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Diet and Nutrition for People with Hepatitis CDiet and nutrition are fairly common words. Many times, in conversation, I have heard the words diet and nutrition used interchangeably but are they really the same? Not really.
Diet is what you eat and how much; and nutrition is what happens inside your body after you have eaten.
Our diet, the food we eat, is broken down into smaller units called "nutrients" as it passes through the stomach and intestines.
Nutrients are more commonly referred to as fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water.
Literally everything we eat and drink passes through our
liver
where it changes the food we eat into stored energy and chemicals necessary for life. Our liver makes nutrients available so the body can use them to build cells, give us energy, and maintain normal body functions.
Good diet and nutrition versus bad diet and "no" nutrition
A good diet and nutrition, also known as a balanced diet, can lead to better liver function, lower the risk of cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver thus improving overall liver health in a person with Hepatitis C. It also can help the body’s immune system stay strong and fight off illness.
In addition to the liver problems brought on by having Hep C, a bad diet and nutrition can sometimes lend itself to creating additional liver problems. For example: If you consume too many calories over a period of time you will gain weight.
Being overweight has been linked to buildup of fat in the liver, also known as "fatty liver." Hepatitis C when coupled with a fatty liver increases the possibility of a person developing cirrhosis of the liver. A number of studies have shown that having fatty liver leads to lower rates of Hepatitis C clearance in patients being treated with interferon and ribavirin.
Generally speaking with regard to diet and nutrition, if you have Hepatitis C you don't need to eat a special diet. Eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight is really all that is needed.
However, there are a couple of instances where having Hepatitis C in conjunction with certain circumstances can adversely affect a person’s diet and ultimately benefit from the nutrition derived from the diet.
Interferon treatment brings with it some extremely bothersome side effects which make it sometimes difficult to eat. These include but are not limited to loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
As liver disease progresses, a person may lose their appetite and become so tired they have a hard time eating. If this is allowed to continue, over time the body lacks good nutrition and the immune systems is less able to fight off disease.
As was previously stated with regard to diet and nutrition, if you have Hepatitis C you don't usually need to eat a special diet. By following some basic dietary advice you should be able to eat healthy and maintain a healthy weight, which is really all that is needed.
Eat small balanced meals or snacks every three to four hours. This is a great way to keep up energy levels. This is also a good way to help prevent nausea, which is a side effect commonly experienced during Hepatitis C treatments such as interferon and ribavirin.
A balanced meal or snack should include a variety of foods from all of the major food groups. Food groups are simply a method of classifying the various foods we consume, based on their nutritional properties and their location in a hierarchy of nutrition.
Eating certain amounts and proportions of foods from the different categories is a standard recommendation by most guides to healthy eating as one of the most important ways to achieve a healthy lifestyle through diet and nutrition.
There are a few systems of dividing foods into groups to develop models of optimum diet and nutrition for humans. Among these systems are the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA's) program titled MyPyramid, which is a healthy eating pyramid published by the Harvard School of Public Health; the Canadian Government's Canada's Food Guide; and the United Kingdom Food Standards Agency's "Balance of Good Health" guide.
MyPyramid, which was released by the USDA on April 19, 2005, is an update on the ubiquitous U.S. food guide pyramid. It stresses activity and moderation along with a proper mix of food groups in one's diet.
The most significant changes from the previous food pyramid are that it measures quantities in cups and ounces instead of "servings" and it includes a new symbol - a person on the stairs, representing physical activity.
MyPyramid was designed to educate consumers about a lifestyle consistent with the January 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, an 80-page document. The guidelines, produced jointly by the USDA and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), represented the official position of the U.S. government concerning nutrition policy.
MyPyramid contains eight divisions, which consist of six food groups and two other categories.
The six food groups are:
Grains, recommending that at least half of grains consumed be as whole grains
Vegetables, emphasizing dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, and dry beans and peas
Fruits, emphasizing variety and deemphasizing fruit juices
Oils, recommending fish, nut, and vegetables sources
Milk, a category that includes other dairy products
Meat and beans, emphasizing low-fat and lean meats such as fish as well as more beans, peas, nuts, and seeds
The other two categories are:
Physical activity, represented by a person climbing steps on the pyramid, with at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity per day recommended (and in some cases 60 or 90 minutes)
Discretionary calories, represented by the uncolored tip of the pyramid, including items such as candy, alcohol, or additional food from any other group.
The USDA encoded several themes into the design of the MyPyramid icon. They are:
Personalization, demonstrated by the MyPyramid Web site. To find a personalized recommendation of the kinds and amounts of food to eat each day, individuals must visit MyPyramid.gov. (See the twelve pyramids.)
Gradual improvement, represented by the slogan Steps to a Healthier You. It suggests that individuals can benefit from taking small steps to improve their diet and lifestyle each day.
Physical activity, represented by the steps and the person climbing them, as a reminder of the importance of daily physical activity.
Variety, symbolized by the six color bands representing the five food groups of MyPyramid and oils. Suggests that foods from all groups are needed each day for good health.
Moderation, represented by the narrowing of each food group from bottom to top. The wider base stands for foods with little or no solid fats, added sugars, or caloric sweeteners. Suggests these should be selected more often to get the most nutrition from calories consumed.
Proportionality, shown by the different widths of the food group bands. The widths suggest how much food a person should choose from each group. The widths are just a general guide.
In a departure from diet and nutrition guidance provided by original food guide pyramid, which was launched in 1992, no foods are pictured on the MyPyramid logo itself. Instead, colored vertical bands represent different food groups.
Additionally, the logo emphasizes physical activity by showing a person climbing steps on the side of the pyramid. MyPyramid was intentionally made simpler than the food guide pyramid after several USDA studies indicated that consumers widely misunderstood the original design. Consumers are asked to visit the [MyPyramid.gov] website for personalized diet and nutrition information.
The food guide pyramid gave recommendations measured in "serving sizes," which some people found confusing. MyPyramid gives its recommendations in cups, ounces, and other measures that may be easier to understand.
The food guide pyramid gave a single set of specific recommendations for all people. In contrast, MyPyramid has 12 sets of possible recommendations, with the appropriate guide for an individual selected based on sex, age group, and activity level.
Click here to learn more about diet and nutrition benefits from utilizing MyPyramid
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Learn 10 Idiot Proof Rules to Dieting and Fat Loss
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