, and Nutrient-Dense Pantry Add-Ins
These are some of the small add-ins I reach for when I want more fiber, protein, healthy fats, minerals, texture, and staying power — little boosts that can make healthy meals feel more satisfying.
BetterBody Foods Organic Chia Seeds
Chia seeds are one of my favorite little fiber helpers for salad dressings and simple chia-style puddings. I like to let them fully hydrate and plump up first, so they become gel-like, gentle, and almost tapioca-like in texture. They help thicken dressings, add texture, and bring fiber for the gut microbiome — a tiny seed with a lot of goodness.
TIP: For maximum plumpness, soak chia seeds in room-temperature water and give them a few hours before adding them to your creations.
Zatural Hemp Seeds / Hemp Hearts
Hemp hearts are soft, hulled hemp seeds, and they are such an easy way to add plant protein, healthy fats, minerals, and a gentle nutty texture. I add them to my breakfast bowl smash, mix them into dressings, and sprinkle them over salads and soups. They are a simple little add-in that brings softness, satisfaction, and a cozy, inviting finish to meals.
The 3-pack is the best value I’ve found, but you can choose the size that works for you on the Amazon listing.
Yupik Organic Raw Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are a huge part of my day. I add them to my breakfast bowl smash, mix them into dressings, and keep a simple mix of pumpkin seeds and walnuts with me when I’m out so I have something mineral-rich and unsalted to reach for. A small handful goes a long way, bringing protein, magnesium, zinc, and that helpful crunch that makes healthy choices feel easier.
Yupik Organic California Walnuts
Walnuts are an unsalted snack I reach for regularly, especially with pumpkin seeds when I’m out. These brain nuts bring plant omega-3s, healthy fats, a little protein, and a hearty crunch in a simple, nutrient-dense form. They are one of my favorite ways to keep something helpful with me when hunger shows up.
365 Organic Unsweetened & Unsalted Creamy Peanut Butter
This peanut butter is beautifully simple: 1 ingredient — organic peanuts. Since peanuts grow underground, choosing organic matters a lot here, and I love that this one has no added sugar, salt, oils, or fillers. If you enjoy an occasional peanut-butter-and-chocolate delight like I do, try about ½ teaspoon with organic cacao nibs. Yum.
Viva Naturals Organic Cacao Nibs
Organic cacao nibs give me that deep chocolatey crunch without added sugar. I add them to dressings and homemade hummus, or have a small spoonful when I want that peanut-butter-and-chocolate delight with organic peanut butter. They bring minerals and antioxidant-rich plant compounds, so I treat them like a small-but-mighty addition — a little bit is plenty.
Don’t Forget Your Grocery Store Wins
The products above are helpful, but this lifestyle also comes alive in the grocery store — with real-food staples, fresh produce, and simple ingredients you can bring home and build into your day.
Some of my biggest daily wins come from the grocery store. In addition to all of the cruciferous veggies I love, I look for sweet potatoes, avocados, a small handful of blueberries, ginger, unsweetened kefir, tofu, simple proteins, fresh herbs, and foods close to how God made them. I go organic when I can, and I especially love finding ingredients that help me build satisfying, very low-sodium meals without feeling like I am missing out.
I also want to give a special shoutout to Vital Farms eggs. Pasture-raised organic is my favorite when I can find it, but these Vital Farms pasture-raised eggs from Walmart have been a wonderful option for me. I appreciate that they care about the farms they work with and the way the hens are raised — that kind of thoughtfulness matters to me. In general, I choose pasture-raised eggs whenever I can because hens are meant to move, forage, and eat a more natural, varied diet — and that matters for the quality of the egg too.
When I was very sick, doctors often asked if I had an appetite. I did — but what changed everything was learning to give my body foods it could better handle. Staying very low sodium, avoiding ultra-processed foods, and feeding my gut microbiome helped my days feel more manageable, even during the harder parts of the journey.
Quick reminder: low-sodium products can still add up fast. Many products labeled “low sodium” use the full 140 mg per serving allowed for that label, so I still check labels carefully and choose no-salt-added or unsalted options when I can.
Helpful Tip:
Use your grocery store app as a little low-sodium treasure map before you go. Search terms like “unsalted organic,” “no salt added,” “low sodium organic,” “unsweetened organic,” and “pasture-raised,” then save a few helpful finds to your cart or list so you can look for them in the store. After that, walk the aisles and explore. It can start to feel like a whole new grocery store — quieter, simpler, and full of beautiful real-food possibilities you may have walked past before. Enjoy the adventure!
Thriving Is a Direction
This journey is about learning what helps your body, staying committed to it, and giving yourself the best chance to feel better day by day.
Fiber matters. Gentle movement matters. Rest matters too. When we feed the gut microbiome, move our bodies gently, and truly rest when we need to recover, we give the body more of what it needs to keep working, repairing, and restoring.
For me, what the world often calls mindset is rooted more deeply in faith. Yes, we need a hopeful, forward-facing mindset — but my hope is not only in positive thinking. My hope is in God, who is with us in every moment, even when the road is hard. I have learned to pray with gratitude, keep listening to my body, and believe that small faithful choices can matter more than we realize.
One of the beautiful things I have learned is that supportive choices can work in a positive direction too. Even with cirrhosis, I have learned to enjoy delicious food, feed my gut, listen to my body, and keep moving toward thriving. Start where you can. Let this become a way of caring for your body with hope, gratitude, and joy.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
— Romans 15:13, NIV
This Is Just the Beginning
This shop is one small beginning of what I am building through Embrobi. The items here are part of my real life, real kitchen, and real cirrhosis journey — not a random collection, and definitely not the whole story. As Embrobi grows, I hope to keep sharing more thoughtful finds, helpful notes, recipes, resources, encouragement, and lived wisdom from what I’ve learned along the way.
Please come back and explore as more little treasures are added and I continue gathering what I’ve learned through this liver-thriving life to share with you.
A Prayer for Your Journey
Thank you for being here.
🙏
I pray your journey with cirrhosis becomes more vibrant, hopeful, and filled with joyful moments
🌱 one nourishing choice at a time.
I am praying for you every day. I believe God has placed you here for a reason, and I know how much better this journey can feel when the peace of Jesus fills each moment.
Thank You, God.
May Jesus-joy sparkle through your days with His peace and love. May smiles and laughter bring health to your body, encouragement to your heart, and hope for the road ahead.
I am cheering you on!
🙏
✝️ In Jesus’ Name, amen
Prayers, Blessings, and Broccoli Sprouts,
💛Emily Embrobi
