It s been long known about the numerous health benefits of beetroot. Surprisingly though, beetroot has some not-so-known qualities such as increasing stamina, removing skin blemishes and increasing the glow of the face. Apart from this, it can fetch benefits to the skin, hair and the overall health. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of beetroot consumption in vivid detail.

Reduces the impact of aging: Beetroot being a great antioxidant successfully blocks free radicals and helps to fight the symptoms of aging. All it requires is a medium slice beetroot. The juice should be extracted from it and the pulp needs to be removed. The juice then could be applied to the face using cotton balls. Applying this simple solution once in a week can fetch dramatic results.
Reduces blemish and pigmentation: Beetroot is one of the few vegetables that have a large amount of vitamin C embedded in it. It helps the skin to retain its original color, reduces blemishes and pigmentation. 3-4 cubes of beetroot serving twice a week should do the trick.
Hair loss: Beetroot is a great source of food to stay away from hair loss. Being a good source of potassium, beetroot can prevent hair loss and enhance hair growth. A weekly serving of 3-4 cube of beetroot over a span of few months will show visible results.
Improves liver function: Beetroot contains glutathione that is known to be a great agent for the liver. It acts as a detox diet and helps in functioning of the liver. This liver, in turn, helps the body to detox. Beetroot also helps in the regeneration of cells of the liver.
Boost hemoglobin: Beetroot is an excellent source of iron and folate. These are the nutrients that are required for the body to maintain an adequate amount of hemoglobin in the body. A deficiency in the hemoglobin level can lead to anemia. Regular consumption of beetroot can ensure that a person refrains from deadly diseases such as anemia.
Fight inflammation: Some typical symptoms of inflammation include infection, trauma etc. This is a sign of the immune system not acting efficiently against sudden panic. Some typical symptoms include pain, redness, swelling etc. Beetroot in known to have a super-efficient anti-inflammatory response. Injection of beetroot is often suggested by medical practitioners.
Cancer prevention: Beetroot can elevate the level of oxygen in the blood. Since cancer cells are acidic in nature, beetroot can successfully neutralize them due to its alkaline nature. Owing to this anti-cancer properties, oncologists often suggests the intake of beetroot juice on a regular basis to patients suffering from liver, rectal, colon and various other types of cancer. 2 glasses of beetroot juice are often recommended for cancer patients.

Beetroot (Chukundar) - 7 Reasons Why You Must Eat Them!

Sugar is the trigger to most of the diseases an adult faces in present times. Sugar is not only harmful for adults, but can pose severe threats to the health of a child as well, if not administered in monitored proportions. But again, sugar is indispensable when it comes to sweetening your drinks and desserts. In order to prevent yourself from the health hazards of sugar, you should know more about its scope and effects.
1. Sugar can lead to a fatty liver: Fatty liver is a troubling issue faced by many across the globe. It is wrong to think only alcoholics are subjected to this health condition. People who exercise little and consume huge amounts of fructose are also exposed to the threat of this disease. When a person doesn't do enough to burn up the existing amount of glycogen in his or her liver and take in fructose repeatedly, the liver turns that fructose into fat, impairing one's liver capabilities to a great extent.

2. Sugar may make you resistant to Leptin: Leptin is a hormone released by your fat cells. The hormone is particularly necessary as it sends signals to your brain telling it you are full and won't be requiring any more food. Fat people have more number of fat cells and thus additional Leptin too. The Leptin becomes inactive due to the effects of heightened blood triglycerides and insulin, both of which counter its functioning.

3. It is addictive and there lies the key to temptation: Sugar is enormously addictive. If you like sweetened products, you will find it hard to resist your cravings for cakes, cookies or chocolates. Sugar accelerates dopamine secretion; this hormone makes a person feel good. Dopamine is the hormone released on the consumption of drugs such as cocaine.

4. Calories in sugar are not balanced out with any mineral or vitamin: Because of its lack of nutrient value, sugar is said to have empty calories. Food items rich in sugar tend to make a person lethargic and slackened while depriving them of essential minerals and vitamins. It is therefore, best to not allow children to have pastries, chocolates or puddings in excess.

5. Sugar leads to extensive tooth decay: Sugar can accumulate on your teeth if you are having too many sweetened food items. This causes your teeth enamel to wear away, making it more prone to cavities and dental caries.

Why You Should Stay Away From Sugar?

Cirrhosis of liver is slow and gradual replacement of normal healthy liver tissue with scar tissue which results in poor liver function and blockage of flow of blood through liver which comes from intestines. As more scar tissue replaces normal healthy liver, liver begins to fail.

What causes cirrhosis?

Alcohol: Amount of alcohol which can cause liver damage varies from person to person, however those who consume alcohol for long in significant amount are more prone to develop liver damage.
Hepatitis B or hepatitis C: Caused by hepatitis B and C viruses, respectively, which are acquired by contact with contaminated blood (like needlestick injury, blood transfusion, injection drug abuser), sexual contact with infected person and from mother to child during childbirth.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Caused by presence of extra fat in liver (after excluding significant alcohol intake) which causes inflammation and scarring leading to cirrhosis. Usually seen in patients who are overweight or obese, having diabetes, high fat in blood, high blood pressure or metabolic syndrome.
Drugs causing liver injury.
Others: Autoimmune hepatitis (body`s own immunity acting against liver), Wilson disease (build up of copper in body), hemochromatosis (excess of iron in body), certain bile duct disorders, etc.
What are the symptoms of cirrhosis?

Early disease can present with nonspecific symptoms like weakness, fatigue (loss of energy), decrease wish to take food, vomiting or nausea, weight loss, etc.
Advanced disease can present with fluid accumulation in legs (edema) or abdomen (ascites), facial puffiness, yellowish discoloration of eyes or urine (jaundice), redness of palm (palmer erythema), decrease urine output, small red lesions on skin, easy bleeding following trauma, blood coming out of mouth/anus/other body site, black colored feaces, mental confusion, flapping tremors of hand, etc. In men it can cause impotence, breast enlargement and shrinking of testis.
What are the complication of cirrhosis?

Portal hypertension: It is a common complication of cirrhosis which is due to increased pressure in portal vein. Portal vein is main blood vessel which carries blood to liver from stomach, intestines, spleen, gallbladder and pancreas. Because of scar formation in liver the normal flow of blood from these organs to liver is hampered. As a result of blockage of blood flow to liver there are few complications which can arise like accumulation of fluid in abdomen (ascites) and legs (edema), formation of enlarged veins (varices) in food pipe (esophagus), stomach, etc., enlargement of spleen (splenomegaly), mental confusion/altered behavior/altered sensorium (hepatic encephalopathy), respiratory discomfort (hepatic hydrothorax or hepato-pulmonary syndrome) or decrease urine output/rise in creatinine (hepato-renal syndrome).

Increase risk of infection because of immune system dysfunction.
Development of liver cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma)
Easy brusibility or bleeding following light trauma.
Gall bladder stone formation
Metabolic bone disease
What are the stages of cirrhosis?

Compensated cirrhosis: Liver damage is damaged but no abdominal swelling (ascites), blood in vomiting or black/red color feaces (variceal bleed), altered behavior/sensorium (hepatic encephalopathy), respiratory discomfort (hepatic hydrothorax or hepato-pulmonary syndrome) or decrease urine output/rise in creatinine (hepato-renal syndrome).
Decompensated cirrhosis: Presence of abdominal swelling (ascites), blood in vomiting or black/red color feaces (variceal bleed), altered behavior/sensorium (hepatic encephalopathy), respiratory discomfort (hepatic hydrothorax or hepato-pulmonary syndrome) or decrease urine output/rise in creatinine (hepato-renal syndrome).
How cirrhosis is diagnosed?

Your doctor will take good history and do proper physical examination. If there is suspicion of cirrhosis then he will subject you to some blood test, ultrasound abdomen, fibroscan/elastography, upper GI endoscopy and if needed CT scan or MRI of abdomen or liver biopsy.

Ultrasound of abdomen in cirrhosis may shows coarse liver echotexture, nodular liver surface, dilated portal vein or collateral, enlarged spleen or abdominal fluid (ascites).

How to prevent cirrhosis?

Best way to avoid development of cirrhosis from predisposing stage of liver illness is to recognize and treat early. Few advices to keep liver healthy are:

Dietary modification: Eat healthy balanced diet. Avoid high calorie food or drinks, saturated fat, sugar and refined carbohydrates. Keep yourself hydrated.
Lifestyle modification: Maintain healthy body weight. Avoid being overweight or obese. Aerobic exercise (like brisk walk 30-45min/day atleast 5days/week) regularly helps to lower liver fat.
Avoid: Avoid use of contaminated needles, sharing of items of personal hygiene (like shaving razors, toothbrush, nail clippers, etc), use of illicit drugs, self medication with over the counter drugs or using drugs beyond doctor`s advice.
Practice safe protected sex
Alcohol
Motivate others: to stop drinking and follow hand hygiene and doctor`s advice.
Hand hygiene: Wash hand with soap and water regularly before eating, after going to toilet and after touching dirty objects.
Vaccination: For hepatitis A or hepatitis B, if you are not vaccinated or not already infected or unsafe antibody titre. Transmission rate of hepatitis B from mother to child at birth can be reduced with vaccination and immunization of newborn starting within 12 hours of birth as well as by using antiviral drugs (if indicated).
Prevent others from getting infected from you if you harbor virus causing liver damage.

How to treat cirrhosis?

Treatment of cirrhosis is based on cause of cirrhosis and complication of cirrhosis. Main aim of treatment in early stage of cirrhosis is to slow the progression of cirrhosis and prevent complications development

Stop alcohol, antiviral drugs for hepatitis b or hepatitis C, proper sugar level if diabetes, steroid or other medications for autoimmune hepatitis, medications to reduce copper from body in patients with Wilson`s disease, etc.
Drugs to lower portal pressure (beta-blocker or nitrates), drugs to remove fluid from body (diuretics), drugs to lower ammonia level for encephalopathy (lactulose and others), drugs to improve kidney function (albumin, terlipressin and others).
Opt for liver ransplant, If cirrhosis is life threatening or treatment of cirrhosis complication is ineffective.
Low salt high protein diet
Stop alcohol intake even if you have other cause of cirrhosis.
Stop smoking
Avoid over the counter drugs (especially pain killers)
Vaccinate if not done already or infected

Cirrhosis Of Liver - A Complete Guide!

Fatty liver or fatty liver disease refers to the accumulation of fat cells in the liver. The liver typically contains some amount of fat. The liver tends to convert usual food into protein, fats and sugar. Some fat in your liver is normal. However, in case that it makes up more than five to ten percent of the organ's weight, you may have a fatty liver.

The basic fatty liver is otherwise called steatosis. Over the top fat in the liver can cause the liver to get swollen and lead to liver damage. Fatty liver aggravation can be brought on by excessive alcohol abuse in which case the condition is known as alcoholic steatohepatitis. However, it can also be brought about by obesity and is then known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH. As the ailment advances, liver irritation can prompt cirrhosis and liver failure.

Ayurveda is an old Indian medical system that makes use of herbs existing in nature to create homegrown cures using the intrinsic power present as a part of these herbs. Ayurveda uses the intrinsic power of normal herbs to bring results when it comes to curing various ailments. The herbs are natural and are hundred percent safe. They enhance the body s digestive system and help recover from various diseases and

disorders. The herbs enhance the immune system and strengthen the body in a healthy way.

Here are a few methods to treat fatty liver with Ayurveda:

Terminalia (Arjuna): The herbs of Arjuna have been used since ancient times for its radiant properties. It has unique healing effects on the heart as it tones the cardiovascular muscle and in this way protects it as well. It does so by reinforcing the cardiovascular muscles.

Boerhavia Diffusa (Punarnava): Punarnava is a brilliant Ayurvedic herb with diuretic properties and builds the renal blood stream. It has astringent, sharp, mitigating and calming properties.

Phyllanthus Niruri (Bhumi Amla): It is an exceptionally effective herb appropriate for the management of Hepatitis B and different types of Hepatitis. It has been utilised as a soothing agent for the kidney and liver damage. It is fit for taking out poisons and toxins from the body.

Andrographis (Echinacea): Andrographis is well known for its superb effects on the immune system. It boosts the immunity of the body. It has incredible control over the inflammatory responses in the body. Echinacea is found to have antimicrobial properties that function admirably in infective conditions. It gets rid of distinctive types of diseases and infections.

Cinnamomum Zeylanica(Dalchini): It is a typical Indian herb utilised mostly in each Indian kitchen. Its regular use reduces breathlessness and reinforces the heart muscles, vascular framework and acts as an antioxidant. Cinnamon  is also known to control nausea, sickness and diarrhoea.\

Fatty Liver - Effective Ayurvedic Ways to Treat it

The liver is the place where all the toxins sit. Drugs, preservatives, alcohol, body toxins, chemicals are all metabolized in the liver. The basic function of the liver is to clear all the toxins from the body. When the liver receives too many toxins and it is unable to take so much burden, then the liver will give up. Gradually, the liver cells will be replaced with scar tissue. The liver tissues die completely. This condition or this stage is called cirrhosis of the liver.

What are the major causes of cirrhosis of the liver:
There can be many different causes for cirrhosis of the liver. Some of the major causes of this liver disease include:

People who consume a lot of alcohol for more than 10 to 12 years will have to face this problem. In the initial stage, it is going to be fatty liver, but at the later stage, the liver will be filled with fat and that disrupts the functioning of the liver. In the final stage, the liver function stops.
Hepatitis is one of the major reasons for cirrhosis of the liver. It is Hepatitis A that causes this health issue, others can also cause this problem.
Too many drugs for treating other health conditions.
Diabetes, obesity or other non-alcoholic fatty liver problems.
Symptoms of Cirrhosis of the Liver:

Jaundice
Weight gain or weight loss
Redness of palms.
Enlarged spleen
Clubbing of fingers
Fatigue or weakness
Patches on the skin
Menstrual cycle problems in women
Treatment for Cirrhosis of the Liver:
If cirrhosis of the liver is diagnosed at the early stage, then doctors will be able to treat it by finding the actual cause behind it. For example, if it is due to alcohol abuse, then giving up alcohol along with prescribed medication can help. If it is due to an overdose of some drugs, then it is important to find out the drugs and find an alternative for those medicines if they are to be taken.

Most of the time, modern medicine can only help by treating patients based on the symptoms. It provides relief from those symptoms and helps to avoid complications. But Unani medicine can help you treat this problem naturally without having to face any kind of complications.

Treating Talayyuf-e- Kabid (Cirrhosis of the Liver) with Unani medicine:
Unani medicine is a medicine made of natural herbs which will strengthen the liver tissues and will also help in restoring the size of the liver. You will find a number of medicines that can protect and heal the liver and also restore it to its normal shape and size.

Treating Talayyuf-e- Kabid (Cirrhosis Of Liver) With Unani Medicine

Liver, one of the most hardworking organs in your body sits snugly in the upper right part of your abdomen, beneath the diaphragm. This organ is a multi-tasker and it works tirelessly all day. Your body needs the energy to carry out all its tasks. You may have a vague idea that the food you eat plies your body with strength. But where does this energy come from? How is it produced? Your liver has a hand in it. Have we piqued your curiosity? Do you want to know how it acts as your body s power source? Read on!

Utilization of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are a macro-nutrient that are vital for energy production. They are present in foods such as wheat, rice, potatoes, apples, bananas etc. But in the form you consume them, carbohydrates will not energize you. So your body converts them into glucose and stores them in your liver as glycogen. Glucose gives you energy. When your body senses your energy levels are dropping, the liver releases some glycogen that immediately perks you up.

Breaking down proteins
Your liver also breaks down protein by deaminating them to initiate the Krebs/Citric Acid Cycle. It is your liver that starts changing the amino acids so that proteins can enter the Citric Acid Cycle in which they will be converted into the kind of energy that is usable.

Metabolism of fats
Do you know how your liver plays a part in metabolism? It does its bit in the breakdown of fats with the help of bile. And when fats are broken down, you get energy.

Greater liver efficiency with Ayurveda
The ancient Indian medicinal science Ayurveda deals extensively with the liver. Ayurveda can tell you what you can do to ensure that your liver stays healthy and strong. And if you have developed any liver-related disease, such as Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Liver Cirrhosis or Autoimmune Hepatitis, then Ayurveda can deal with these illnesses. So if you have been diagnosed with any liver illness please take suggestion from an Ayurvedic liver specialist who will have answers to all your liver problems.
Your liver is your source of energy. That is why you have to take excellent care of your liver so that it does not give out on you.
Though there are ways in Ayurveda to treat Liver Diseases and keep liver healthy, it is always advisable to consult an ayurvedic liver specialist before opting for any medicine or remedy.

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