We all know that Hepatitis is the infection on liver, which is a important organ in our body. If you didn’t treat the disease on time and with proper medication it may leads to liver damage.
So hepatitis patients should follow a healthy lifestyle to minimize damage to the liver. Start protecting your liver by paying more attention to nutrition. It is true that there is no special diet for hepatitis, but here the patients need to follow healthy, well-balanced diet.
Foods should include in hepatitis patient’s diet;
- 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
The plates of hepatitis carrier should contain one-quarter of the plate should contain high-fiber carbohydrates like whole grains, one-quarter should contain lean protein sources, and the remaining half should contain fruits and vegetables.
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. Studies says a healthy person should drink 8 glass of water in a day, but we all doesn’t follow this rule. Proper diet help to maintain balanced body weight.
Foods which should not to eat or drink for hepatitis patients
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.
The foods should avoid are;
- 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
- Raw or undercooked fish
Experts suggest that hepatitis patients should 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.
Apart from this balanced diet, you need to take special precautions to protect against any disease that would increase the chances of liver damage. Wash all meats, fruits, and vegetables to remove any potentially harmful residues, and wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling food to prevent cross-contamination.
You can also consult your doctors for taking other supplements like multivitamin in a day. It help your body fit and healthy.
However, you also need to make sure that you don’t take in too much of certain vitamins and minerals through the use of supplements, since some can cause liver damage. Be cautious of:
- Iron
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B3 (niacin)
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
You only take any supplement after consulting with your doctor. Try to flow above tips and protect your liver from hepatitis.
