Hepatitis

Minimize stress on inflamed liver, prevent fatty liver and liver damage with specific nutrients

Recommended For

Hepatitis, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis D, Hepatitis E, Viral hepatitis.

Diet Goals

Healthy, anti-inflammatory diet

  • Reduce saturated fats, add healthy fats
  • Avoid fatty liver from sugar and fats
  • Limit salt; eat protein but not too much
Everything you put in your body from drugs to food is processed by the liver. The goal is to calm your liver down and keep it healthy.

Food Recommendations

Foods to Eat

Whole grains: Whole wheat bread & pasta, oatmeal, popcorn, quinoa, brown rice
Lean proteins: Poultry, white fish, low fat yogurt, cottage cheese, cheese, tofu, beans
Fish 2 x week: Salmon, bass, cod, crab, scallops, shrimp
Low fat dairy: Skim, 1% milk, yogurt, cheeses, buttermilk
Fruits, Vegetables: Berries, avocado, leafy greens, carrots
Low sodium: Unsalted trail mix, popcorn, nuts, seeds

Foods to Avoid

Fried foods: Pan fried or deep fried in hot oil or butter
Alcohol: Beer, wine, liquor, canned alcohol drinks
High sodium: Deli meat, soup, cheese, pizza, salty nuts & snacks
Saturated fats: Beef, lamb, pork, full fat dairy, butter, pastry, pie, biscuits
High sugar: Fruit yogurt, granola, energy bars; raisins, ketchup, pasta sauce
Processed foods: Fast or fried foods, packaged foods, frozen dinners, cakes

Diet Rules

Additional Information

Research

Viral hepatitis: acute or chronic, may progress to liver failure, cirrhosis, or cancer (chronic if > 6 mo).
Reducing dietary fat to 10% of calories; cholesterol to 185 mg/d may result in decreased liver enzymes and inflammation.
Studies show that sugar can be as damaging to the liver as alcohol, even if not overweight.

Caveats

Restrict fatty foods (red meat, high fat dairy, coconut oil); hard for the liver to digest.
Limit iron which is hard to excrete with hepatitis; limit vitamin C which helps body absorb iron.
If liver disease AND hepatitis C, avoid all alcohol which can lead to accelerated scarring in liver.
Review medications and supplements with MD; may cause further liver damage.

References

CDC. (2023). Travelers Health/Search Results. CDC Yellow Book: Health Information for International Travel. https://search.cdc.gov/search/?query=Hepatitis%20G&siteLimit=wwwnc.cdc.gov%2Ftravel%2F&dpage=1
Travelers Health/Hepatitis B. (2022). Centers for Disease Control. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/diseases/hepatitis-b
Giudici, M., Johansen RD, D., & Cheong RD, S. (2003). Hepatitis C: Nutrition Care — Canadian Guidelines for Health Care Providers. Dietitians of Canada. http://www.bccdc.ca/resource-gallery/Documents/Guidelines%20and%20Forms/Guidelines%20and%20Manuals/Hepatitis/Hep%20C/Hep_Guidelines_HCVNutritionCare.pdf
Himoto, T. (2021). Diet and Nutrition for Hepatitis. National Library of Medicine. PMID: 33916929; PMCID: PMC8067608. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8067608/
Huang, H., Kang, R., & Zhao, Z. (2013). Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Risk of Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. NIH, National Library of Medicine, PLoS ONE. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3827221/
Kumar MD, S., MPH. (2022). Overview of Chronic Hepatitis. MERCK MANUAL. https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/liver-and-gallbladder-disorders/hepatitis/overview-of-chronic-hepatitis
Lao, T., Chan, B., Leung, W.-C., Ho, L.-F., & Tse, K.-Y. (2007). Maternal hepatitis B infection and gestational diabetes mellitus. Journal of Hepatology/PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17434231/
Migala, J., & Iliades MD, C. (2021). Nutrition for Hepatitis C: What to Know if You’re a Caregiver. Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/hepatitis/cooking-for-someone-with-hepatitis.aspx
Viral Hepatitis. (2021). Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. https://nutritionguide.pcrm.org/nutritionguide/view/Nutrition_Guide_for_Clinicians/1342052/all/Viral_Hepatitis.
Whelan, C., & Richter RD, A. (2020). Hepatitis C Diet: Foods to Eat and Avoid. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/hepatitis-c/hepatitis-c-diet
Hepatitis. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/hepatitis