From work holiday parties to getting together with friends, the end of the year brings a ton of reasons to celebrate. But with this period of increased social engagement also comes more food and for those with hepatitis C, keeping a balanced diet can be difficult.
Here are five tips to make sure that your hep C doesn’t stop the seasonal fun:
1. Bring lemon-infused water.
Lemon has many health benefits, but it is especially beneficial to those with liver diseases. Matthew Dolan, author of The Hepatitis C Handbook, recommends adding lemon to your daily diet to help flush out toxins. Infusing your water is a great way stay hydrated while getting lemon’s added benefits.
You can even get creative by also adding mint, cucumber and even sweet fruit to your water. It’s a good way to pack in the flavor of your favorite fruit without drinking the sugary fruit juices that make your liver work extra hard to metabolize them. Consider grabbing a water bottle that can infuse your water while you’re on-the-go.
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2. Pack snacks.
Snacks like protein bars not only keep you full in between meals, but are often filled with fiber — a “good” carbohydrate that does not turn into sugar and is good for overall health, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Protein bars are nonperishable so you can stock up at the beginning of your week and keep a few bars in your bag or car so that you’ll always have a snack option.
3. Go for the grains.
When you’re out at restaurants this season, choose meals that have whole grains. These also contain fiber, many B vitamins, and minerals like iron and magnesium.
Opt for brown rice and whole wheat bread instead of their white, refined grain counterparts. Try to include these grains in most meals.
4. Avoid alcohol.
Abstaining from alcohol during the holidays can be daunting, but, it is necessary. Alcohol can be hard on your liver — damaging cells, causing inflammation, and causing scarring, according to the American Liver Foundation.
It also affects the effectiveness of hepatitis treatments. Although studies show that those who consumed less than 70 grams of alcohol per day respond better to hepatitis C treatments, the exact threshold of how much alcohol is okay is unknown. It’s better just to stay away from it.
5. Have a fiesta.
Hosting a party? Choose a menu that’s great for guests, but that is sensitive to your dietary needs.
Consider a Mexican menu. Use corn tortillas for tacos and even use them to bake your own chips. Corn tortillas are also free of gluten, which is hard to digest and can cause inflammation.
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