The Key to a Healthy Diet





		Living with Hepatitis
			Eating Well
			The Key to a Healthy Diet
			What You Should Drink and How Much
			Vitamins and Your Liver
			Overcoming Obstacles to Good Nutrition
			Taking Steps to Slow Disease Progression
			Coping with Fatigue

The Key to a Healthy Diet

If you have hepatitis, eating a variety of foods in the right proportions may help liver cells damaged by disease to regenerate (form new cells). Therefore, what you eat may affect the rate at which your disease progresses. As a result of hepatitis, you may experience loss of appetite, so it's important to pay special attention to meeting your daily nutritional needs to avoid weight loss and keep up your energy levels.

If you're not currently having problems with eating, the food guide pyramid provides a simple illustration of the types and number of servings of food you should eat every day. To follow this guide, it is important to familiarize yourself with the appropriate serving size for each food group:

Bread/Cereal/Rice/Pasta Group
1 serving =

1/2 cup cooked pasta, rice, or oatmeal
1 cup cornflakes
1 tortilla
1/2 hamburger bun
3 to 4 small crackers

Fruit Group
1 serving =

1 medium banana, apple, or orange
1/2 cup cooked, canned, or cut-up fruit
3/4 cup of juice
1/4 cup dried fruit

Vegetable Group
1 serving =

1/2 cup cooked carrots or chopped vegetables
1 cup lettuce or spinach

Meat/Poultry/Fish/Beans/Eggs/Nuts Group
(recommended 5 to 7 oz. daily)
1 oz. portion =

1 egg
1/2 cup tofu
1/2 cup cooked beans
2 tablespoons peanut butter

Milk/Yogurt/Cheese Group
1 serving =

1 cup milk
1 cup yogurt
1-1/2 oz. cheese