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Most people with hepatitis C do not need a special diet. What's most important is that you try to eat healthy foods and do not become overweight. The advice that an average, healthy person gets will work just as well for people with hepatitis C -- unless those people also have cirrhosis (scarring) or another condition, such as diabetes, HIV, or kidney disease. Two groups that may need a special hepatitis C diet are those on hepatitis C combination therapy and those with cirrhosis. Everything you eat and drink passes through your liver. The liver changes food into stored energy and the chemicals necessary for life. Your liver makes nutrients available so your body can use them to: - Build cells
- Give you energy
- Maintain normal body functions.
A bad diet for someone with hepatitis C can sometimes lead to liver problems. If your diet contains too many calories, you will gain weight. Being overweight is linked to the buildup of fat in the liver, called "fatty liver." Over many years, fatty liver likely contributes to a person with hepatitis C developing cirrhosis. Being overweight and having fatty liver also have been shown in a number of studies to lead to lower rates of hepatitis C clearance in patients treated with interferon and ribavirin. One's diet also can contain toxins that are harmful to the liver. Some toxins act quickly. For example, eating certain poisonous mushrooms can cause liver failure and death within days. Other toxins, such as alcohol, damage the liver over time. On the other hand, a good hepatitis C diet can improve liver health in a person with hepatitis C. A balanced diet can lead to better liver functioning and lowered risk of cirrhosis of the liver. It also can help the immune system stay strong and fight off illness. | |
| Limit sodium: - Make a habit of reading food labels. Avoid foods that list salt (sodium) or monosodium glutamate (MSG) near the beginning of the list.
- Do not use processed cheeses or canned, pickled, or smoked meats, which may be high in sodium.
- Do not add salt to your food. Use lemon, herbs, and other spices to improve the flavor of your meals.
Limit protein: - Work with a dietitian to develop an eating plan that balances your need for less protein with enough protein to stay healthy.
- Your dietitian may tell you to limit high-protein foods to 5 to 7 ounces (142 g to 198 g) a day. A 3-ounce (85 g) serving of protein is about the size of a deck of cards.
- Learn about the sources of protein. Most people know that meats, fish, and dairy products contain protein. They may not know that foods such as breads, cereals, and vegetables also contain protein.
- Choose high-quality protein, such as lean meat, chicken, fish, cheese, or eggs, in your diet. If you eat tuna, choose water-packed, and rinse it well before eating.
Limit fluid: - Do not have more than 48 fl oz (1.4 L) of fluids a day. Foods that are liquid at room temperature, such as soup, Jell-O, and ice cream, count as fluids.
- Be aware that some fruits and vegetables contain a lot of water and will count in your fluid intake. Examples include grapes, oranges, apples, lettuce, and celery.
Limit phosphorus: - Limit your phosphorus intake to 800 to 1000 mg a day.
- Limit your intake of dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, or ice cream.
- Avoid nuts, peanut butter, seeds, lentils, peas, and beans.
- Avoid drinks such as beer, cola drinks, and cocoa.
Limit potassium: - Ask your doctor if it is all right to use a salt substitute. Some people with kidney disease need to limit their potassium intake.
- Use lemon, herbs, and other spices to flavor your meals. Most commercially available salt substitutes are very high in potassium.
http://www.peacehealth.org/kbase/topic/ special/tv7852spec/sec1.htm | | Risk factors are things or situations that increase your risk for developing a health condition. While some risk factors for heart disease cannot be controlled, there are several you can minimize or eliminate. Risk factors for heart disease you cannot control include a family history of early heart disease. Risk factors for heart disease that you can do something about include: - Smoking
- Having high blood pressure
- Being overweight or obese
- Having high cholesterol
- Being physically inactive
- Having diabetes.
In reality, we are not sure whether or not reversing the disease is possible. Recently, a study was published that showed a cholesterol medication could "reverse heart disease" by showing that plaque buildup was decreased. It did not, however, examine the effects of this plaque decrease on heart attacks and strokes. We also know that by adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, the risk of heart disease can drop dramatically, although heart disease in a lot of these cases is prevented from becoming worse rather than reversed. http://heart-disease.emedtv.com/heart-disease/reversing-heart-disease.html Computer Training / Facilitated by PIA
(DC - Ward 1) Martin Luther King, Jr. Library (DC - Ward 2) Shaw Public Library (DC - Ward 6) Southeast Public Library (DC - Ward 6) Northeast Public Library (DC - Ward 8) Anacostia Public Library |
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