“This is great! Thank you Gina Garippo!”
http://inhealth.cnn.com/advances-in-treating-hepatitis-c/meal-planning-for-hepatitis-c?did=t1_rss1&hpt=he_bn9
By Gina Garippo
If you’re undergoing treatment for hepatitis C, you’re probably experiencing your fair share of side effects. These may include nausea, fever and chills, and changes in bathroom habits. But you can minimize many treatment side effects and improve your quality of life. How? By rethinking how you eat. Take a look at these meal-planning tips and tricks that can do more than just fill your stomach.
Drink Up
If you have hepatitis C, it may be time to rethink your drink. Put down your coffee or cola and opt for decaffeinated drinks, particularly water. Try to down six to eight cups a day.
Drinking water is a powerful way to counteract many side effects of treatment. It can reduce flulike symptoms and diarrhea. It can help calm a cough, ease fatigue, and prevent dry mouth. Plus, avoiding caffeinated beverages can help you sleep better.
Eat Mini-Meals
Not hungry? Poor appetite is a common side effect of hepatitis C treatment. But don’t force yourself to stay on your old eating schedule. Instead, try eating smaller, more frequent meals (think four to six) throughout the day.
Mini-meals can help give you the energy you need. Plus, they can reduce nausea and vomiting. To get the most out of what you do eat, make sure to include high-protein foods in your meals, such as cheese, peanut butter, eggs, or protein drinks like Ensure.
Choose Wisely
In addition to changing when you eat, watching what you eat can also minimize side effects like nausea. Try to avoid spicy, greasy, sweet or acidic foods—which all have the potential to make you queasy. Instead, calm your stomach by drinking ginger ale or ginger tea. If your nausea occurs in the morning, nibbling dry crackers or toast can help you feel better.
Counteract Metallic Taste
Many people who are treated for hepatitis C develop a metallic taste in their mouth. To help, try eating with plastic utensils and snacking on a little yogurt or dark chocolate about a half hour before meals. Drinking lemonade, water with fresh lemon, or cranberry juice or sucking on sugar-free lemon drops can also help reduce the metallic taste.
Get Regular
Does diarrhea occasionally keep you in the bathroom? Reducing spicy and acidic foods as well as eating more soluble fiber will help. When meal planning, incorporate foods from the “BRAT” diet, which includes foods high in soluble fiber like Bananas, white Rice, Applesauce, and white Toast. Also, try to avoid dairy products for a few days after your diarrhea resolves.
Remember, there are many ways you can help reduce your side effects and feel better each day. Using your diet as a tool will put you on the right track.
Key Takeaways
Opt for decaffeinated beverages. Drinking water can help counteract many side effects of treatment.
If your appetite is poor, swap three big meals for four to six smaller meals throughout the day.
Try to avoid spicy, greasy, sweet or acidic foods. Calm your stomach by drinking ginger ale or eating dry crackers.
To combat a metallic taste in your mouth, snack on yogurt or dark chocolate before meals. Lemonade or sugar-free lemon drops can also help.