Best Diet For Autoimmune Hepatitis

May Reduce Inflammation And Symptoms Of Some Autoimmune Disorders

To date, the AIP diet has been tested in a small group of people and yielded seemingly positive results.

For instance, in a recent 11-week study in 15 people with IBD on an AIP diet, participants reported experiencing significantly fewer IBD-related symptoms by the end of the study. However, no significant changes in markers of inflammation were observed .

Similarly, a small study had people with IBD follow the AIP diet for 11 weeks. Participants reported significant improvements in bowel frequency, stress, and the ability to perform leisure or sport activities as early as 3 weeks into the study .

In another study, 16 women with Hashimotos thyroiditis, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid gland, followed the AIP diet for 10 weeks. By the end of the study, inflammation and disease-related symptoms decreased by 29% and 68%, respectively.

Participants also reported significant improvements in their quality of life, despite there being no significant differences in their measures of thyroid function .

Although promising, studies remain small and few. Also, to date, they have only been performed on a small subset of people with autoimmune disorders. Therefore, more research is needed before strong conclusions can be made.

SUMMARY

The AIP diet may help reduce gut permeability and inflammation in people with autoimmune diseases. Small studies report beneficial effects in people with IBD and Hashimotos thyroiditis, but more research is needed to confirm these benefits.

Is There A Special Diet For Chronic Hepatitis

No. Try to eat as well as you can to help support your liver and overall health. Aim for a healthy eating pattern that includes vegetables and fruits, whole grains and protein foods daily.

Examples of healthy eating patterns include Canadas food guide and the Mediterranean and DASH diets.

Its important to meet your protein needs. Try to include protein foods at each meal and snack. Protein foods include:

• Beans, peas, lentils, nuts and seeds
• Lower fat milk, yogurt and cheese
• Fortified soy beverage
• Fish, poultry, lean meat, eggs, tofu

If you drink coffee, continue to enjoy it in moderation. It wont harm your liver. Some studies suggest that caffeinated coffee helps protect the liver. However, the evidence isnt strong enough to recommend drinking coffee if you dont drink or tolerate it.

Autoimmune Hepatitis: What To Do If Your Immune System Attacks Your Liver

When most people think of hepatitis, they think of the viral infections known as hepatitis A, B or C. These liver infections are very common however hepatitis can be caused by a variety of other factors. The term hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. Sometimes the immune system can attack a person’s own liver cells and this is called autoimmune hepatitis.

Autoimmune hepatitis may not cause any symptoms or may cause symptoms including fatigue, indigestion, insomnia, abdominal discomfort and itchy skin. This condition is more likely to occur in people with other autoimmune diseases, particularly thyroid conditions, celiac disease, vitiligo, ulcerative colitis and Sjogrens syndrome. There is a lot of life saving information about autoimmune disease in my book titled Healing Autoimmune Disease: A plan to help your immune system and reduce inflammation.

Your liver does an enormous number of important jobs in your body, and is the second largest organ in your body . Therefore autoimmune hepatitis can have a profound negative impact on your health.

Don’t Miss: How Does Someone Catch Hepatitis C

What Is Hepatitis And How Can Nutrition Help Patients With Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver that can be of short duration or prolonged in time . In both cases, it involves damage to the organ that prevents it from functioning normally.

There are several types of hepatitis with different causes and routes of transmission:

• The most common is transmitted by an A, B, C, D, or E virus.
• Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
• Some toxins and certain medications, supplements, or chemicals can cause toxic hepatitis.
• Autoimmune hepatitis occurs when the immune system attacks the liver and causes cell damage. The cause is unknown, but genetics and environment are two possible triggers.

Early diagnosis and treatment are important in order to avoid irreparable damage to the organ. Cirrhosis , liver failure, or liver cancer are some of the possible complications.

Although adequate nutrition in patients with hepatitis doesnt lead to a cure, its important in determining a good state of health during the disease. A balanced diet helps maintain fluid balance and prevents liver overload.

Find out which foods are the most suitable, which should be avoided and how to organize your diet. If youre interested in learning more, we invite you to read on.

Find out more about World Hepatitis Day: The Disease Is Preventable

How Excessive Inflammation Is Linked To Autoimmune Diseases

Fundamentally, autoimmune disease is an inflammation issue.

According to the Journal of Immunology Research, increasing evidences show that the abnormal inflammatory response is closely associated with many chronic diseases, especially in autoimmune diseases

Doctors typically turn to medication for dealing with the symptoms of inflammatory conditions, which often fails to address the root causes including allergens, infections, environmental toxins, an inflammatory diet, and stress.

But food can be a powerful tool for fighting excessive inflammation.

Read Also: Can You Catch Hepatitis C From Having Sex

Bone Broth And Collagen

Bone broth and collagen are excellent for healing and repairing the gut and key parts of the autoimmune diet. They help to soothe and heal inflamed tissues in the gut. This strengthens the immune system as digestive issues are often the root cause of chronic inflammation and autoimmunity.

For people with gut inflammation, it is important to get easily digestible protein into their bodies. Bone broth and collagen are easy to digest and contain amino acids which support a strong gut lining. As the gut heals and the immune system stabilizes, food sensitivities, which are common with autoimmunity, can improve.

Bone broth and collagen protein can be made at home or purchased in liquid or powdered form. My favorite brand of liquid premade bone broth is Kettle & Fire while my favorite powdered form is the True Immunity Organics multi-collagen protein. You can use the powdered form in smoothies and shakes to get more of these key nutrients, but should only be mixed with water during the fast.

Additional Ways To Treat Fatty Liver Disease

In addition to modifying your diet, here are a few other lifestyle changes you can make to improve your liver health:

Also Check: What Are The Early Signs Of Hepatitis C

What If I Have Extra Weight

Healthy eating and being active is important for everyone, regardless of body size or health. Reaching and maintaining your best weight can support liver health. For people with fatty liver disease, modest weight loss may help slow liver damage.

If you are concerned about your weight or a change in your weight, call 8-1-1 and ask to speak with a registered dietitian.

What Causes Autoimmune Diseases

Theres no definitive answer as to what causes autoimmune disease. But many scientists suspect the following three things play a role:

• And environmental factors including diet, toxins, and the balance of intestinal bacteria

In recent history, Westernized countries have seen significantly higher rates of these diseases suggesting that autoimmune diseases are not just a product of genetics or bad luck. Instead, the choices we make may strongly influence our chances of getting an autoimmune disease.

Lifestyle changes, particularly food choices, can play a key role in managing or even reversing many of these autoimmune diseases.

No established cures for autoimmune diseases exist.

But numerous studies have demonstrated that lifestyle changes, particularly food choices, can play a key role in managing or even reversing many of these autoimmune diseases.

Also Check: Where Does Hepatitis C Virus Come From

Exercise For A Healthy Liver

Aerobic exercise can actually cut the amount of fat in your liver. A heavy workout may also lower inflammation. Resistance or strength training exercises, like weight lifting, can also improve fatty liver disease. Aim for 30 to 60 minutes or more of mid- to high-level aerobic exercise on at least 5 days a week and mid- to high-level strength training 3 days a week.

Chinese Thunder God :

In remote areas of southern China, the Tripterygium wilfordii vine grows wild it has been used for 2000 years in traditional Chinese medicine.Clinical trials have found that TW is effective in treating autoimmune diseases including RA ankylosing spondylitis,and other types of arthritis.TW contains glycosides, which have immune-suppressing, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. This herb has been found to have a wide array of immunosuppressive chemical constituents which accounts for the many mechanisms of action that are effective against arthritis and inflammation. These include inhibiting the production of inflammatory cytokines, and blocking TNF-alpha, COX-2, and NFkB activities.

While the results are promising, the use of TW also entail side effects. Adverse reactions include skin rashes, dry mouth, poor appetite, menstrual disturbances in women and hormonal disturbances in men. Researchers have also found that TW causes a temporary reduction of sperm count and have begun to develop a male contraceptive drug from the plants active ingredients. Importantly, fertility is restored upon cessation of use. The side effects of TW are reduced when administered in combination with other Chinese herbs, or when the outer bark of the roots are extracted without the inner wood of the roots. Because of the possibility of serious side effects, TW should be used only under the care of a licensed health-care professional.

Also Check: What Are The Effects Of Hepatitis

Inflammation Reducing Smoothie Guide

Have you heard about the powerful new smoothie thats packed with anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and antioxidative superfoods?

This smoothie is a superhero when it comes to reducing inflammation throughout your body. Its loaded with ingredients that fight oxidative stress that can damage your DNA and cellular tissue.

One of these superhero smoothies a day is all it takes to help better control your blood sugar, improve circulation and digestion, and even help you sleep better at night.

These tasty, easy-to-make smoothies are carefully designed to help you gain a sharp, clear mind, better mobility, and robust health that restores your passion for life!

Genetics And Predisposing Factors

Autoimmune hepatitis is thought to result from an environmental trigger in a genetically predisposed individual, leading to loss of tolerance of T lymphocytes with subsequent hepatocyte attack.

It is a polygenic disease and does not follow a Mendelian distribution. Therefore there is no need to screen family members of patients with AIH. There is a strong genetic association with the alleles of the major histocompatibility complex class II. The presence of human leukocyte antigen genes HLA DRB1*03 and HLA DRB1*04 predisposes to AIH type 1 and affect the disease course and response to treatment. Individuals who are positive for HLA DRB1*03 are younger, respond less favorably to corticosteroid therapy, and progress more often to liver failure. On the other hand, the presence of HLA DRB1*04 is associated with higher rates of concomitant autoimmune disorders.

Autoimmune hepatitis can also be associated with autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy syndrome, an autosomal recessive disease characterized by hypoparathyroidism, adrenal insufficiency, and chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy candidiasis ectodermal dystrophy is the only AIH-associated disease that follows a Mendelian pattern of inheritance and genetic counseling should be offered for patients and family members.

Table 1: Drugs Associated With Drug-Induced Autoimmune-Like Hepatitis

You May Like: Hepatitis A And B Symptoms

Add Some Spice To Your Life

Certain spices are particularly beneficial when it comes to minimizing inflammation and boosting your bodys healthy immune response.

Super-flavorful options include ginger, cayenne pepper, cloves, garlic, cinnamon, and turmeric.

Turmeric, in particular, is a powerful anti-inflammatory.

A 2007 study in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology noted that curcumin has been shown to help with multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

According to the Journal of Alternative Medicine Review: Curcumin supplementation can result in up to a 60% reduction in pain and a 73% reduction in joint stiffness.

Autoimmune Hepatitis Causes And Risk Factors

Doctors aren’t sure exactly what causes your immune system to turn against your liver. Your genes may have something to do with it, since AIH can run in families.

But genes aren’t the whole story. Something you come into contact with may trigger your genes to set autoimmune hepatitis in motion. This could include:

• Medicines such as statins and hydralazine or antibiotics like nitrofurantoin and minocycline
• Infections such as viral hepatitis, herpes, Epstein-Barr, and measles

Read Also: What Is Hepatitis C Antibody

What Are The Current Treatment Options

Very mild cases or inactive phases of the disease may not require treatment. However, for more serious cases, treatment to fight acute episodes is important.

For many individuals, lifelong medication use may be required to keep the bodys autoimmune response under control and preserve liver health.

The two main medications used to treat autoimmune hepatitis are:

• prednisone: a corticosteroid
• azathioprine: an immunomodulator or steroid-sparing agent

Other medications may be added in severe cases. If medications are no longer effective and liver failure is likely, a liver transplant may be necessary.

If possible, your treatment should be supervised by a hepatologist, which is a physician who specializes in liver health.

What Is An Autoimmune Condition

Your immune system is your bodys defense mechanism. It is designed to protect you from disease and other potentially harmful foreign invaders. When functioning properly, the immune system identifies and destroys threats such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

An autoimmune condition occurs when the bodys immune system turns on its own cells and tissues. The immune system mistakenly identifies the healthy cells and tissues as foreign invaders and mounts an attack to destroy them. This can happen in almost any part of the body, including the brain, muscles, skin, and other organs.

Autoimmune conditions are usually chronic and may be life threatening. There are around 140 autoimmune diseases or diseases with an autoimmune basis. Millions of Americans suffer from one or more of these autoimmune conditions . Around 80% of people with autoimmune conditions are women.

Recommended Reading: Blood Donation Hepatitis B Antibodies

What Is Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is when your immune system — your body’s main defense against germs — attacks your liver cells. Your doctor may also call it autoimmune chronic hepatitis. Itâs a liver disease that you need to monitor for life.

There’s no cure for autoimmune hepatitis, but treatment can help you manage your symptoms and prevent damage to your liver.

Get Your Vitamins And Minerals

Make room in your diet for:

• Vitamin D. Low levels may play a role in more severe fatty liver disease. Your body makes vitamin D when you’re in the sun. You can also get it in some dairy products. Choose low-fat dairy items because they have less saturated fat.
• Potassium. Low levels may be linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease . Fish like cod, salmon, and sardines are good sources. It’s also in veggies including broccoli, peas, and sweet potatoes, and fruits such as bananas, kiwi, and apricots. Dairy foods, like milk and yogurt, are also high in potassium. Choose low-fat options.
• Betaine. It might protect your liver from fatty deposits, but research results are mixed. You can find it in wheat germ and shrimp.

Recommended Reading: How Do You Get Hepatitis

Fatty Liver Foods To Avoid

Steer clear of saturated fats, which lead to more fatty deposits in your liver. This includes:

• Poultry, except for lean white meat

• Liquid plant-based oils with monounsaturated fats, like olive or canola oil.

Scientists are studying supplements to see if they may be good for your liver:

• Goji berry , a plant often used in Chinese medicine, may slim your waist size. But we need more research to see if this is true.
• Resveratrol, which comes from the skin of red grapes, may help control inflammation. Conflicting studies suggest that how well it works depends on how much you take.
• Selenium is a mineral found in Brazil nuts, tuna, and oysters.
• Milk thistle. You might hear it called silymarin, which is the main component of its seeds. Results are mixed on whether it really works.
• Berberine, a plant used in Chinese medicine. In early studies, it does appear to help with cholesterol, liver function, and blood sugar control. But we need more research to see if it works.

Check with your doctor before you take any supplements. They could change how your medicines work, or they might cause other health problems. They may not be helpful if you don’t take the right amount in the right way.

What Is The Outlook For Someone With Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic disease, meaning you will have it for the rest of your life. With proper treatment, its possible to enjoy years of remission without symptoms and healthy liver function.

The Canadian Society of Intestinal Research suggests that people who respond well to treatment can expect to have a normal life expectancy.

Also, a 2020 study found that with proper immunosuppressant therapy, about 90 percent of the 86 people with autoimmune hepatitis in this study achieved complete remission.

Dont Miss: How Do I Know If I Have Hepatitis C

Recommended Reading: What Type Of Doctor Treats Hepatitis C