Hepatitis C is a viral infection, marked by severe inflammation of the liver that can severely damage the liver cells. It is contagious in nature and can easily spread via infected blood. Fortunately, the infection is curable in the majority of cases and requires a long dose of oral medications. Experts from the top liver transplant hospital in India suggest that many patients suffering from the condition are not even aware of it owing to the fact that they do not experience any major symptoms. In fact, it may even take a decade for the symptoms to show up.

You may still need to watch out for symptoms like:

• Frequent bruising and bleeding
• Fatigue and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Jaundice
• Itchiness
• Dark stools and urine
• Oedema
• Unintended weight loss
• Spider angiomas

Since Hepatitis C is usually a silent infection, it is very important to go for regular check-ups especially if you fall in the high-risk group. These include:

• Healthcare workers who are exposed to infected blood on a daily basis
• People with a history of drug abuse, especially those that are injected or inhaled.
• People with HIV
• People with tattoos on piercings done using unsterile needles
• People who have had a blood transfusion or organ transplant before the 1990s
• Any child that was born to a mother with Hepatitis C

If you can relate to any of these factors it does not necessarily mean that you have Hepatitis C however there is no harm in getting yourself evaluated.

If you have been diagnosed will Hepatitis C your doctors will plan your treatment accordingly, however, there is something that you can do to increase the effectiveness of the treatment and ensure a speedy recovery. Wondering what? The answer is healthy dietary modifications.

Hepatitis and scaring caused by it can lead to an additional strain on your liver and as such, it is important to take extra care of your diet. You need to eliminate foods that can harm your liver and eat a nutritious diet that helps it to heal. It is also important to prioritize your diet because many people suffering from hepatitis tend to experience unintended loss of weight and appetite. It is important to ensure even if they are not eating much, their daily nutritional requirement is not compromised.

Here are some healthy foods listed by the experts from the best hospital in India, that you can add to your diet:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables - The benefits of adding these to your daily diet are known to all as fresh fruits and vegetables are the richest sources of fibre, folate, vitamins and potassium. Experts usually recommend 1 to 3 cups of veggies per day and you can always experiment with the variety. While choosing your veggies make sure you also take some green leafy vegetables as these are known to lower the fatty acid composition in the liver. For those who prefer canned vegetables and fruits over fresh ones, make sure that you choose the ones that are not loaded with salt and sugar.

• Do not miss out on proteins - These are extremely important for you as they help your liver to generate new cells as well as repair the damaged ones. You can find many healthy sources of protein around you which include fish, chicken, eggs, meat and soy products. Your daily protein requirement depends upon various factors that include your age, gender and daily activity level. You can consult an expert to know more about it. Patients who have been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis need to take a very high amount of protein as this helps to prevent muscle wasting and alleviates the risks of fluid accumulation, which can otherwise prove to be very dangerous.

• Take dairy products - These can help you reach your daily protein and calcium intake goals. If you are lactose intolerant you skip this point, if not, you need to take at least 2 to 3 servings of dairy products which include cheese, milk and yoghurt.

• Whole grains - These are loaded with dietary fibres that not only regulate healthy digestion but also help to bring down the risk of serious cardiovascular ailments. You can take them in many different forms such as brown rice, whole grain bread, whole oats and so on. Refrain from using refined products as these have been associated with a variety of health issues.

Apart from making healthy dietary modifications, you also need to see your doctor regularly, to keep a track of your prognosis. If you wish to know more about Hepatitis C and how it can be managed, consult our experts today.