I have been on Atkins for quite a long time until recently, and it really did miracles! Two weeks ago, however, I was diagnosed with hepatitis A and had to stay for a week in the hospital. The diet there was surely not a low-carb one. Even though my doctor says that the only dietary restriction for me now is alcohol, I still hear a lot of comments from my parents (they are doctors, but live in another country) that I have to watch my diet now. They suggest that I should eat non-fat foods, more vegetables, fruit and bread. So, I have concerns if I actually can follow Atkin's diet now, after being sick with hepatitis A. Will such a diet have negative effects on my liver or not? I also feel that eating high-fat foods will be tough for me, even though I read before that high-fat foods consumption is very important for a low-carb diet. Anyway, I am very confused about what I should eat now... I also notice that I start gaining weight with normal diet now and it really upsets me... I want to go back to Atkin's, but I am very anxious about it at the same time... Please, help me!!!

I thought HepA was something you got over, not something that lingered forever like HepC? Don't know the physiology of it. If you can't find a sympathetic nuitritionist who understands, you might have to really learn your way around the disease and see what its long-term effects are.

Makes sense that you would gain on a high-carb diet.

Thanks, cs_carver, for your reply. Normally, people get over Hepatitis A in a couple of months, and it is certainly less harmful than Hepatitis C or B. The problem is that I live in Belgium at the moment and finding "a sympathetic nutritionist" might be extremely tough. Many Europeans are just not keen on the idea of low-carbing... So, I wonder now what effects a low-carb diet has on the liver... I really can't go with eating all the high-carb foods... I just don't get satiated with them and keep craving for more... And gain weight... I've never had this craving problem with the Atkin's diet before...

I'm at home this morning with my reference books.

Dr. Atkins Vita-Nutrient Solution does not call out Hep. by name. He recommends choline/lecithin as an aid to processing fats in the liver; niacin as a general supplement; glutamine for treatment of cirrhosis, SAM and methionine for general liver failure including hepatitis.

Michael Murray's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine does address hepatitis, and recommends massive vitamin C (40-100 g; do not try this lightly and you have to step up gradually, also step down because you can induce scurvy with sudden changes in Vitamin C levels). He also suggests liver extracts, silymarin, licorice extract (be careful, can raise blood pressure and interfere with other meds) and phyllanthus amarus, which I've never heard of.

My MD sells me a liver detox blend which contains cysteine, glycine, methionine, phenylalanine, glutamine, glutathione, carnitine, and a few others. I live in an area with one of the highest levels of formaldehyde in the US, and I've had allergies since I moved here. This was the first year I didn't need meds to get through pollen season, and I credit the detox formula.

All of that said: I am not a medical professional and I know nothing about hepatitis except it's a bad thing. Both of the books are available from amazon. I didn't look into their bibliographies.

Good luck.

Thank you, Cs Carver! I greatly appreciate your help! I had an appointment with my doctor this morning and aksed her about eating high-fat, low-carb after Hep. A. She said it would be OK, as long as I don't consume alcohol or take certain medications. She also looked at the results of my blood tests and said that they are back to normal... So, I think that hepatitis A is not such a bad thing, certainly not as bad as hep. B or C. Those can become chronic and even cause liver cancer or cirrhosis, according to her and some information I read on the net. So, I guess tomorrow will be my first day of induction! Thanks again for your advice!

hey all. i had hep b years prior to my starting low carb and i have not had any problems with lc.

You know, one thing that i have noticed about myself. I cannot drink a glass of wine without feeling it. Regardless if I have had something to eat or not ( a full stomach once negated its affects ).

Hello jedswife!

Could you please tell me if your hepatitis was/is chronic or not? I am not quite sure if this is something you have permanently or not. Thanks