Diet changes for Hep C

Any suggestions for diet changes for Hep C.  I've been reading a number of articles and think that the Hep C is my final kick in the  pants to give up the hamburgers and fries and lose my last 30 pounds.   Just wondering if there are any good articles/books have on nutritional needs for a Hep C person?

[friole]

I did not have a bad biopsy report at all - grade 1, stage 1.  With that type of report, I could have waited a few years.  However, a few years, given a biopsy in 3 years, meant 60. I didn't want to treat at that age.  Another thing, I learned that I had hep c antibodies in 1993.  So I have actually had years to think this out.  When I first found out, I just assumed I had the real thing - not a false positive - due to my "at risk" behavior in the late 60's, early 70's -but still chose to wait it out.  I quit drinking for a year (never a problem, just social) but found that after that year I just sort of slipped back into old habits.  Ahhhh to sit on the back porch after work with a freezer chilled Corona and a lime ..

I knew I could not keep focus unless I took action and decided to treat - I would just go back to pretending it didn't exist.  Hey - I got this far with G1S1 after 35 years I could probably go the rest of my life, untreated.  In a way, the day I went in for a physical and told my new doc to test for hep c, I had already decided it was time to make a committement.

I am committed to eating better, never drinking, drowning myself with water drinking, and doing everything in my power to make the treatments as effective as they can be.

Let us know what your tests show.  I have learned an immense amount here.

[susan400]

For me, personally, I have such a hard time with eating anyway, especially on treatment, so I'm not really interested in going on a restrictive diet.  I do know that I can't eat fried foods because every time I eat them, I get a belly ache.  Spicy foods bother me, too.  But, I have no interest whatsoever in quitting my dairy foods; switching to vegetarian, or anything like that.  I eat a reasonably healthy diet.  But, I like my chocolate ice cream and I'm not going to give that up.  I like chicken so I am not turning into a vegetarian.  Every now and then, I like to eat my pork and beef, too.  If I had to be on a 'super healthy' restrictive diet for the rest of my life then I'd not want to eat anything at all and would rather not be here.  If it's not good for my liver eating the way that I do, then too bad.  I drink lot's of water.  I eat fruits and veggies.  I don't drink alcohol.  That's good enough for me.

Susan

[lance07]

Interesting friojle.  I'm probably where you were back in 93.   I'm 41 and never had any symptoms.  Found out in a routine physical only because I had elevated ALT 75.   Guy told me to give up alcohol for 6 weeks and test again.  Came up at 66 which was an improvement but something else was going on so he ran the Hepatitis tests and bingo.  

So, will see what comes back with the other tests to determine whether to do treatments or not.  Based on what I'm reading no new drugs are really coming out in the next couple years that I have seen.  I'd like to wait if possible but not if I am causing more damage to my liver by waiting this out.  

[jmjm530]

Whenever I eat a "normal healthy" somewhat low-fat diet, my enzymes have always been slightly elevated.

Whenever I've gone on the somewhat austere Pritkin diet (under 10 per cent of total calories in fat)my liver enzymes dropped into the
normal range.

The one time I went on the Zone diet (30 per cent fat, 30 protein, 40 carbs) my enzymes increased even above the "normal healthy" diet levels.

The Zone diet was accompanied by more energy and a more vigorous exercise program, so it's possible the exercise and/or diet made the enzymes increase.

I don't know if there's any clinical significance to this but my guess is the liver isn't working as hard on a very low fat/ high carb diet.  

Since I've been on treatment, I'm less picky with my diet because right now my main concern is gaining back some of the weight I lost during the first twenty weeks. One interesting finding was that the interferon and/or ribabirin seems to have brought down my cholesterol irrespective of my diet.

[lance07]

I have not been diagnosed with my genotype or viral load yet.  Should get the results next week.   Then I see my doctors to determine next step.  What made you go forward with the shots?  Did you have a biopsy to see the extent of damage to the liver?

[kpj49]

Here is a web site with liver friendly foods.  http://janis7hepc.com/Nutrition/Food%20As%20Medicine.htm
My own opinion is that food has alot to do with how you feel if you are on tx and even if you are not.  It makes sense not to overtax a liver that is having problems.      
I am sorta an extremist, and I have done shot #13 and do not have any really bad side effects so far. I am hoping it is because I drink alot of water and almost no dairy and no meat.  I also find that on the days that I don't juice my wheat grass, carrot, apple, celery drink, I get more tired and weak but when I do, I feel extra energy.  I grow my own wheat grass and it all sounds yucky but it isn't that bad.
So check out the nutrition site...it is hard at first but it gets easier and don't worry if you screw up now and again, just keep trying to eat healthy.  And welcome.

[friole]

I am going through the same thought process.  I am 57 yof, genotype 1a and have taken 2 shots so far. I feel that this is a lifestyle change, as well as a healing process.  I know there are some good threads in the archives on foods that are liver friendly. I will look for them.

My nurse friend said eat colorful food and stay away from "brown foods".  She said avoid "brown food restaurants" -- you know, the chicken fried steak and gravy types. In my neck of the woods that probably means Mexican food  restaurants too.  

[Laika]

I usually eat a healthy diet, but my appetite is so weird on treatment that I found myself in a dilemma:  on treatment, healthy food is often unappealing to me--food that I would normally avoid (restaurant fried chicken, hot dogs) would sometimes be all I could stand to think of eating.  Sandwiches and dry foods are also difficult to eat because of dehydration.

I am 58 year old female, geno 2b, and this is what has worked for me:  Once every 10 days