Hepatitis is a word doctors use to describe liver inflammation. This condition can be a result of both infectious and non-infectious causes. The most common causes of infectious hepatitis are viruses, followed by bacteria and parasites. On the other hand, non-infectious hepatitis can be caused by exposure to different toxins, including alcohol, or it can be an auto-immune condition, among others.
Even though hepatitis primarily affects the liver, other organ systems aren't spared, since the liver performs a large number of functions, and the whole wellbeing of our organism depends on it. Common symptoms of hepatitis include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain in the upper right part of the abdomen
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Jaundice
- Dark urine
- Light, clay-like stool
- Hives
Hepatitis can take both an acute and a chronic form. While some forms of hepatitis (such as viral hepatitis A) usually end in a few months, if the disease lasts longer than six moths, it's considered chronic. Viral forms of hepatitis, caused by hepatitis virus B and C, often take the chronic form, as well as alcoholic hepatitis. The chronic form can last for years, decades, and sometimes even becomes lifelong.
In certain situations, with proper treatment and a change of the lifestyle, the symptoms and the consequences of this condition an be negligible. In other cases, chronic hepatitis can lead to fatty liver, acute liver failure, cirrhosis, liver cancer and death.
1. Eat your vegetables (and fruit)
Vegetables are a source of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, and folic acid, to name a few. Since a lot of hepatitis patients struggle with loss of appetite, they don't get all the nutrients — especially vitamins and minerals — in the amount they need to maintain their health.
It is also important to note that the liver stores certain vitamins. In the case of hepatitis, this function is impaired as well. Canned, frozen, or fresh — it doesn't matter. They'll all do you good. Another benefit of a vegetable-rich diet is the fact that the fibers in vegetables can make you feel full, which will, in turn, lower your intake of junk food.
2. Drink coffee!
One of the most common symptoms of chronic hepatitis is fatigue. A lot of people suffering from hepatitis are hardly able to function due to being so tired, and a cup of coffee in the morning can help. But, not only does coffee help with the tiredness, studies have also shown that people who drink coffee regularly have a lower risk of developing liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Just be careful not to drink your coffee in the afternoon or the evening, since you still need a good night sleep to help with the fatigue.
3. Don't skip your protein
You need proteins for a number of reasons, and building muscles (which will, in time, help you with the fatigue) is only one of them. Fish, beans, milk, cheese, or nuts should be a part of your everyday diet.
Online guidelines can help you determine how much protein you need to take daily, but be aware that they don't always apply to hepatitis patients. After the breakdown of proteins, amino acids are transported to the liver and used as a building material for products our own body produces. But, the damaged liver may not have the capacity to deal with the by-products of this metabolism, leading to higher levels of ammonia in the blood. This by-products eventually ends up in the brain, causing encephalopathy and memory loss. So, to be sure, when making a diet plan, be sure to consult your doctor, and hear what they have to recommend.
4. What to avoid
Besides paying attention to what you should eat and drink, to help your liver get better, there are also some foods which you should avoid as much as possible.
The first thing that comes to mind, when talking about liver damage, is alcohol. You should definitely cut out all alcoholic beverages completely. It is also highly recommended to lower your salt intake as much as possible. I, personally, hate to do that, since I like my food savory (my friends might even call it "salty"), but I make up by using different herbs and spices.
It is also advised to be cautious when using supplements containing vitamins and iron, since they can do you more harm than good. Iron, as well as certain vitamins, accumulate in the liver, and can cause serious health problems when taken in excess.