Hepatitis C is caused by a virus and often causes no symptoms but can lead to severe liver damage. If you have hepatitis C, your doctor may recommend that you follow a particular diet plan to lessen the effects of the viral disease and maintain your health. Before changing your diet, consult your physician or a registered dietitian.
Identification
Hepatitis C comes in a chronic and an acute form, and you can contract the virus most easily from contact with an infected person's blood, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. The hepatitis C virus causes liver inflammation and damage that can lead to cirrhosis. You're at a greater risk for contracting hepatitis C if you routinely work with infected blood, have HIV/AIDS, inject illegal drugs, have sexual contact with an infected partner or have a mother who had the virus when you were born, MayoClinic.com notes. People who received blood transfusions or organ transplants prior to 1992, prolonged kidney dialysis, or clotting factor concentrates prior to 1987 are also at a higher risk for hepatitis C.
Foods to Avoid
If you have hepatitis C, one of the most important things to avoid in your diet is alcohol, because alcohol consumption can contribute to the liver damage caused by the virus, warns the University of Michigan Health System. Likewise, you should avoid taking acetaminophen and other over-the-counter or prescription drugs that contribute to liver damage. Also avoid consuming excessive amounts of iron-rich foods or taking iron supplements, because people with hepatitis C seem to have high amounts of iron in their livers.
Foods to Add
Enrich your diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables to maintain your health if you have hepatitis C, MayoClinic.com advises. Instead of consuming nutrient-poor junk foods, fill your diet with foods that are high in nutritional content. In addition to a healthy diet, try to get adequate sleep and exercise regularly to boost your health and immune system.
Key Nutrients
Certain nutrients are especially vital for people with hepatitis C. You might need to take extra supplements of betaine, flavonoids like catechin, thiamine, zinc or zinc-L-carnosine, alpha lipoic acid, whey protein and selenium, says the University of Michigan Health System. Supplements of vitamins B12, C and E, as well as phophatidylcholine and S-adenosylmethionine -- SAMe -- may also help if you have hepatitis C. Herbal supplements that support healthy liver function, like milk thistle, could benefit people with hepatitis C as well, MayoClinic.com notes.
Considerations
Because hepatitis C can severely damage your liver, don't take any vitamins or supplements before first discussing them with your doctor, MayoClinic.com warns. Also, keep in mind that your physician may need to switch certain medications and supplements that you're already taking if you've recently received a hepatitis C diagnosis. There's no cure for hepatitis C, but certain conventional treatments can relieve your symptoms and keep the virus at bay, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. Don't stop any treatments in lieu of your diet plan for hepatitis C.
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