People with hepatitis C generally do not need a special diet unless they have an additional health disorder, according to the experts at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Experts advise eating a healthy diet of grains, fruit, vegetables and adequate protein, along with drinking plenty of fluids. The VA does list some foods, however, which are best eaten sparingly or avoided altogether.
Alcohol
Hepatitis C patients should not consume alcohol or foods containing alcohol. Alcohol is toxic even to healthy livers, and even moderate amounts speed up the progression of hepatitis C, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Alcohol also decreases the effectiveness of hepatitis C treatment. Some desserts and cooking sauces contain alcohol.
Fatty Foods
Fatty foods are not good for the hepatitis C patient. Foods high in saturated fat, as listed by the American Heart Association (AHA), include organ meats, non-lean meats, poultry skin and processed meats, such as bacon, sausage and lunch meat. Lard, butter, whole milk and other whole-fat dairy products, such as cheese and ice cream, also should be eaten sparingly. Hard margarine or shortening consisting of trans fats, as well as coconut and palm oil generally do not belong in a healthy diet, according to the AHA. Hepatitis C patients also should go easy on baked goods that tend to be high in fat, such as cakes and cookies. Fried fast food, including French fries, should be avoided.
Sugary Foods
The VA lists sugary foods as another type of food to avoid. Soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are the primary source of extra sugar in Americans' diet, according to the AHA. These include soda, many juice drinks, sports drinks, drink powders and beverages made with high fructose corn syrup. Other obvious sugary foods include jams, pastries, doughnuts, cakes, pies, candy, cookies and brownies. Numerous cereals also are high in sugar. The AHA notes that sugar is included in many other foods, including baked beans, ketchup, barbecue sauce, salad dressings and fruit canned in heavy syrup.
Salty Foods
Hepatitis C patients also should avoid foods high in sodium. The AHA recommends reading labels, because many canned, frozen and processed foods contain large amounts of sodium. They include bouillon cubes, seasonings and powdered sauces in packages, bottled and canned sauces and gravy, canned soups and dry soup mixes, canned meats and fish, processed meats, such as ham and sausage, peanut butter, baking mixes such as pancakes and muffins, and snack foods such as potato chips and crackers. When you can't eat fresh food, the AHA recommends choosing products labeled "low salt" or "low sodium" rather than those labeled "reduced salt." Fast food also tends to be high in salt.
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