Avocados Tomatoes And Spinach
The avocado is rich in glutathione.This substance is present throughout the body, and its function is to protect cells against oxidation, and to detoxify our body from heavy metals. . Like tomatoes and spinach for example, it stimulates the production of liver and digestive enzymes as well as liver activity.
What Does Liver Detox Mean
The liver is one of the largest organs in the human body. It helps to remove toxins, wastes, and digest various nutrients and medicines. It has a huge potential for self-recovery. The so-called liver tox is not only unnecessary but also dangerous and can initiate liver damage in an otherwise normal liver.
Liver detox is a therapy/program that claims to remove or cleanse or flush toxins from your body. There is no evidence to prove its benefit.
The so-called liver detox program includes several steps that involve fasting, a restricted diet, or drinking certain juices or liquids for several days. It may suggest consumption of herbal or dietary supplements, diuretics, and laxatives improve your system.
Conventional Treatment Of Liver Disease
Which types of doctors treat liver disease? Depending on the condition being treated, a patient might work with a gastroenterologist, hepatologist , interventional radiologist, surgeon, infectious disease specialist and/or oncologist.
What are liver function blood tests that doctors use to make a diagnosis? If your doctor suspects you have a problem with your liver function, they may choose to do a physical exam and run a number of different tests, including: blood tests to check levels of liver enzymes, a complete blood cell count , hepatitis virus screen, blood clotting tests, tests to check levels of bilirubin, albumin and ammonia, ultrasound and CT scan.
Blood tests can reveal if the liver is inflamed and not properly making proteins, which are needed for blood clotting. A physical exam, ultrasound and CT scan are also performed to assess the anatomy and structure of the liver and surrounding tissues, in order to check for shrinking, swelling, edema, etc.
What is a liver biopsy? Is it painful? A liver biopsy is done to check for liver problems that cant always; be detected from other blood or imaging tests, and to determine the severity of damage. A liver biopsy involves inserting a;thin needle into the liver to retrieve a small bit of tissue that is examined under a microscope. The procedure is usually done with use of a local anesthetic so its not very painful.;Pain after a liver biopsy is usually only mild and goes away within a week or so.
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Caring For Your Kidneys
Here are several science-supported;methods for;caring for your kidneys and reducing your risk of kidney disease:
- Avoid smoking and excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine.
- Maintain normal blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
- Keep your cholesterol in check.
- Drink enough water and other fluids.
- Stay at a healthy weight.
Although there’s no evidence that a kidney flush can help prevent kidney stones, you may reduce your risk by getting enough fluids and cutting back on sodium.
People with a history of kidney stones may also want to avoid foods rich in oxalates, such as chocolate, okra, sweet potatoes, sesame seeds, greens, nuts, and spinach. Foods rich in purine content such as red meat should be moderated to reduce uric acid kidney stone risk.
Many types of kidney stones benefit from the addition of citrus to the diet or to water. There is some evidence suggesting that the herb Phyllanthus may help prevent the formation of kidney stones.
Despite claims to the contrary, research shows that a high intake of calcium through foods may decrease the risk of kidney stones, according to the National Kidney Foundation. However, taking calcium in supplement form may increase your risk.
Liver Disease Symptoms Signs And Types
Liver disease and liver failure is the result of so much scar tissue forming that the liver can no longer function. There are many different forms of liver disease and damage. According to the American Liver Foundation,;one out of every 10 Americans is affected by liver disease, making it one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States yearly. Globally, liver disease is a major cause of illness and death especially;viral hepatitis , nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease.
Some of the most common types of liver diseases include:
Not every person experiences symptoms of liver disease, especially in the early stages. As scarring of the liver and inflammation worsen, symptoms are more likely to become noticeable.
If youre suffering from liver disease, youre likely to experience at least some of these liver disease symptoms:
- abdominal pain Where do you get pain from the liver? Usually liver damage causes pain in the center or right upper part of the belly.;If the liver becomes enlarged and swollen, it will also extend across the abdomen and also down toward the belly.
- jaundice, or yellowing of the skin
The first signs of liver damage tend to be abdominal pain, digestive issues, loss of appetite and bloody stools. As liver damage and scarring progresses, symptoms can include edema, chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, changes in the skin and other issues.
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How Does Alcohol Affect The Liver
Alcohol is known to cause long-term impairment and damage to the liver, especially in those who use alcohol over a long period of time or drink large amounts. Alcohol damages the liver initially by accumulating fat in the liver. This stage is called alcoholic fatty liver disease. This condition leads to alcoholic hepatitis or inflammation and irritation in the liver. That inflammation causes irreversible scarring of the liver or cirrhosis. While fat accumulation and inflammation are reversible, the scarring they eventually cause is not. A scarred liver has irreparable liver damage with long-term health effects that may be fatal. If you are a chronic alcohol user, you should take steps to learn how to cleanse your liver from alcohol before damage has occurred.
Causes & Symptoms Of Alcoholic Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis can lead to several symptoms that can range from irritating to potentially deadly. The most serious of these symptoms are yellowing of the skin and eyes, increased bleeding and swelling.
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes: Increased yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes is a serious symptom of alcoholic cirrhosis. Jaundice indicates a malfunctioning liver, leading to a buildup of toxins that could eventually become deadly. Someone who experiences jaundice should seek emergency medical help.
- Increased bruising or bleeding: Increased bleeding occurs because the liver stops making enough of the components needed for blood clotting. It can also cause a person to bruise easier than they used to. This side effect is dangerous: even a minor source of bleeding can cause significant blood loss because the bleeding cannot be stopped easily. If you notice that you have increased bleeding, you should seek medical help as soon as possible.
- Swelling in the abdomen, feet, legs or ankles: The last important symptom of alcoholic cirrhosis is swelling, especially within the abdomen. This swelling, also called ascites, occurs when the liver no longer makes proteins that keep water within the veins. This indicates that the liver is not functioning as it should. The buildup of fluid in the abdomen can lead to serious health problems.
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What Does The Liver Do
The liver is involved in hormones, digestion, and detox. It takes harmful substances found in your blood and deposits them into bile. Then the bile is released for digestion, and the harmful toxins get swept out with your stools.
Its also involved in breaking down old red blood cells. But thats only the tip of the iceberg. Science has discovered that this amazing organ is involved in over 500 critical functions. Specific;genes are expressed solely in the liver and not in any other organs.
Fun;fact: The liver is the only major organ that can regenerate. In fact, over two-thirds of a healthy liver can be removed and it will regenerate!
As astonishing as these organs are, they still need help to function at their highest capacity. Toxins you are exposed to daily make these organs sluggish in their tasks. You need to make sure they are draining correctly.
Lets explore the herbs that help your liver and kidneys detox:
Healing The Liver From Cirrhosis Fatty Liver Alcoholic Hepatitis And Other Liver Diseases
When talking about the livers ability to heal itself, people are always in a big hurry to know how long it will take. This is understandable, of course. But it is difficult if not impossible to answer this question.
Everybodys body is different. The progression and type of liver disease, a persons age, weight, and overall health are all contributing factors when it comes to how long it takes the liver to repair itself from an alcohol-related liver disease.
The liver is constantly in a state of regeneration. The moment it stops processing alcohol, it begins the process of healing itself. This process could take as few as four weeks or as long as several years. It really all depends on the health of the individual person.
This might seem like a frustrating answer, but its an honest one. To be sure, you cannot heal your liver overnight. You have to implement some new health practices over time and work with your doctor to measure your liver enzymes to measure the upward progression of your livers health.
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Weight And Fluid Balance
It is a sad fact for many middle-aged people that weight gain is suddenly too easy, and not necessarily in proportion to the number of calories ingested. The middle age spread advances in spite of salads, protein shakes, and yoga, and one piece of cake will seemingly cause you to gain a full waist size. Again, you can blame the waning kidney fire, especially if youve doused it; with a lifetime of hard living, bad food, and stress. This condition corresponds closely to the adrenal fatigue and insulin resistance of naturopathic fame, and while the treatment is often complex and multifaceted, some measure of kidney and spleen tonics always play a part in re-igniting the fluid and food transformation that will keep the weight down.
Astragalus root Huang Qi is primary here. While it is not traditionally a kidney tonic, it is used in modern times to treat many kidney diseases, and to regulate weight and fluid balance in the body. By turning up the heat a little on the digestive and kidney fires, it can make the metabolism more efficient. For this purpose, it is combined with many other categories of herbs, such as diuretics, digestives, and liver support herbs.
Liver Fibrosis The Beginning Of Irreversible Damage
Just like the skin, serious or repetitive damage to the liver cells can cause scarring. And also like how normal scars tend to;look;different from the rest of the skin, scarred liver cells just dont function the way that theyre supposed to.
In fact, these cells cannot self-repair like the rest of the organ or even function at all. Theyre merely cellular bandages meant to hold the liver together.
This scarring of the liver is known as;liver fibrosis. A small amount of fibrosis likely wont impact the livers function;too much.;And in fact, most early fibrosis wont have any physical symptoms at all.
But over time, this fibrosis can start adding up. And eventually, it can cause more serious problems like cirrhosis.
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What Does The Liver Do Anyway
To give you a brief lesson in biology, the liver is a large organ in the digestive system. It weighs about three pounds. Its number one function is to filter blood coming from your digestive tract before that blood flows to the rest of your body.
The liver works to detoxify chemicals that pass through the body. It metabolizes drugs and alcohol. It also secretes an enzyme called bile, which aids the body in digestion. Additionally, the liver produces protein, which is vital to the clotting of your blood.
When this organ is not healthy, your body cannot function properly. It is essential to your health and well-being. When your liver does not effectively rid the body of toxins and assist with the process of digestion, a host of really nasty health problems inevitably come about.
Improving Your Kidney Function Can Be Simple
So you see for many, improving kidney function doesnt need to be difficult. In most cases, simply by stepping to the side and getting out of your own way, checking your thoughts, fears, and excuses at the door, you can catalyse massive changes in your health, by simply allowing the healing to take place.
Rubbing Lanterns Wont Help Improve Your Kidney Function, But Heres What Can
Now stay with me I am not saying that that you can cure all by thinking just happy thoughts, wishing, and getting out of the way, no definitely not. There are many practical things you can do every day, with little to no fuss that are very effective in helping increase kidney function. Very helpful indeed.
Note: thinking positive however sure wont hurt, in fact it will go a long way; your mindset is the single biggest determining factor on how quickly you heal.
So in tune with todays theme of simplicity, I would like to share with you 10 effortless tips that can be applied immediately to help your kidney function, no need to leave home, and no need to spend a dime.
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Here Is Our List Of The Top Eight Super
1. TeaTea is widely considered to be beneficial for health, but evidence has shown that it may have benefits for the liver. A study based in Japan found that drinking 5-10 cups of green tea a day was associated with improved blood markers of liver health. This may be down to a compound known to assist liver function named catechin. Green tea is packed full of this plant antioxidant. Just be mindful of green tea extract as it can have a negative effect.
2. Cruciferous VegetablesThis includes, but is not limited to, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage and kale. These vegetables are a major source of glutathione, which triggers the toxin cleansing enzymes of the liver. Eating cruciferous vegetables will increase production of glucosinolate in your system, which helps flush out carcinogens and other toxins.
3. Turmeric;In addition to its use as a spice and pigment, turmeric has been used in India for medicinal purposes for centuries. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, and it has powerful biological properties. This spice helps the enzymes that flush out toxins and contains antioxidants that repair liver cells. It also assists the liver in detoxing metals, while boosting bile production.
7. WalnutsWalnuts are a good source of glutathione, omega-3 fatty acids, and the amino acid arginine, which supports normal liver cleansing actions, especially when detoxifying ammonia.
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Want to learn how to take better care of your liver?
Reviewed by: Asha Hira/ BPharm
Watch Your Blood Pressure
Have your blood pressure checked regularly. High blood pressure has no symptoms, but it can increase your risk of kidney and heart problems.
You can get a simple, quick and painless blood pressure check free of charge at your GP surgery and many high street pharmacies.
If your blood pressure is higher than it should be, a GP can suggest lifestyle changes or, if necessary, prescribe medicine to reduce your blood pressure.
An ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.
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Years Of Alcohol Abuse Could Result In Fatty Liver Disease
Fatty liver is a common liver disease. As the name implies, this condition develops when too much fat builds up in the liver. When the organ stores five to ten percent of its weight in fat, it is considered a;fatty liver.
Fatty liver affects up to twenty percent of the U.S. population, mostly targeting people between the ages of 40 and 60.
Although many nondrinkers develop the condition, the most common cause for fatty liver is alcoholism.;Thats because as continued alcohol consumption makes it harder for the liver to function, it becomes less able to break down fats in the blood. And as a result, this fat tends to actually accumulate on the liver itself.
Its normal to have some fat on the liver. And in fact, most healthy people have at least some fat on this vital organ. Most people who have;fatty liver disease;dont even experience any symptoms. And those that do may feel tired or have discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen.
But when too much accumulates, it can mean that theres a serious problem.;One study;showed that people with fatty liver disease were at a higher risk of cancer and had an increased mortality rate than other patients.
And most importantly,;alcoholic fatty liver;is usually a precursor to cirrhosis.
The Good And Bad News When It Comes To Healing Your Liver
The liver is quite magical really. We destroy it with drunken binges. Then, we get our act together and make better choices, and shazam! We can bring healing to our poor, tired, overworked liver.
That being said, please keep in mind that some liver damage is irreversible. Many people wait until it is too late before they focus on repairing their liver. Long-term effects of drug and alcohol abuse, liver diseases, and untreated conditions like Hepatitis C can leave our liver in a perpetually damaged state.
This does not mean you cannot start making better choices today and live a long and healthy life even if your liver is a little under the weather. Doing the next right thing in terms of taking care of your physical body goes a long way when it comes to health and wellness.
Yes, your liver can heal itself but you are going to have to help.
Remember, to help repair your liver from years of drinking alcohol, follow the four simple suggestions offered in this article: drink water, get plenty of exercise, dont drink alcohol, and eat a liver-friendly diet.
Do you have experience with healing your own liver? What health tips can you share?
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