3 Types of food for people with hepatitis C that must be available every day

Hepatitis C is inflammation of the liver caused by a virus. In addition to regular treatment to prevent serious complications, you also need to be more careful in choosing your daily food. Some foods can damage liver function so that you risk worsening your condition. Then, what are the food choices for hepatitis that should be consumed every day?

List of recommended foods for hepatitis that are good for consumption every day

1. Vegetables and fruit

Hepatitis C can weaken the immune system. That is why fruits and vegetables must be in the daily diet of people who have hepatitis. Fruits and vegetables are rich in folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B complex which are very important for the smooth running of the body's metabolism so that they can support the liver to function properly. Vegetables and fruit can also help reduce the fatty acid content in the liver which helps improve the condition of people with hepatitis C.

People with hepatitis C are advised to eat at least 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit a day. You can divide this portion up every few hours. For example, one serving of vegetables and fruit at breakfast, after lunch, during afternoon snacking, at dinner, and a snack before bed.

Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits with different colors. The more variety, the better. Make sure the fruits and vegetables you choose are fresh, not canned or frozen, so that their nutritional content is optimal.

2. Low fat protein

Food for other hepatitis sufferers that is no less important is protein. Foods high in protein help repair and replace liver cells damaged by inflammation caused by the hepatitis C virus.

Choose protein food sources that are low in fat such as:

Fish
Skinless chicken
Seafood
Nuts
Egg
Soybeans and soy products (tofu, tempeh, or soy juice)

Milk and dairy products such as yogurt and cheese can also be good choices for protein sources. Moreover, milk is also high in calcium which is good for maintaining a healthy body.

The amount of protein you should eat in a day depends on your age, gender, and level of physical activity. Protein needs per person can reach up to 2 grams per kilogram of body weight. However, if you have cirrhosis of the liver, you should increase your daily protein intake to reduce the risk of decreased muscle mass and fluid buildup. Even so, first discuss with your doctor to measure how precisely your daily protein intake.

3. Complex carbohydrates

Foods for hepatitis should be high in carbohydrates to help increase energy, but don't just choose the source of carbohydrates.

Avoid overeating simple carbohydrates such as white bread, sugary drinks, soda, candy, and all kinds of cakes. Simple carbohydrates can spike your blood sugar and drop it back in no time, leaving you feeling weak and lethargic quickly. Moreover, too much sugar in the bloodstream can increase the risk of insulin resistance leading to type 2 diabetes in people with chronic hepatitis.

The right source of carbohydrates as food for hepatitis C sufferers is complex carbohydrates, such as: