Top Foods to Manage Hepatitis
If you have been diagnosed with chronic hepatitis, it means your liver is inflamed and this condition may have been triggered by fatty liver, viruses like hepatitis B or hepatitis C, or certain medications, etc. With such a condition, symptoms like fatigue and nausea develop that do not seem to go away when you are rested. You may also lose the urge to eat or suffer from an upset stomach.
Those diagnosed with hepatitis may even suffer from diarrhea, fever, and joint pains. So, it becomes important to know about the top foods to manage hepatitis better. You must understand that the goal of any hepatitis diet is essential to minimize any kind of stress on your liver (in addition to doctor-prescribed medications). The liver is already compromised because of this inflammatory condition and so, knowing the foods to manage hepatitis can come in very handy. A good diet will not only help you manage all symptoms of hepatitis but also make your liver stronger. Top foods to manage hepatitis include:
1. Veggies and fruits
To begin with, vegetables and fruits are highly recommended for managing hepatitis as these will offer you body the much-required vitamins and minerals. These are rich in fiber and help you stay away from snacking on unhealthy tidbits. They are wholesome and filling, keeping you satisfied for longer hours. Dark green leafy vegetables are especially beneficial for people with hepatitis as these reduce fatty-acid composition in the liver.
2. Whole grains
Whole grains are preferred to refined ones like white rice or bread as these will boost your protein intake that is needed for maintaining muscle mass.
3. Lean protein
You need to eat proteins in the right amounts when you have been diagnosed with hepatitis. If you take adequate amounts, you will not be under-nourished; however, if you overeat proteins, you can develop encephalopathy. So, milk, nuts and cheese, and lean meats are good protein sources for managing hepatitis.
4. Caffeine
Caffeine is recommended as it is known to reduce the chances of liver-scarring in those with chronic hepatitis.
5. Healthy fats and oils
Healthy fats are preferred to trans fats and saturated fats found in full-fat dairy foods and red meat. So, you should choose plant-based healthy fats like avocado and sunflower oils. These are polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids which have health benefits. Overconsumption of fats, however, may lead to complications in those having hepatitis as it may cause fatty cirrhosis, fatty inflammation, and fatty liver.
6. Managing hepatitis
Besides knowing the best foods to control hepatitis, you need to know the best ways to cook food, for instance:
- Using low-fat cooking techniques is recommended for people with hepatitis. While bile is needed to digest food, at times the liver is so damaged that it may not produce enough bile. So, you could end up suffering from indigestion. The best way to avoid this is by consuming low-fat foods like vegetables and fruits and using low-fat methods for cooking foods like roasting, grilling, or using applesauce in place of butter for baking.
- It is best to use fresh spices and herbs for adding flavor to the meals instead of using extra salt.
- You can consider making smoothies and healthy juices. While juices cannot substitute meals altogether, they can give you quick energy, as well as some key minerals and vitamins. When you buy juices from the store, these will contain added sugar that is not good for you.
- In case you are too exhausted to prepare a healthy meal for yourself, you may be tempted to snack on unhealthy foods. So, it is best to prepare healthy snacks or meals in advance and keep these stored for later use.