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Diet
The following is from the article “Living Healthy with Hepatitis C” at Hepmag
Nutrition and Exercise
Since hepatitis C is a disease of the liver, it is vital to take care of this all-important organ. Living with hep C may sometimes seem like a waiting game in which there is nothing you can do other than bide time until you go on treatment. But, in reality you can take a lot of steps to lessen the damage the virus may do to your liver. It’s all about how you treat your own body; nutrition and physical fitness are important ingredients for a healthy liver.
Being overweight or obese may increase your risk of liver damage, so maintaining a normal weight is one way you can help your liver. Body Mass Index (BMI) is an indicator of healthy weight. Obesity is a BMI greater than 25; morbid obesity is greater than 35. To calculate BMI: (1) multiply your weight (in pounds) by 703, (2) multiply your height in inches by itself, then divide the answer in (1) by the answer in (2). You can find BMI calculators and other fitness tools and tips at www.healthfinder.gov.
Nutrition
The liver metabolizes everything you eat, so a healthy diet is especially important for those living with a liver disease such as hep C. Furthermore, since many people with the disease suffer from low energy or fatigue, a fuel-rich diet is a key way to give your body as much vigor as possible. You should drink plenty of water and observe a good balance between all of the basic food groups, including whole grains, proteins, dairy, fruits, vegetables and fats—making sure to keep the saturated fats in your diet to a minimum. Here are some other nutrition tips: