Hepatitis C virus causes long-term infection and inflammation of your liver, primarily spread through contact with contaminated blood. Medical treatment varies with the severity of the infection and often includes antiviral medications. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and good nutritional practices can help limit the progress of liver damage in hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C Identified
Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, and hepatitis C is the specific name for inflammation caused by infection with the hepatitis C virus. Hepatitis C infection results from exposure to contaminated blood or body fluids, including sharing needles during drug use, poorly cleaned tattoo or piercing instruments, transmission from an infected mother to her infant during delivery and rarely from sexual contact. Hepatitis C can be a silent disease for many years, but long-term complications include cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Laboratory tests that identify evidence of the virus in your blood allow early diagnosis and treatment, the goal being prevention of progressive liver damage.
Impact of Nutrition
Staying healthy and eating well are not specific treatments for hepatitis C but can help protect your liver from greater damage. Eating too many calories and being overweight contribute to developing a buildup of fat in your liver, or fatty liver, which increases your risk of future cirrhosis and can decrease the effectiveness of medications used for hepatitis C. Alcohol and many medications can directly damage your liver and compound the effects of hepatitis. Hepatitis C patients are also more likely to develop diabetes, and controlling your weight and caloric intake can partially counteract this risk.
Dietary Recommendations
Hepatitis C infection does not require a special diet, but good eating patterns can be important. Eat at least three regular meals a day, including plenty of cereals and whole grains, multiple servings of fruits and vegetables and good protein sources such as low-fat dairy products, meats, beans and nuts. Limit your intake of fatty foods, particularly saturated and trans fats, foods high in salt and too many products high in sugar. Drink plenty of fluids, which can include not just water but juices, teas and soups. Remaining physically active not only helps you maintain a desirable body weight but also can increase your appetite and help keep your body functioning at its best.
Additional Steps to Consider
In addition to a healthy diet, other steps might help prevent liver damage in hepatitis. Limit or completely avoid your use of alcohol, which has a direct toxic effect on the liver. Avoid iron-rich foods, and do not cook in iron pots or pans, as some hepatitis C patients accumulate excess iron in their bodies. Take only drugs, medications or supplements that you truly require, because many pharmaceutical and herbal substances can be harmful to your liver. Also, work closely with your health care provider to design the best nutritional plan for your situation if you have hepatitis C.
