Hep C- what can you do to protect your liver?

[serchin26]

Think of how many times people get prescribed antidepressants when they are still not eating healthy food, excersizing, and most people are vitamin D deficient and do not know it.  I believe in quality of life before trying to fix yourself with a pill.  This is relevant to all health problems.  To an extent, I believe that we can make ourselves healthier in regard to our medical condition by improving the quality of life through alternative medicines.  In the case of hepatitis C, we want to focus on liver health.  The virus is strong and can replicate.  It can live outside our bodies on items such as nail clippers and toothbrushes.  We need to do more than just medicate and many of us have naturally recovered from the virus through our own immune systems, such as myself.  I know that to maintain the status of non-detectable RNA, we must protect our liver and by doing so we want to avoid alcohol which can cause inflammation of the liver (hepat-itis....inflammation of the liver).  I also know that I will be trying a healthier diet because the last thing I need is a fatty liver.  I have read that milk thistle is a good supplement for protecting the liver.  Does anybody know of any ways that these people and myself can improve our medical situation with this horrible virus by supplements or changing life habits?

[keepingOnkeepingOn]

I can't drink coffee at all. I go into a full blown week of Liver symptoms and illness- in bed type of sickness not quite a bleed out, but all the rest.

I credit unsweetened coconut milk or water to helping me and my liver have less symptoms over all. I've had great results with it.

[Sarah1949]

Personally, I think meds are the worse culprits and supplements not that far behind. The last study I saw on milk thistle found that while it does no harm they don't know that it helps either. I use my labs. If they say I'm low in Mg, I take Magnesium as a supplement, same for Vitamin D.

As much as I crave a soda occasionally, I only drink water and coffee. As Dee says, walk and then walk some more if you can. I went from a meld of 9 down to a 7 when I quit taking all the meds a previous doctor wanted me to take.

I agree with the literature on probiotics but only take what's included with a good yogurt. It's too hit and miss with the amount to take and as to whether the little guys are even really there are not because they can die off so easily.

There's a great deal of hype and excellent marketing going on with the meds and supplements and so I think we need to be really vigilant about what we put into our system. Just my opinion.

[Dee1956]

Hello there! I just wanted to say, it sounds like you are doing well to try to protect your liver.
I agree that exercise can help as it helps our blood to circulate and then flush toxins.
I finished tx in 2012.  At the time OrphanedHawk encouraged me to walk, no matter how little at first, it does help.  It took a while for me to listen but I finally did and it did help so much. I walk daily now and miss it when I don't
I also only drink water and have increased vegetables and fruit, nuts, antioxidants, daily vitamin without iron.  
I can feel that every day gets better.
I wish the same for you
Take Care

[orphanedhawk]

When first diagnosed I already had a decompensated liver. Determined not to use interferon, I searched for alternatives. What I found was there was no herbal, alternative method known to get rid of the virus.
However, one reason I've done as well as I have, is that I have always exercised and eaten well.

Its worth noting that coffee is good for our livers and the virus doesn't like coffee, a good thing.
Milk thistle has long been known as being good for the liver. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric is good too. I saw a herbalist while I was sick who  prescribed many supplements, fish oil, ALA, etc, but assured me none would get rid of this virus.
There was a member a while back who went by the username of hep C researcher who listed many supplements. You might try doing a search and looking at his posts.
Only these strong meds will do that.

[bluemetal]

You nailed down the diet/exercise part of this so well Im humbled. From long experience and a good deal research, however, I strongly beleive its not enough to kill THIS virus, that is, eradicate entirely and absolutely from the body without conventional chemical tx to go with that perfect diet regime. The only exception would be if the HCV is very early in its invasion and the liver is not already cirrhotic. Ive read of cases where it disappears on its own and even cases where certain herbs do destroy it utterly. But not if its established after 20-30-40 years in the bloodstream.  And so...in answere to your bottom line question... yes, if the virus has only recently infected the body. Absolutely. I would myself go with the holistic approach before trying any man-made chemical remedies. Id go with antioxidant-rich foods and drinks, eat no processed foods, no foods with preservatives, nitrates, high sugar.  It can be done.