The article was consulted with Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhat, MSc, MD- Infectious Disease Doctor - Department of Outpatient and Internal Medicine - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.
Traditionally, the liver has always been regarded as the body's chemical processing factory. One of the important functions of the liver is to filter and process anything that enters the body. However, if you have hepatitis C in particular and liver diseases in general, this function may encounter problems. When substances remain in the body for a longer period, they will cause certain effects and liver damage. To avoid the above risks and effectively treat hepatitis C, you need to adjust and carefully select food, functional foods, and medications which you take into your body. So, what should be avoided when having hepatitis C?
1. Food
A nutritious diet can help the liver form new cells. But if you unfortunately have hepatitis C, there are certain types of foods that are recommended to be avoided or consumed less, which are:
- Raw oysters or shellfish (such as clams, mussels, crabs, and shrimp,...). The reason is that they can contain bacteria that make you susceptible to infections, and this risk is even higher if you have hepatitis C.
- Foods high in fat and sugar.They can stress your liver or lead to fat accumulation in it.
- Salty food, high in salt (such as smoked meat, fish sauce, etc.).You should avoid eating overly salty dishes if you tend to retain water in your abdomen or legs.
Besides food, many people also wonder what to avoid if they have hepatitis C.
2. Alcohol
When it comes to treating hepatitis C, gradually reducing or completely eliminating alcohol is always one of the recommendations that doctors particularly emphasize. Because when you have hepatitis C, it means your liver is already showing signs of weakened function. Therefore, even drinking a small amount can increase the risk of severe liver disease, while also allowing many types of viruses to remain in your body longer. If you can stop, or at least reduce the amount of alcohol intake, the virus density can decrease.
Alcohol and alcoholic beverages can cause inflammation and fibrosis of the liver (liver scarring), increasing the risk of liver cancer. Therefore, people with cirrhosis or those waiting for a liver transplant due to hepatitis C should not drink alcohol.
Some people treat hepatitis C with specialized medication; however, alcohol can hinder the effectiveness of the medication. And drinking alcohol also makes it harder for you to take your medication on time and schedule. For some patients using Interferon to treat certain conditions (such as depression, etc.), drinking alcohol can exacerbate the side effects of the medication.
3. Tobacco and illegal drugs
Stimulants and drugs in general are not good for the liver; for example, cannabis can lead to rapid liver scarring. Using needles to inject stimulants can increase the risk of reinfection with hepatitis C.
Smoking also increases the risk of liver cancer. Therefore, the advice is to minimize the amount of cigarettes smoked each day, or ideally, to quit smoking to protect your health.
4. Types of drugs for treating hepatitis C
If you have cirrhosis due to hepatitis C infection, you need to be cautious about the types of medications used for treatment. The dosage of some medications will need to be adjusted, and there are some medications that should be completely avoided. Some medications to avoid include:
- Acetaminophen.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Sleeping pills or tranquilizers.
Regardless of the stage of your hepatitis C, make sure to follow these guidelines:
- Share the list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications with the doctor.
- Make sure the doctors know you have hepatitis C.
- Take as few medications as possible.
- Read the ingredient list of over-the-counter medications carefully. Acetaminophen is often found in many cold medications and most pain relievers, so be very careful.
5. Functional foods and various types of herbs
Consult with your doctor before using any of the following if you have hepatitis C, as some types can cause severe liver damage.
It is important to note that dietary supplements and herbal products are not classified as drugs by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that these types do not undergo testing and quality control to assess their safety and effectiveness.
Some natural products that may pose a risk to your liver are:
- Chaparral.
- Jin Bu Huan.
- Germander.
- Comfrey tea, mate, and Gordolobo yerba.
- Mistletoe.
- Skullcap.
- Pennyroyal (squaw mint oil).
- Margosa (Neem oil).
- Kava.
- Yohimbe.
Additionally, weight loss products can also harm the liver, similar to the consumption of large amounts of vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin A, D, E, and K.
Thus, choose your food carefully and take medication according to your doctor's instructions, while actively monitoring the daily dosage of medication according to your condition. This will help protect your liver health.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
