Eat well, avoid liver damage from hepatitis

You need a healthy liver to convert food into energy. To avoid liver damage from hepatitis, start with a well balanced diet. People with hepatitis must follow a healthy lifestyle to minimize damage to the liver.

Start protecting your liver by paying more attention to nutrition, even though there’s no special diet for hepatitis.

·         However, your diet should include: plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains such as oats, brown rice, barley, and quinoa; lean protein such as fish, skinless chicken, egg whites, and beans; low-fat or non-fat dairy products; healthy fats like those in nuts, avocados, and olive oil.

·         To help your body better process food and function at its best, you also need to make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Water is better than caffeinated drinks like coffee and cola.

·         What not to eat or drink: Keep in mind that an unhealthy diet can contribute to liver damage. If you eat too much high-calorie greasy, fatty, or sugary food, you’ll gain weight and fat will begin to build up in your liver. A ‘fatty liver’ can contribute to developing cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver.

·         Fat in your liver can also interfere with the effectiveness of drugs that target the hepatitis virus.

·         Avoid the following: Saturated fats found in butter, sour cream, and other high-fat dairy foods, fatty cuts of meat, and fried foods; sugary treats like cookies, cake, soda, and packaged baked goods; foods heavily laced with salt; alcohol.

·         Many experts recommend that hepatitis patients also avoid raw or undercooked shellfish, which can harbor viruses and bacteria.

·         You may consider limiting your consumption of processed foods as well, since they can contain chemical additives and high levels of salt.

·         Wash all meats, fruits, and vegetables to remove any potentially harmful residues, and wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling foods to prevent cross-contamination.

Source: everydayhealth.com