Diet for people with hepatitis

People with liver disease should eat low-fat foods, lots of plant-based protein, carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables, limit fats and oils.

According to Dr. Bui Huu Hoang, Faculty of Hepatobiliary Digestive, University Hospital of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, the liver is like a "factory" processing food, transformed into the nutrients and energy needed for muscles. be. Therefore, liver diseases, especially hepatitis, can affect eating and vice versa.

"Improper nutrition can make liver disease worse. Therefore, proper eating is also considered a non-drug treatment," said Dr. Hoang.

People with hepatitis need to follow a balanced diet between sugars, fat, protein and vitamins and minerals. In addition, combining measures to rest, regulate work, physical activity accordingly to enhance strength, help patients recover faster.

Diet for people with acute hepatitis

In acute hepatitis, liver cells are destroyed in an acute manner, often with symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, indigestion, bloating, diarrhea, or vomiting. Patients do not overeat, apply a rest, eat and drink regime, ensure the body is provided with enough energy for the liver to recover quickly.

Having hepatitis, patients should choose easily absorbed foods such as cereals, rice .

Patients should choose foods that are easily absorbed and digested like rice, cereals, sugar, honey, sweet fruits, carbohydrates. Particularly protein, choose the types of high nutritional value but less fat like egg white (do not eat egg yolks), lean meats, non-fat milk, tofu. The amount of protein to provide as a normal person is 50-70 g per day.

However, if the hepatitis is too severe, there are signs of drowsiness that signals a state of being in a coma, then the amount of protein must be reduced to less than 40 g per day because protein-derived substances not cleared by the liver will accumulate. in the blood affects brain activity.

For fat, should reduce, not abstain completely. Do not eat foods high in cholesterol, such as brains, hearts, liver, pig hearts, egg yolks because the secretion of bile can be reduced so that the fat cannot be completely digested. Fat uses only about 10% of the total energy, which is about 15 g per day.

In addition, patients need to eat a lot of fresh vegetables, provide minerals and vitamins such as A, B, C, E . help metabolize the liver better. In particular, do not drink alcohol and alcoholic beverages until your liver has fully recovered.

Should be divided into small meals during the day, eat little by little, do not eat too full. People with hepatitis often have anorexia and vomiting in the afternoon, so they can eat more in the morning, snack or drink milk in the evening to avoid bloating and vomiting after eating. When the liver is fully recovered, you can eat and drink again as usual.

If the patient is persistent vomiting or diarrhea, need to be hospitalized for intravenous fluids and intravenous feeding. In the case of only mild nausea can be treated at home by using some antiemetics. Be cautious when using drugs that can be toxic to the liver such as sedatives, analgesics - anti-inflammatory, paracetamol. Do not arbitrarily use the drug without consulting your doctor.

Diet for people with chronic hepatitis

When the liver has chronic inflammation, most patients do not have any special symptoms. They still feel normal even though their liver may have been severely damaged. Some patients feel tired and eat poorly.

Diet still has to balance between sugars, protein and fat. Eating well enough to help patients have enough strength to cope with the infection, the side effects caused by the treatment process. When there is still a feeling of eating, digesting normally, without edema, the patient does not need to overeat.

Patients with chronic hepatitis should limit the use of heavily spicy foods and oils that will cause indigestion. Even if you have liver disease from any cause, you should not drink alcohol, which will make hepatitis worse.

Patients can take a tonic pill daily to provide more vitamins and minerals necessary for the normal functioning of the liver. Patients with chronic hepatitis due to alcoholism, need to add B vitamins and folic acid. If you have chronic hepatitis C, do not eat iron-rich foods or iron supplements.

Patients do not abstain excessively when the liver has not been seriously impaired. Continued nutrition provides enough energy. Should take a multivitamin supplement and be cautious when using the drug. Exercise, play sports well, avoid heavy work.

1. Fatty liver: Causes, symptoms and treatment
2. 12 taboos for people with liver disease