Your liver is like the engine of your auto.  It serves as a body's recycling, manufacturing, and waste management plant.  As Peter L Beyer, MS, RD stated "this glandular organ's more than 400 functions affect the performance of every other body system."

A damaged or diseased liver is detrimental to other body systems, which depend on the liver to provide vital substances and eliminate toxic ones.  Hepatitis B and hepatitis C, alcohol abuse, autoimmune diseases, Cancer, obstructions, chronic heart disease are just a few of the primary causes of hepatocellular disease.
HCV has the potential to ravage the liver and some of those chronically infected with the virus will develop cirrhosis, liver cancer, or liver failure.  Most of what we take into our bodies is detoxified and filtered by the liver.  When you ingest toxins and your liver does not process it, then it will be stored in fat tissues and cell membranes and can be released if you have stress or if you exercise.  It can also back up into the colon and ferment for days.  You will find yourself getting nauseous and might notice stomach pains.  Toxins that are not detoxified by the liver can accumulate in the blood, therefore, increasing stress and workload on the immune system. 

As Peter L. Beyer, MS, RD states "typical clinical presentation of a patient with chronic liver failure involves, encephalopathy, in varying stages, portal hypertension, ascites, varices (enlarged and engorged veins in the esophagus, stomach, spleen, rectum), malnutrition, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding and anorexia". 

Researchers do not clearly understand the exact mechanism by which liver failure causes encephalopathy, however,  several studies have shown that dietary factors alone can contribute to or alleviate encephalopathy.

Diet/nutritional therapy for liver failure involves careful consideration of how many calories you take in.? What is your source of protein? How much fluids do you ingest daily and what are they?  Sodium and Potassium can effect the function of your liver.  You need to do an assessment of the vitamins, minerals and any other supplements that you are taking.  Know your brands and manufacturers and how the product is made.  While detoxification is one of the liver's primary functions, their are other things the liver does, including creating bile, which is essential in the breakdown of fats and aids in the digestion of food.  It helps to digest, by processing nutrients absorbed by the intestine.  It helps to  maintain cell membranes it synthesizes cholesterol.  It helps to remove bacteria from the blood, while manufacturing proteins to help the body in supporting the immune system.  It maintains hormone balance while regulating blood clotting.  When it stores extra blood it purifies the blood by removing toxic substances.  It stores vitamins, iron and other minerals that the body needs.  It helps the body to fight off bacterial and viral infections.  It also rids the body of toxins that we take in, including environmental toxins like exhaust fumes, smoke, body creams as well as alcohol and drugs.  So you see, taking care of your liver and making sure it gets only the foods than can help it maintain its busy functions, is just as important as any treatment you choose.

A low-sodium diet is important to stop the build up of fluids in the abdominal cavity and tissues.  Those with impaired livers need to eliminate table salt, salty snacks, as well as fast foods and processed foods.   A low-protein diet will reduce the production of ammonia.  There are other ways of getting the protein you need when one has HepC.  Recent studies suggest that diets high in protein with high carbohydrate-protein ratios help reverse wasting and malnutrition without contributing to encephalopathy.  Those with advanced scarring of the liver, known as cirrhosis, could lead a patient to an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites.  It is strongly recommended that those with known cirrhosis MUST BE on a sodium restricted diet.  It is recommended that your Sodium intake should be restricted to 1,000 mg a day or LESS.  AVOID fast-food restaurants, as their foods are very HIGH in Sodium.  To give you an example, one teaspoon of table salt is a little over 2,000 mg of sodium. 

Diet/Nutrition is very important when managing the Hepatitis virus.  You liver is stressed with fighting this virus, don't place more stress on it by not eating the right foods.  A proper diet can help your immune system fight the hepatitis C virus and will also help with the side effect should you be on the treatment combo.  Eating correctly helps to keep your energy level up and also helps in combating the fatigue that those with hepatitis feel.  When you are not eating well, your body will naturally call on proteins, vitamins,  minerals and sugars  to make up for the reduced calories. When you do not eat well your body pulls protein stored in the muscles causing more fatigue, weakness and the wasting away of your muscles. 

It helps to take an enzymatic digestant with each meal.  Chew, chew, chew, then chew some more.  The digestive process starts in the mouth.  The chewing actions begins the release of digestive juices.  Eat several small meals a day.  Do not eat when you are angry, frustrated, or bored.  Most importantly do NOT eat and then go lay down.  If you feel tired after you eat then you probably ate too much or the "wrong" foods, which is common with those with Hepatitis.  Try and eat your last meal at least 4 to 5 hours before bedtime.  Cell regeneration is enhanced by an alkaline diet.  Foods which are acidic, are fruits and salad vegetables, which become alkaline when digested so we encourage you to eat as much fruit and vegetables as you like.  It is advisable to increase raw foods although there are some who have a hard time digesting raw foods, which is an indicator that there is something else which is effecting your digestive tract.  Are you allergic or are you intolerant of certain foods that may be good for the liver?

Adequate protein intake is important in order to build and maintain muscle mass and also to heal and repair the liver.  It is important to adjust your protein intake to your medical condition (cirrhosis) and body weight.   Dr Melissa Palmer, M.D. says that "it is recommended that approximately 1.0 to 1.5 gm of protein per kilogram of body weight is recommended in the diet each day for regeneration of liver cells in non-cirrhotic patients."  In order to stay away from animal fat and protein many patients with Hepatitis eat yeast balls and/or whey protein.  Whey comes in vanilla, chocolate and I believe strawberry.  It is important to know that you are using the best "whey." 

In the "chronic" phase of Hepatitis C or Lyme disease, a fresh and natural food diet should consists of low  saturated fats, eliminate all hydrogenated fats and oils. It is recommended that you eat only extra virgin olive oil, fish oils and coconut oil as your source of dietary oils.   It is important to AVOID refined carbohydrates, alcohol, processed foods, dairy products (organic milk in small amounts is ok), gluten containing grains and fried foods as well as caffeine containing foods such as coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate.  As we all know caffeine is a stimulant and can cause stress to the liver.  You should eliminate caffeine products slowly as they are very addicting.  Withdrawing from caffeine can cause symptoms such as headaches, nausea,  shakes and irritability and can also be stressful on the liver.   It helps to drink lots of "good" or "distilled" water with fresh lemon when detoxing from caffeine.  Fresh lemon also acts as a detoxifier. 

Changing your diet will be one of the hardest things you have ever done.  Do it slowly, one day at a time and one thing at a time.  Remember that your diet habits can not be changed over night.  You don't want to throw your body into a "withdrawal" state. We recommend that you begin by writing down everything that goes into your mouth for one month.  That includes gum and mints and liquids.  Keep a daily journal as you travel this journey of nutritional changes.  Then compare what you have written to the FOODS to AVOID.  You will be surprised at the things, which you are eating that are NOT good for the liver.  Be kind to your liver and help it to digest the, proper foods. 

Try and determine if you are gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant or if you have Candida.  These require restricted diets in order for your liver to not be stressed over trying to digest foods that you are intolerant or allergic too.  In time we will have a "gluten intolerant" and "candida" section to help you better understand how recognizing these problems can make you feel better. 

Remember that "everyone" is different and foods that are good for the liver, your body might not like for one reason or another.  LISTEN TO YOUR BODY.