Diet while on HCV treatment

Are there any particular foods, herbal teas, and/or spices that should be avoided while on tx? Can't get a comprehensive answer from my doctor, except for traditional "no alcohol, no supplements, etc."

[Bill1954]

I’m unaware of any special dietary considerations. I asked the same question, and my hepatologist said to eat anything I want (within reason), but with emphasis on achieving and maintaining proper body mass index. This advice is from a prominent and well respected transplant center in San Francisco.

I was told pretty much the same thing from my previous GI doc too; there must be something to it. I don’t see any point to make it more complicated that it is :o).

Bill

[Rockerforlife]

Foods to AVOID


http://www.janis7hepc.com/Nutrition/hepatitis_c_diet.htm

[WriteItDown]

I am surprised the Janis website recommends you eat canned tuna.  I would stay away from albacore tuna, which has a moderate amount of mercury.

I would also favor organic food whenever possible, especially animal products, to minimize exposure to pesticides, etc.

[Rockerforlife]

Me too,but not all tuna contain the same levels of mercury,the larger tuna is loaded  with i .and i think they mostly can the smaller tuna and sell the big fish as steaks,,,this is  maybe be why they say eat  canned,,,,or maybe its a typing mistake.Sword fish is the worst

[Rockerforlife]

I treid to eat an commercial apple just a while ago and its tasted like water,not even close to organic and it was soft and mushy,i even had a ill feeling after ....i CANNOT go back to eating SPRAYED foods

[Bill1954]

I wouldn’t give much weight to the Janis article; while most of what was mentioned was common sense, the article didn’t cite an author.

The point is that *everyone* will benefit from a good diet, regardless of their HCV status. To my knowledge, there is no diet specific to HCV… outside of decompensated cirrhosis.

A good diet to model might be the guidelines of the American Heart Association, or the diabetes association that promotes a high fiber, low fat lifestyle. There's obviously nothing wrong with organic foods, provided that one can afford them.

Bill

[WriteItDown]

I have been surprised to see how, for many foods, organic is not that much more expensive.  Of course for some it is a LOT more expensive, but during his treatment I would rather spend more for my husband to have organic when it's possible. There are lists of foods widely available on the internet that tell you which ones have the highest pesticide residues, so you can selectively buy only those foods organic.  Also, we are skipping the high-price convenience foods, so we save that way.

Rocker, I think canned "white" tuna is albacore, which has moderate mercury levels; and "light" tuna is usually skipjack, which has low mercury levels.

[Rockerforlife]

HERES  WHAT I EAT

1.Organic Whey (Progressive)
2.Organic Greens RX
3.Organic Coconut Oil (Alfa DME)
4.Organic Eggs
4.Raw Cashews ,almonds
4.Organic Lemons Juice with Stevia
5.Blueberry Juice
6.Organic Apples
7.Organic Bananas
8. Coconut oil (DME)
9.Home made soup(onions,frozen veggies.potatoes.organic brown rice,organic soup mix)
10.Vit D
11.Mushroom Extract (Liver Force)
13.Blue Green Algae(stem enhance)
14,Distilled Water
15.Virgin olive oil(coldpressed)
16.Apple cigar vinager
15.Red Ginseng extracts
16.Raw ginger
17.Tumeric.


I also use organic soaps.have a shower filter,organic tooth paste and deoderants.

[Rockerforlife]

Commercial foods cost more to me anyway,you are paying for fillers and salt and pesticides.
You also save money on doctor visits from eating processed foods as they make you sick.
i dont eat every thing organic,bit i try....organic apples here are 5 buccks for 3 lb bag, cheaper
than the sprayed ones at 1.70lb

[Rockerforlife]

My problem is i eat the whole bag in one bite

[can-do-man]

http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE56S3ZJ20090729

[WriteItDown]

"Our review indicates that there is currently no evidence to support the selection of organically over conventionally produced foods on the basis of nutritional superiority."

I advocate organic food not because I assume it is nutritionally superior; but rather because of what it lacks: pesticide residues, which require your liver to work harder.

[Bill1954]

We should all eat good old midwestern ice cream :o)

[Rockerforlife]

Thats what organic basiclly means  no pesticides or genetically altered,did you know they now now genetically incoporated the pesticdes right into the genes of the plant seeds.

[R Glass]

The side effects from tx are different for everyone. I agree with Bill on Ice Cream. I pretty much lived off ice cream and fruit. Nutrition had nothing to do with it. It was the only thing I could stomach. If you are one of the fortunate ones that can eat anything during tx, go for the healthy diet. If you’re not, eat what you have to in order to make it.