Hepatitis B is a serious disease caused by the hepatitis B virus that affects the liver. This organ plays a crucial role in keeping our bodies healthy by removing impurities from the food we eat.
For any patient with hepatitis B undergoing treatment, there isn’t a restriction on what they can or cannot eat. However, certain meals will help to improve inflamed liver quicker. The idea behind a hepatitis diet is to reduce the stress on your liver, which has already been compromised by the inflammation associated with the condition.
There is no special diet for viral hepatitis, but you should eat a healthy, low-fat, low-cholesterol, and low-sodium diet. Make each meal’s foundation of complex carbohydrates and lean protein. There are thousands of Nigerians suffering from hepatitis B, and to properly manage their condition, they have sought after healthy foods that can help. Here are some important foods for hepatitis B patients in Nigeria.
5 Foods For Hepatitis B Patients In Nigeria
1. Foods high in protein
A couple of meals contain protein, and including them in your diet is essential for liver health. To repair the liver and replace the damaged tissue, you need protein. Adequate protein consumption is vital to building and maintaining muscle mass and assisting in healing and repair. Protein consumption should be between about 45 to 120 grams a day in patients with hepatitis.
There is an array of proteinous foods, so you don’t have to eat just one meal. Nigerian foods that are rich in protein include beans, cowpea, low-fat dairy, akara, okpa, moin moon, chicken, turkey, millet, soybean, goat meat, eggs, and cashew nuts.
2. FruitsÂ
Fruits are very important for hepatitis B patients. Most fruits contain polyphenols which ensure that serum and lipid levels of the liver are under control. They also contain pectin and malic acid that help remove toxins and carcinogens. Furthermore, they have anti-inflammatory properties that protect you against fatty liver. Fruits you choose can choose from include apple, Nigerian pear, garden eggs, soursop, pineapple, lemon, banana, watermelon, and tomatoes.
Fruits have fructose in them, which contains fiber, amongst other nutrients. In addition, the metabolization of fruit by the liver is relatively slow, which makes it a good thing to turn to when you don’t want to take sweets.
3. Leafy green vegetables
Leafy green vegetables can decrease fatty acid composition in the liver, so they are particularly beneficial to people with hepatitis B. There are also a number of healthy leafy vegetables in Nigeria that are good for hepatitis. They include spinach, fluted pumpkin leaves, bitter leaves, scent leaf, curry leaves, and ewedu (jute) leaves.
4. Ginger and Garlic
Ginger and garlic have many health benefits that support liver health. Ginger contains powerful compounds, such as gingerols and shogaols, that help inhibit inflammation and protect against cellular damage, which may help support liver health. In addition, garlic may help protect your liver against toxins like alcohol.
5. Coffee
Drinking coffee regularly has its benefits for the body. Regular intake of it has been found to slow the progression, decrease the risk of cirrhosis formation or liver cancer, and decrease the formation of liver fibrosis. In a 2015 study, it was also discovered that people with hepatitis B who drank four or more cups of coffee had a significant reduction in liver stiffness. However, it’s advised that you get decaffeinated coffee instead of the regular one.
Green tea is also an acceptable substitute for caffeinated coffee, as they have been shown not to harm the liver. Also, liver disease can cause malnourishment, which means you need another source to get your calories. This source should be away from fatty foods, sweet or more, as they pose even more threat to the body.
Conclusion
People with hepatitis are advised to curb the condition with a proper diet. What you consume goes a long way toward influencing your health, so it is best to include the above-listed into your diet.
Collins Nwokolo is a human physiologist, writer and health enthusiast. He loves writing helpful articles on health and fitness, which he enjoys sharing with everyone.
