Miss Desa's blog: "The Disease No One Is Talking About"

Is Drinking Coffee Really an Advantage for Hepatitis C?
December 22, 2009
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For people with a chronic health concern, claims of coffee's benefits and dangers have essentially canceled each other out. However, new research on coffee and Hepatitis C tips the scale for those with this illness.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Besides water, coffee is the world's most popular beverage. While at least half of Americans drink one cup or more per day, we are still uncertain if drinking coffee is a boon or peril to our health. Since the liver must process everything we eat or drink, those with advanced liver disease from chronic Hepatitis C are especially wary of any type of habitual consumption. However, new research demonstrates that those with chronic Hepatitis C have a lot to gain from a several cup per day coffee habit.

The Bitter Beverage
When a cup of black, relatively strong coffee is consumed, there is no doubt that bitterness dominates its flavor profile. Even though many people don't care for bitterness overwhelming their palate, the chemical compounds responsible for a bitter flavor are often beneficial to the liver. Bitter substances are known to aid a liver with chronic Hepatitis C, because they help keep the gallbladder and liver free from unnecessary obstruction by:

· Stimulating the gallbladder to release bile for fat digestion
· Stimulating detoxification activity in the liver

Thus, many liver supportive foods, medications and herbs are bitter. Chemists in Germany and the U.S. believe they have identified the chemicals that are largely responsible for coffee's bitterness. In their collaborative study, researchers found that two main classes of compounds produced during the roasting process, chlorogenic acid lactones and phenylindanes are responsible for coffee's bitterness. Both compounds are antioxidants and are not present in green, unroasted coffee beans.

New Research
Over the past several years, population studies have demonstrated that high levels of coffee consumption are associated with a decreased incidence of liver disease. However, the recipients of coffee's benefits now specifically include those with Hepatitis C.

Research released by Neal Freedman and colleagues from the National Cancer Institute examined the relationship between coffee consumption and liver disease progression in those with Hepatitis C. In 766 individuals who had Hepatitis C-related bridging fibrosis or cirrhosis (as determined by liver biopsy), and who did not respond to antiviral therapy, the following was found:

· Compared with non-coffee drinkers, people who drank more coffee had significantly healthier livers as seen by several standard liver tests.

· Study participants who drank three or more cups of coffee per day had up to a 53 percent reduction in risk for liver disease progression.

· The liver protective effect exerted by daily coffee consumption was reduced as the number of cups per day decreased.

According to Freedman, "Given the large number of people affected by HCV (Hepatitis C), it is important to identify modifiable risk factors associated with the progression of liver disease. Although we cannot rule out a possible role for other factors that go along with drinking coffee, results from our study suggest that patients with high coffee intake had a lower risk of disease progression."

Cause for Coffee Caution
Based on Freedman's research, it might seem logical for those with Hepatitis C to double their coffee intake. However, coffee does have some caveats that are worth reviewing first:

· Caffeine, coffee's main ingredient, is a mildly addictive stimulant with cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure and occasional irregular heartbeat.

· Coffee is believed to aggravate previously existing gastritis or gastrointestinal ulcers.

· The caffeine in coffee can cause nervousness, rapid heartbeat, palpitations, sleeplessness and irritability.

· While not considered a significant risk factor for osteoporosis, high doses of coffee can impair calcium absorption, which weakens bone strength.

Besides the possible side effects listed above, the greater risk of coffee consumption lies with the ingredients typically added to it. To reduce coffee's bitterness, creating a light and sweet drink carries an entirely separate set of hazards. Because they add calories, fat and/or manmade chemicals, whipped cream, flavored syrups, half-and-half, sugar, sucralose and aspartame all contribute to health conditions that will worsen Hepatitis C.

Individuals with Hepatitis C have become accustomed to learning what they should avoid because it can damage their liver. Thus, it is a welcome change for Hepatitis C sufferers to discover that multiple, daily cups of coffee can actually prevent liver disease progression. Besides the health conditions that could be aggravated by coffee and the additives that reduce its bitterness, a majority of people with Hepatitis C have every reason to indulge in their favorite hot morning beverage.


References:

http://www.ehow.com/about_4572236_how-many-americans-drink-coffee.html, How Many Americans Drink Coffee?, Shelley Moore, Retrieved October 31, 2009, eHow, Inc., 2009.

http://www.haltctrial.org/overview.html, HALT-C Overview, Retrieved October 30, 2009, National Institutes of Health, 2009.

http://www.highlighthealth.com/food-and-nutrition/bitter-coffee-better-health/, Bitter Coffee, Better Health, Walter Jessen, Retrieved October 30, 2009, Highlihght Health, 2009.

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/102309_a.html, Coffee Slows Progression of Liver Disease in Hepatitis C Patients with Advanced Fibrosis or Cirrhosis, Retrieved October 30, 2009, hivandhepatitis.com, October 2009.

http://www.liversupport.com/wordpress/2006/06/coffees-liver-benefits/, Coffee's Liver Benefits, Nicole Cutler, L.Ac., Retrieved October 30, 2009, Natural Wellness, 2009.

http://www.prodigalgardens.info/bitter%20herbs.htm, Bitter Herbs, Retrieved October 30, 2009, Prodigal Gardens, 2009.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122511224/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0, Coffee intake is associated with lower rates of liver disease progression in chronic hepatitis C, Neal D. Freeman, et al, Retrieved October 30, 2009, Hepatology, July 2009.

A Basic Diet for Hepatitis
by Ramona L. Jones, C.N.C.

From Nature's Response

Foods to AVOID

Animal products - Animal products should be avoided for several reasons. First of all when you consume animal products you consume what that particular animal has consumed. If it was fed with grains that have been chemically sprayed you also are eating those chemicals. Then there are the injections, growth hormones, antibiotics, steroids, etc. If the product is in the form of meat, then you have just added stress to the digestive process, stressing the liver, gall bladder, pancreas. Meat is one of the hardest foods to digest. It can sit in the stomach for 5-7 days and ferment, causing flu like symptoms, gas, bloating, and even more stress.

Caffeine, including colas, chocolate, coffee, some teas, OTC meds. A good substitute for coffee is Raja's Cup, an antioxidant herbal tea. Caffeine of course is a stimulant. Stimulating the liver can cause stress to the liver. If you are in the habit of drinking caffeinated beverages you need to eliminate them slowly as they are addicting. If you stop too suddenly you can have withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, nausea, irriratability, and weak shakes. .

Tap water - drink distilled water only. No filtered water. Your tap water may contain more than you bargained for, including chlorine, fluoride, inorganic chemicals and compounds that the liver is not able to process. Filtered water is of course better than tap water but filters breed bacteria. In order to reduce the stress from the liver you need to give it the purest form of water possible which is distilled water. Even the shower you take every day has toxins in it which are absorbed through the skin and inhaled through the lungs. If you can possibly purchase a water filter you would be doing yourself a great favor.

Junk foods - Junk foods are our favorite foods but the name fits, Junk is junk, meaning worthless. Our body does not get a good source of nutrition from junk foods and most often they are full of all the things we need to stay away from, fats, sugars, empty calories, chemicals, additivities, etc. Our poor livers don't need this added stress

White flour unless it is organic and unbleached - Bleached white flour has been chemically processed. Lots of vitamins and minerals are lost during the process, about 78%. When we consume this chemically altered product our bodies need extra vitamins and minerals in order to process it and utilize it. Isn't this the opposite of what we want? We want to eat foods that will nourish the body, not make it work harder.

Hydrogenated oils - Hydrogenated (they are refined) oils are another product that is hard for the liver to handle. Any type of oil or fat that hardens when cold. A better choice would be flaxseed oil or virgin olive oil.

Dairy products (animal) - Dairy foods are extremely hard to digest and again you are eating whatever the animal ate. Yogurt is not considered a dairy product but be sure to read the labels as the commercial brands are usually high in sugar content. A yogurt maker is a great investment.

Fruit juices - Fruit juices are high in concentrated sugar. Sugar is a shock to the liver, stresses the digestive process, stresses the pancreas, and it feeds the virus.

Artificial sweeteners (use liquid stevia instead) - The first word gives you the first clue, artificial. These sweeteners are extremely hard for the liver to process. Your poor liver doesn't even recognize what this substance is. .

Processed foods - we all know processed foods contain unnatural substances, preservatives, fillers, and chemically treated substances. Common sense tells us this is not healthy for us.

Remember our goal, to take as much stress and strain off the liver as we can.

Changing your diet is probably one of the hardest things to achieve. Not only are we cursed with this virus but we have probably unknowingly addicted ourselves to the wrong foods. I say addicted because most of us tend to eat when we feel depressed, down, bad, tired angry, or when we have insomnia. Before I was diagnosed with Hep C I had been experiencing symptoms for 6 years. I know that many times when I felt just plain rotten I would eat something thinking that it would make me feel better. The majority of the time we tend to eat for all of the wrong reasons but mainly we are reaching out for something to make us feel better. Little did we know that we were only making ourselves feel worse. But the habit was started and now we are going to break it. Any one who is serious about taking care of themselves has got to know it starts right here,with the diet. So let's do it...

Start with one step at a time. NEVER try to change your eating habits overnight. You will throw your body into shock! This means that your body has become accustom to receiving any type of food at any time and to bring this to a sudden halt will cause havoc, not only physically but mentally. Caffeine and sugar are the main culprits, giving us that "high" feeling and quick energy. If you were to completely stop feeding your body sugar and caffeine your body would most likely have withdrawal symptoms, as I mentioned before, causing you to have the shakes, nausea, a wonderful PMS feeling, being grouchy, irritable, etc. I don't know about you guys but where I live that's grounds for divorce. So you start with changing a few foods at a time, a little at a time. Take one day and write down everything you eat. You would probably be surprised to see you just consumed half of the Hershey factory.

Foods you CAN eat!

Whole wheat bread
Whole grain cereals
Cheerios!
Malt O Meal
Oatmeal
Cream of Wheat
Brown rice
Vegetables, (potatoes in moderation)
Beans, all kinds
Refried beans, (cook a small pot of pinto beans and put in blender when done and cool)
Lots of vegetable juices, freshly juiced by you
Fresh fruit in moderation (2-3 pieces per day)
Better Than Milk - a soy product. (White Wave is also good)
Soy-Sation Chedder Cheese by Lisanatti.
It's certified organic soybeans, and yes, it does taste like cheese and it even melts. Miracles never cease! It's certified organic soybeans, and yes, it does taste like cheese and it even melts. Miracles never cease! (To find a store in your area or to order direct call 503-652-1988)
Corn tortillas - love those tacos! make your own chips too, just bake in the over till crisp,
Organic flour tortillas made with unbleached white or whole wheat flour
Salsa - if it doesn't bother you, go for it and you do not have liver damage go for it
Canned tuna in small amounts
Organic whole wheat pasta or semolina pasta (available at most grocery stores)
Spices and herbs
Herbal teas, iced or hot
Organic unbleached flour (white) in moderation
Lemonade made with fresh lemons and stevia for sweetening
Organic Virgin Olive Oil
Flaxseed Oil
Homemade Vegetable Soup
Baked chips
Nayonaise instead of mayonnaise
Yogurt - Do not eat yogurt if you are taking Hepatico

Okay, those are some of the foods you can eat. Now let's get a little creative here and slap a few of those together.

Here are just a few dishes you can make using healthy foods.

Spaghetti - with or without a meat substitute
Macaroni and Cheese - use the Soy-Sation or a tofu cheese
Tacos - using a meat substitute and lots of seasoning
Toastados
Enchiladas
Hamburgers - there are lots of meat substitutes at the health food store. I use one called Gimme Lean. There are also recipes for grain burgers that are pretty good.
Hot dogs - tofu hot dogs
Chili Beans
Tuna Salad
Chicken Salad - made from canned chicken
Puddings - sweetened with liquid Stevia, using Better Than Milk
Cake - in moderation using unbleached flours. Eat desserts in moderation.
Distilled water with a little lemon or lime juice and liquid stevia makes a great drink and NO CALORIES.
Whole wheat waffles or pancakes - top with a fruit puree sweetened with liquid stevia
Ultimate Meal- this is a great healthy drink. I add a banana and 1/2 cup unsweetened apple juice.
Pizza! - whole wheat crust and vegetarian and Cheese
Homemade yogurt with or without fruit-sweeten it with liquid stevia.
Baked potatoes topped with cheese, or a vegetable or both.

These are only a few ideas. I have plenty more in my cookbook. If you are interested in the cookbook you can order it by calling 1-800-216-5195.

So you see, there are more foods to eat than you thought. You can take almost any recipe and convert it into a healthy dish simply by using healthy foods.

Now here are a few tips for you regarding your eating habits.

Eat 4 small meals per day. Never eat a large meal at one time.
Do not eat for 5 hours before bedtime.
Try new foods, you may just like them by accident.
Drink lots of distilled water throughout the day and pop a Vitamin C ever so often.
Take an Digestive Aid (1 or 2) with each meal. ( I suggest Di-Acid Stim by Atrium Nutrition)
Eat slowly and eat alone if and whenever possible and not in front of the TV.

Prepare your foods ahead of time whenever possible so they are ready when you are. I prepare soups, beans, chili beans, etc and freeze them in microwave containers, then just pop'em in.

Salt - if you do not have a problem with retaining fluids and you do not have high blood pressure then a little added salt is fine. You can tell if you are retaining fluids by pressing on your shin bone. Press and hold for 5 seconds, if it's indented after releasing pressure you are retaining fluids and should reduce your salt intake.

Chew, chew, chew, chew, chew. The digestive process starts in the mouth. The chewing actions begins the release of digestive juices. Chew, chew, chew, chew.
Are you finished chewing? Great... Do not eat and then go lay down. If you feel tired you probably ate too much or the wrong foods. (Or you could have Hepatitis C)...

Do not eat when you are angry, frustrated, or bored. Instead go take a walk and talk to yourself. This is a great way to relieve your stress and stress out the neighbors.

If you need help in any way with changing your diet you can always call me at 1-405-878-6644 or email me at TeaLady1@aol.com. Just remember to make your changes sloooowly but surely. It took you years to learn those bad habits and it will take time to break them. And just for the record it took me almost two years but I am a slow learner. Of course the BBQ restaurant that I used to own didn't help matters.

Tips for Those with Cirrhosis

Here are some tips concerning the diet for those who have cirrhosis. The majority of the diet is the same but there are a few differences that I feel are important.

1. Do not eat raw vegetables but steam them instead. These include carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, or any "hard to chew" vegetables. Juicing is preferred.
2. Avoid meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy foods, fried foods, fatty foods, salty foods, coffee, and caffeine
3. Suggested fresh juices:
Carrot, beet, and cucumber
Carrot and spinach
Carrot, celery, parsley
4. Take 2-3 plums with pits and crush them. Add one cup of boiling water, mix and obtain the juice. Drink in the morning and the evening
5. Cook soybean sprouts and adzuki beans (1/2 and 1/2 in amounts), cook into a light soup and eat.
6. Add lecithin to foods and take as a supplement, up to 1500 mg. per day
7. Take 800 mg. of vitamin E per day in dry form. If you have not taken Vitamin E before start with a lower dosage (200 mg per day) and slowly increase.
8. Good foods to eat are broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, onions, garlic, legumes (beans, lentils) , cabbage, peppers (mild), whole grains, artichokes, beets, dandelion and herbs such as cinnamon, licorice and turmeric
9. Do not take Vitamin C with meals as it enhances the absorption of iron. Take at least 1-2 hours after eating.


Eat healthy and live longer!!!
Proper diet is a must for all of us.

...

Avoid Smoking and Drinking if You Have Hepatitis C

By Jill Cadman
2002

About four million people in the U.S. have the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV can cause an infection of the liver that is usually spread through blood contact with an infected person. Many HIV-positive people are also infected with HCV. If not treated, hepatitis can cause cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. This can lead to severe sickness or even death.

A new study has found that people with HCV should avoid smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol because both habits can further damage their livers. The study used levels of the liver enzyme ALT to check for liver damage. (Higher ALT levels can be a warning sign of liver damage.)

The researchers found that drinking alcohol and smoking more or less doubled the risk of having high ALT levels. People who smoked a pack or more of cigarettes each day and frequently drank alcohol had a risk of elevated ALT levels that was seven times higher than for those who did not drink or smoke.
The researchers who conducted the study stated that people who have HCV "are strongly advised not to smoke and drink alcohol to reduce the possible risk for aggravating (their) liver dysfunction."

A person with HIV and HCV can become very sick. The added strain that HCV puts on the immune system makes it even harder for the body to fight diseases and infections. If you have HIV and HCV, you need to get regular medical attention for both conditions. You can also help take care of your body by avoiding habits, such as smoking and drinking, that can make you worse.
The study reported in this article appeared in the April 8, 2002 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

...

Hepatitis C: The disease no one's talking about

Hepatitis C: The disease no one's talking about
http://www.statesmanjournal.com
ALAN GUSTAFSON
The Statesman Journal

The disease is a 'silent epidemic' that is getting little public attention,
state official says

Ann Shindo takes to task the federal government for failing to confront
hepatitis C in Oregon and across the country.

"Remember when Reagan didn't say AIDS? That's where we are with hep C," said
Shindo, the coordinator of viral hepatitis prevention for the Oregon

Department of Human Services. "It's (like) 1988, pal, and no one's talking about hep
C.

"We have four times as many people nationwide living with hep C as HIV (the
virus that causes AIDS) and we have no federal funds and state funds to
address this epidemic."

The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that
nearly 2 percent of all Americans, more than 4 million people, are infected with
hepatitis C. It kills about 10,000 people per year. Each year, there are
anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 new infections, according to the federal agency.

Often called the "silent epidemic," hepatitis C can hibernate in the liver
for decades, often taking 20 to 30 years before symptoms surface.

Shindo said an estimated 65,000 Oregonians have hepatitis C, and most of
them do not know they are carrying it. For some, it's a devastating, potentially
lethal time bomb.

"The reality is, someone may be clean and sober for 25 years, then find out
they have hep C, and it dramatically changes their life," Shindo said.
"That's a very common story. It can detrimentally impact peoples' lives to the
point of losing their jobs, losing their homes, and becoming homeless."

Hepatitis C is spread mainly by exposure to infected blood. The most common
way it's transmitted is by the sharing of needles by drug users, which
accounts for nearly 70 percent of new infections.

There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. The virus wasn't identified until 1989,
and testing wasn't available until 1992.

For unknown reasons, the majority of people with hepatitis C won't develop
severe symptoms or need treatment. But about one in five among the chronically
infected will develop life-threatening complications, such as cancer,
cirrhosis and liver failure.

Hepatitis C is the leading cause of liver transplants in the U.S. Of the
18,000 Americans waiting for a transplant, an estimated 40 percent to 60 percent
have hepatitis C.

Further complicating matters is the "tricky business" of treatment, Shindo
said. Antiviral medication for hepatitis C is expensive, often causes severe
side effects, and fails to eradicate the virus in about half of all patients.

Treatment generally is not recommended for those without liver damage. But
regular monitoring is seen as crucial for everyone with hepatitis C.

Educating a poorly informed public about the harsh realities of hepatitis C
poses an uphill fight, Shindo and other activists say.

"It's a highly stigmatized disease," Shindo said. "People believe, 'Oh, it's
just drug injection drug users who get it.' "

In Oregon City, a nonprofit advocacy organization called the Hepatitis C
Caring Ambassadors Program is trying to pump up the volume about the "silent
epidemic."

As it stands now, Lorren Sandt, the program director, said "most people
don't know what hepatitis C is because there's a lack of education and awareness.
Also, there's a shortage of testing that is available within the public
health departments."

Shindo holds the news media partly to blame for widespread lack of
know-ledge about hepatitis C.

"I think there's a lot of mythology and just cluelessness around this
epidemic nationwide," she said, "and part of the reason for that is there's been a
lack of media coverage and a lack of funding for folks like me to get out
there and address all the high-risk folks that need to be addressed."

Shindo's job is funded by the CDC, which pays for hepatitis C coordinators
in nearly all 50 states. However, states only get enough funding to cover the
cost of the coordinator's salary, leaving most coordinators with little or no
budget for programs and services, such as testing and education.

"I'm the program," Shindo said. "We have no federal or state funding for
hepatitis C screening or education. We can't even afford billboards to put up
the information regarding who should be screened."

agustafs@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6709