Your diet can have a huge impact on your hepatitis B, as certain foods can irritate your liver, causing it to swell. To guard your wellbeing against this discomfort, there are 11 foods that you should absolutely avoid.
1. Alcohol and drugs: These substances are toxic to even a healthy person’s liver, so imagine what alcohol or drugs will do to yours! Even moderate amounts can speed up the progression of your hep B, and reduce the effectiveness of any treatments you may be on. Remember to check the ingredients in desserts and cooking sauces!
2. Fatty foods: Again, no one should really be overloading on foods that are packed with unhealthy fats, but this is particularly important if you have hep B. Foods you should limit your consumption of include those with a high saturated fat content (non-lean and organ meats, poultry skin and processed meats like sausage and bacon), full-fat dairy products, products containing trans fats (hard margarine, coconut and palm oil) and baked food like cookies and cakes.
3. Salty foods: Many canned, frozen and processed foods contain large amounts of sodium, and so you should read the label before buying any product, as the salt can aggravate your condition. Make sure the label says “low salt” or “low sodium” rather than “reduced salt”.
4. Sugary foods: You should stay well clear of soft drinks, sugary fruit juices, bakery items, sweets and sports drinks. Also, watch out for cereals, baked beans, salad dressings, ketchup, barbecue sauce and fruits canned in heavy syrup, as these can also have a high sugar content.
5. High-protein foods: Hep B means that you cannot efficiently process protein, and so eating protein-rich foods can lead to a build-up of toxic waste in your body. This can disrupt your brain function, but too little protein can also be problematic for your liver, as it prevents the formation of dangerous fats in your body. Therefore, you should aim for one gram of protein for every kilogram you weigh.
6. Raw seafood: Eating raw or undercooked shellfish, oysters, clams, octopus and sea kelp is risky for hep B sufferers, as the seafood may be contaminated with viruses and bacteria which can further deteriorate your liver’s condition.
7. Heavy meals: It’s not just what you eat, but how much, as heavy meals put pressure on your liver which, again, leads to the build-up of toxic waste. Having three or four small meals rather than a few big ones can help prevent irritation and inflammation.
8. Smoked food: During the smoking process, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are formed which can be detrimental for your health and can even increase the irritation in your liver. These hydrocarbons are well-known carcinogen, so smoked food is best avoided anyway.
9. Fast food: Being packed with fats, sugar and salt, fast food contains the worst of all worlds, and so can play havoc on your liver and brain. Plus, the sudden burst of energy and come-down from fast food is bad for anyone’s wellness, so it’s always a good idea to avoid it.
10. High-calorie foods: The combination of protein and calories found in meat, poultry and dairy products make it difficult for your liver to process these foods, as you therefore accumulate a lot of toxic waste.
11. Carbohydrate-rich food: For most people, carbs are essential sources of sugars and starches, which the body converts into energy. However, if you have hepatitis B, you should consume these foods in limited amounts as high-carb foods put pressure on your liver. This means avoiding foods like milk, yoghurt, salmon and broccoli.