DIET IN HEPATITIS
DIET IN HEPATITIS
Liver is the main metabolic machine of our body. Everything we eat or drink is passed to the liver after digestion. Liver assimilates the nutrients from your food and then passes it ahead for absorption. If the liver function is deranged, entire body gets affected.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. The liver’s functions are to detoxify the blood, store vitamin & produce hormones. With the inflammation caused due to hepatitis, these processes get hindered. This can cause some serious health issues.
Causes of Hepatitis:
- The main cause of hepatitis is hepatitis virus. The viruses are namely Hepatitis A, B,C,D & E. Type B & C lead to chronic disease like cirrhosis.
- Alcohol abuse also causes hepatitis.
- Overuse of certain drugs damage the liver mainly corticosteroids.
Hepatitis A
It’s a highly contagious liver disease caused by a virus spread from person to person. Common food borne disease preventable by vaccine. Hepatitis A spreads through the feco oral route, food handled with unhygienic practices & poor sanitation conditions.
Symptoms
A symptoms include nausea, fever, yellowing of the eyes and skin, dark urine, grey faeces, joint pain, feeling tired, loss of appetite and stomach pain.
Nutrition in Hepatitis
“A healthy diet is one that is low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Complex carbohydrates and lean protein should be the base of each meal.”
Balance of all nutrient are require, so choose food from all five food group. This means cereals & grains, vegetables & fruits, dairy products, proteins from eggs, fish, tofu, soya etc. Advanced liver disease can lead to malnourishment, causing significant weight loss. It is important to get enough calories and to make sure they are coming from the best possible sources-in other words, not from fatty foods, sweets or low-fibre carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates- Consider carefully
Choose complex carbohydrates as compare to simple carbohydrates. Limit simple sugar. Include whole grain, pulses, vegetables & fruits. Although fruit has fructose in it, it also has fibre and other nutrients. The liver metabolizes fruit slowly, making it a good choice when you are trying to satisfy a craving for sweets.
Eating foods with high fibre such as fresh fruits, vegetables, lentils, beans and whole grains are liver healthy foods. Fibre is nature’s broom to help eliminate toxins from the body.
Protein Power- Protein is an essential building block your body needs to repair and replace tissue that has been damaged. Not to limit your protein too much because it can result in a lack of certain amino acids that is essential for your body to function properly. Look for a wide array of proteins, including lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, nuts, seeds, milk, yogurt and cheese
Fats & fried foods-Avoid saturated & trans fats. Saturated fats are mostly found in animal products, such as beef, lamb, pork, poultry skin, cheese, butter, whole milk, cream and lard. Trans fats are found mostly in deeply fried foods. Avoid highly processed, high-fat, sodium-packed fast-food.
High Sugar & salt-Foods having high sugar & salt retain fluid in body so restrict it.
Alcohol- Avoid alcohol, it act as a throwing gas on a fire with liver disease and increases damage.
Exercise-Regular exercise—at least three times a week for half an hour—has many benefits to your overall health and well-being.
“In addition to moderate exercise and eight hours of sleep per night, people with hepatitis should eat a healthy, well-balanced diet while drinking plenty of water.”
Dt. Shahenaz Shaikh
Clinical Nutritionist & Reg.Dietician
