Although there's no specific diet that will benefit every one of the nearly 4 million people in the United States currently living with hepatitis C, certain foods and drinks may boost liver function. Others, however, may be harmful to the liver.
What's more: People with hepatitis C have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease, so making smart choices and maintaining a normal weight can help keep these threats at bay. A healthy diet should be considered an important part of your overall treatment plan.
Hepatitis C Hero: Fruits and Veggies
When it comes to fruits and vegetables for a hepatitis C diet, it's the more the merrier. They're rich in fiber, which helps you feel full for longer, as well as other nutrients that support heart health. Low in calories and fat, they make it easier to reach a healthy weight, says Camilla Graham, MD, assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. That, in turn, can reduce your chances of both fatty liver disease and diabetes. This is particularly important because those conditions can accelerate the damage of hepatitis C, she adds.
Hepatitis C Enemy: Alcohol
"If you have advanced liver disease, there's absolutely no amount of alcohol that's okay," says Dr. Graham. "In fact, avoiding alcohol is one thing you can do to slow down the risk of developing liver failure." It's the best way to slow disease progression and keep your liver healthy until the virus has been eradicated, she says. Instead of alcohol, stay hydrated and healthy by drinking lots of water, she suggests.
Hepatitis C Hero: Whole Grains
Like fruits and vegetables, whole grains are excellent sources of fiber and nutrients and less likely to spike your blood sugar than refined grains, which have had most of their fiber removed, according to the American Diabetes Association. Tasty whole-grain options include barley, brown rice, quinoa, whole-wheat pasta and bread, and oats, which make a great breakfast. Whole grains keep the high-fiber, nutritious parts of the kernel — the bran and the germ — which are mostly removed from white bread, white flour, and white pasta, so avoid these foods.
Hepatitis C Enemy: Raw Fish
If you have hepatitis C, skip the sushi and oyster bar to avoid potential foodborne illnesses. You’ll want to be careful about all raw seafood, says Graham, since developing a bacterial infection from raw seafood can worsen hepatitis C. She says it’s also wise to avoid unpasteurized milk and cheese for the same reason.
Hepatitis C Hero: Lean Proteins
Seek out healthy proteins, such as fish, skinless chicken and turkey, nonfat dairy, and lean cuts of meat. Maintaining a healthy weight is an important way to protect your liver and avoid fatty liver disease, and choosing lean proteins is a smart idea to reach this goal, says Andrew J. Muir, MD, a professor of medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. Eating fatty red meats, meanwhile, can contribute to obesity and worsen the toll on your liver.
Hepatitis C Enemy: Liver
Liver, the food, is extremely high in iron, Graham says. Too much iron in your body can cause an enlarged liver, liver failure, liver cancer, or cirrhosis, and these risks may be heightened when you’re living with hepatitis C. Stay away from foods that are very high in iron, as well as iron supplements. Leafy green vegetables are okay, because they tend to have much less iron than liver does — not to mention a host of other great vitamins and minerals.
Hepatitis C Hero: Coffee
Yes, you read that correctly: Coffee may be beneficial for people with hepatitis C, Dr. Muir says. A study published in the journal Gastroenterology found that people with hepatitis C who drank three or more cups of coffee a day were two times more likely to respond to treatment than those who didn’t drink coffee. Another study, published in January 2017 in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, found that, among people with hepatitis C, drinking caffeine decreased the risk of advanced liver fibrosis and liver inflammation. Exactly how coffee affects liver disease is not fully understood, Muir says. But if you like coffee, enjoy that cup of joe, knowing it may be helping your liver. (Keep in mind that this data was only associative, not causal — a good reason not to go overboard.)
Hepatitis C Enemy: Salt
Salt can promote fluid retention, which is a symptom of progressive hepatitis C, Graham says. It’s not just salt from the shaker that you want to avoid; processed foods, such as frozen meals and baked goods, are also loaded with sodium. If you have early-stage hepatitis C, a little sodium is okay, but when the disease is advanced, it’s a good idea to stay away from any added salt, she says. Talk with your doctor to find out how much salt you can safely consume.
Justin Laube, MD
Medical Reviewer
Justin Laube, MD, is a board-certified integrative and internal medicine physician, a teacher, and a consultant with extensive expertise in integrative health, medical education, and trauma healing.
He graduated with a bachelor's in biology from the University of Wisconsin and a medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. During medical school, he completed a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices through the Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing. He completed his three-year residency training in internal medicine at the University of California in Los Angeles on the primary care track and a two-year fellowship in integrative East-West primary care at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine.
He is currently taking a multiyear personal and professional sabbatical to explore the relationship between childhood trauma, disease, and the processes of healing. He is developing a clinical practice for patients with complex trauma, as well as for others going through significant life transitions. He is working on a book distilling the insights from his sabbatical, teaching, and leading retreats on trauma, integrative health, mindfulness, and well-being for health professionals, students, and the community.
Previously, Dr. Laube was an assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Health Center for East-West Medicine and the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he provided primary care and integrative East-West medical consultations. As part of the faculty, he completed a medical education fellowship and received a certificate in innovation in curriculum design and evaluation. He was the fellowship director at the Center for East-West Medicine and led courses for physician fellows, residents, and medical students.
Denise Mann
Author
Denise Mann is an award-winning health journalist in New York. Her articles regularly appear in Healthday, Wall Street Journal, Health.com, Newsday, American Profile, and other consumer health portals. She is the chief editor of Plastic Surgery Practice and a feature writer for WebMD. She writes about women's health, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, diet and fitness.
Her first foray into health reporting was with the Medical Tribune News Service where her articles appeared regularly in such newspapers as the Detroit Free Press, Chicago Sun-Times, Dallas Morning News, and the Los Angeles Daily News. She received the Journalistic Achievement Award from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in 2004 and 2011.
She lives with her husband, their miniature schnauzer, and their two sons. An avid indoor cycler, Mann is always up for a Soul Cycle class. In her spare time, Mann is working on a fiction novel loosely based on her extended family.