Choosing diets for Hepatitis B patient
Hepatitis B is one of several types of hepatitis (liver inflammation) caused by a virus. Among the ways in which the virus can be spread are contact with infected blood and sex with an infected person. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during childbirth. Many acute cases of this […]
Hepatitis B is one of several types of hepatitis (liver inflammation) caused by a virus. Among the ways in which the virus can be spread are contact with infected blood and sex with an infected person. It can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during childbirth. Many acute cases of this virus get better on their own, but chronic cases often require treatment with medications.
Health experts say the cause of hepatitis B is an infection with the hepatitis B virus. This is a DNA virus that belongs to the genus Orthohepadnavirus of the Hepadnaviridae family. There are two types of hepatitis B-acute (recently acquired) and chronic (life-long). For most people with acute hepatitis B, symptoms gradually get better within a couple of months. These people will have no long-lasting liver damage and will recover completely.
But for some people, the body is not able to completely get rid of the virus. These people end up having a long-term liver infection. This is called chronic hepatitis B. People with the chronic type can infect others and are at an increased risk of serious liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer.
For the most part, a hepatitis B diet has the same elements as a diet for an average, healthy person. People with hepatitis B should eat a diet with lots of heart-healthy foods (such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and limited amounts of fat, and should also maintain a healthy weight. People who have hepatitis B should also avoid alcohol completely.
Mrs. Serah Abagai, Head Dietetics Department at the National Hospital, Abuja says this about diets for bepatitis B. “When it comes to hepatises, some people tell patients, don’t eat meat at all, but it all depends on the stage of the disease. When the disease has reached a certain stage and has affected the liver in the form of cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) or cancer that is a different thing all together. But at certain stages, protein is still allowed as part of the diet. So it depends on the stage of the disease. Some say don’t eat fat at all, some say don’t eat meat at all. The stage of the disease accounts for all that prescription,” Abagai explains.
Everything you eat and drink passes through your liver. The liver changes food into stored energy and the chemicals necessary for life. Your liver makes nutrients available so your body can use them to build cells, give you energy, maintain normal body functions.
A bad diet can sometimes lead to liver problems in a person with hepatitis B. If your diet contains too many calories, you will gain weight. Being overweight is linked to the build up of fat in the liver, which is known as “fatty liver.” Over many years, fatty liver likely contributes to the development of cirrhosis in some people with hepatitis B. Being overweight and having fatty liver have also been shown, in a number of studies, to lead to lower rates of hepatitis B clearance in patients treated with certain drugs like interferon and ribavirin, health experts say.
On the other hand, a good hepatitis B diet can improve the liver in a person with hepatitis B. A balanced diet can lead to better liver functioning and lowered risk of cirrhosis of the liver. It also can help the immune system stay strong and fight off illness. Unfortunately, these diets could not be given to Garba as his case grew worse and he died, leaving behind his wife and five children.