The liver performs about 500 functions every day. It is no surprise that doctors insist on managing Hepatitis C with a diet. Since there is no vaccine for hepatitis C yet, a diet is an ideal way to prevent and manage this condition. A diet can help protect your liver from further and permanent damage. However, you need to be careful of what you consume as some foods can even aggravate the condition.

Some of the food items that should be avoided to help manage hep C include:

Iron
The liver helps break down iron and the excess is excreted from the body naturally. However, in people with chronic hepatitis C, the liver is unable to metabolize iron, leading the excess iron to line with the liver and other organs. Iron could also enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Avoid foods with excess iron content. Foods like animal organs, oysters, lentils, apricots, and iron-fortified cereals are high in iron and should be avoided.

Salt
Salt is essential to our body as it helps carry impulses of nerves and transports water. However, too much salt could lead to hypertension and could also affect the liver. Limiting salt in seasoning is crucial as many packed and processed foods have salt. Consuming salt in excess amounts can lead to serious complications.

Sugar
One of the biggest risks of chronic hepatitis C is diabetes. Excessive sugar can lead to obesity, which then increases your BMI and leads to hypertension and diabetes. Refined sugars are a definite no-no. Long-term consumption of natural sugars, like honey and brown sugar, could lead to diabetes. Excess sugar in people with chronic hepatitis C can lead to a fatty liver and insulin resistance. You can use organic jaggery instead of sugar for when you crave something sweet.

Fried food
The amount of fried food an average person consumes in their lifetime is staggering and worrying. Fried snacks contain saturated fats and high doses of salt. Both lead to fatty liver and put additional strain on people who are suffering from chronic hepatitis C. In case you want to have chips, you can go in for baked chips.

Raw fish
Raw meat can be a potential source of bacterial infection. People with chronic hepatitis C are at risk of having liver conditions in case of an infection. Sushi and oyster bars use raw fish and it is advised to leave raw meat out of your diet. Equally detrimental are undercooked meats like clams.

Packaged and processed foods
Packaged and processed foods contain many inimical things. They contain salt, hydrogenated fats, and food additives that are nothing but chemicals. All these can strain the liver, leading to more complications. Moreover, these lead to obesity, which can lead to even more complications to the liver.

Alcohol
Just like solid foods, even liquids, like water and alcohol, go through the liver. Regular drinking for years together or bouts of binge drinking causes severe scarring of liver cells. With a liver under strain because of hepatitis C, alcohol can be extremely dangerous. Stay away from alcohol and keep your diet in check.