The largest internal organ in the body, the liver, is also one of the silent heroes, which performs close to 500 functions. It produces energy, fights infections, gets rid of wastes, and is a metabolic factory.

There are four major types of liver diseases out of which alcoholic liver disease accounts for about 40% of them. Other types include non-alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis and autoimmune (chronic) hepatitis.

Risk factors: The severity of drinking habit is directly proportional to the chances of developing alcoholic liver disease. People who consume more amount of alcohol are more likely to develop the disease. However, it is also not necessary that every person who consumes alcohol develops liver disease.

Following are obvious risk factors for developing alcoholic liver disease.

1. Alcohol dependency: While enjoying a drink is not barred, getting the body dependent on alcohol for regular functioning is definitely a no-no. The rate of developing the disease in people dependent on alcohol is as high as 70%.

2. Females: The way alcohol is metabolized in females could have an effect on the higher risk they face in developing alcoholic liver disease.

3. Obesity: Excessive weight puts additional stress on the metabolic effects of the liver and therefore has a higher tendency to develop alcoholic liver disease.

4. Family history: Strong familial history increases the risk of developing alcoholic liver disease.

Symptoms: The difficulty in diagnosing the disease lies in the fact that there are no clear-cut symptoms that can indicate the diagnosis. Initial general symptoms include fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss, loss of energy, and red spider nevi (spider-like blood vessels) on the skin.

As the liver function continues to worsen, there are additional symptoms like swelling of the legs due to fluid accumulation, swelling of the abdomen, jaundice (yellow mucous membranes and skin), redness of palms, impotence, breast swelling, easy bruising, cognitive problems and clay-colored stools. This stage will see liver scarring and subsequent cirrhosis. The second set of symptoms is more diagnostic. An experienced practitioner will be able to suspect and diagnose the alcoholic disease with a detailed history and some liver function tests.

Treatment: If identified early and alcohol habits are reversed, the damages of the liver can be completely reversed. In addition, the following lifestyle changes are suggested:

1. Low-salt diet

2. Hepatitis vaccines (A and B)

3. Medications to manage fluid retention, spontaneous bleeding and infections as the case may be

4. Excessive fluid accumulation in the abdomen may require removal

5. Shunt in the liver to repair blood flow

6. If cirrhosis stage is reached, a liver transplant may be required

While there are many ways to manage alcoholic liver disease, prevention is the best way. Limiting alcohol consumption can definitely help in the prevention of the disease.

All About Alcoholic Liver Disease

Ulcerative colitis is a disorder that causes inflammations and ulcers inside your colon, affecting the entire digestive system. The disease grows over time and symptoms start to worsen over a prolonged period, rather than the problem showing up suddenly. Severe cases of ulcerative colitis may even be fatal if treatment does not resolve some of the complications arising from the condition.

Causes of Ulcerative Colitis-
The exact cause for the inflammatory bowel disease is unknown. Improper diet and lifestyle can aggravate the symptoms, but do not cause the condition. Some possible causes for the disease include-

Improper functioning of the body s immune system causes it to recognize the colon as a foreign body.
Genetic factors and hereditary may also be held accountable in some instances.
Risk factors for the condition include old age and family history of the condition.

Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis-
Here are some common symptoms associated with the condition-

Bloody diarrhoea
Rectal pain
Weight loss
Pain in the abdominal region along with cramping
Fever
Urgency to defecate
Inadequate bowel movement despite the feeling of urgency
How can you prevent ulcerative colitis?
Ulcerative colitis cannot be prevented as the exact cause for the condition is unknown. However, there are simple steps that will help manage the symptoms.

Diet change- You need to stop eating certain foods, such as, dairy products, beans, broccoli, cabbage and anything spicy. Instead, fibre intake must be increased drastically.
Exercise- Mild exercise or activities have a profound impact on managing the condition.
Avoiding stress
Drinking plenty of fluids
Role of Homeopathy in Managing Ulcerative Colitis-
Homeopathy follows a natural and holistic approach to deal with the condition. It does not merely treat the symptoms, but looks to cure the underlying cause for those symptoms. Homeopathic remedies will greatly bolster the overall condition of the body s immune system. Furthermore, the bloody diarrhoea accompanying the disease will also stop with proper homeopathic treatment.

Ulcerative Colitis - Does Homeopathic Treatments Work?

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!

In modern day societies of intense stress and work pressure, the average diet mostly comprises of street foods, packaged fast foods and processed foods. Such stress and overexposure to a lot of toxins (present in the processed food, fast foods, and street foods) disable the liver from performing its primary function of cleansing the toxic materials through the skin, the respiratory and the digestive system. Besides, this overexposure to toxins also disrupts bile formation, which hinders the absorption of necessary nutrients, resulting in a severe disruption in health. Also, liver is responsible for the proper functioning of the eyes, the brain, the kidneys and the joints in the body. Thereby, it is necessary to include these 7 foods in your diet which help to detoxify your liver from the excessive toxins and allow it to function properly.

    Avocado: Avocados contain a rich amount of the antioxidant glutathione, which helps the liver to fight against the toxins.
    Garlic: Garlic contains a rich amount of selenium and allicin, which helps to cleanse the liver. A little amount of garlic helps in the activating liver enzymes which in turn helps to eliminate the toxins from the body.
    Green tea: Green tea contains a rich amount of the plant antioxidant known as Catechin, which help the liver to function properly. It also helps to protect the liver from the toxins.
    Beets and Carrots: Beets and carrots contain a rich amount of beta - carotenes and plant flavonoids which help to regulate the overall function of the liver.
    Turmeric: A little amount of turmeric in your daily meal helps in the cleansing the liver by helping the enzymes to get rid of the toxic carcinogens.
    Green Vegetables: Green Vegetables like spinach, bitter gourd and chicory contains a rich amount of detoxifying components, which helps in the neutralization of heavy metals which in turn regulates the cleansing ability of the liver. Green vegetables also help in the simulation of the flow of bile.
    Grape Fruit: Grape fruit contains a rich amount of vitamin C and antioxidants which initiates the cleansing process of the liver. Grape fruit also help in the formation of enzymes that destroys toxins like carcinogens.

Cleanse Your Liver - 7 Natural Foods that Will Help You 

Dealing with liver Cirrhosis largely depends on its stage. While it is good to know and read about Cirrhosis, referring to some qualified medical personnel is the best course of action. If a person is already undergoing medical treatment, there are simple ways to deal with this condition.

Get treated in the early stages: Liver being one of the most self-healing organs, a person has good chances of healing, if a donor donates partial-liver. A doctor eradicates the distorted portion of the liver and replaces the same with a partial transplant from the donor. For the donor, it takes about 3-4 months to grow back the donated portion of the liver, while the patient might take 10-12 months to fully recover. This is possible in the early stages of Cirrhosis.
Stop the catalyst of liver Cirrhosis: It is essential to stop the underlying cause of Liver Cirrhosis. Stuff like saturated fat, alcohol, salt, OTC pain relievers, excess sugar etc should strictly need to be avoided to ensure the progression of liver Cirrhosis is slow. Studies have shown that moderate consumption of coffee can help to deal with Liver Cirrhosis.
Sodium free food: It is advised by most doctors that Cirrhosis patients refrain from consuming sodium-rich food. It helps a cirrhosis patient to bypass edema and ascites. This is extremely challenging, since food without sodium tastes bland and unappetizing. It is therefore suggested that healthy herbs, paprika, pepper etc are consumed to make up for sodium.
A balanced diet: A liver Cirrhosis patient should be extremely careful when it comes to choosing the right diet. They should consume lots of fresh fruits and green vegetables. While consumption of animal protein is not advised, the quota of protein should be fulfilled from peas, tofu, quinoa, etc.
A good exercise regime: Patients with liver Cirrhosis should ensure that an adequate exercise regime is followed so that the muscles do not get wasted. Exercise for half an hour also helps to lose weight and negate the chances of water retention in the body. Exercise should also be followed by lots of sleep, so that the body gets enough time to recover from the stress of exercise.
Avoid NSAIDs: If a person is suffering from liver Cirrhosis, using drugs such as naproxen, aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen etc should be strictly avoided for mild pain and inflammation. These drugs can be highly toxic for a person suffering from Cirrhosis. It is wise to consult a doctor before consuming any medication.
Stay away from infection: A patient with liver Cirrhosis suffers from a compromised immune system. It is therefore advised that a patient stays away from possible bacteria, viral and such other chronic infection. Any infection can result in inflammation of the bile duct that causes scarring of the liver tissue.

Liver Cirrhosis - 7 Ways To Deal With The Problem!

The liver performs over 500 functions and is considered to be one of the most important organs in the human body. The functions liver perform include regulating cholesterol and blood sugar, filtering out blood toxins, storing energy and making hormones and proteins. There are many diseases which liver can catch and most prominent being alcoholic liver disease

When a person consumes alcohol in excess, it leads to building up of fats, inflammation and scarring of the liver   which results in alcoholic liver disease.

The damage that occurs due to this disease in the liver can affect the whole body. Since the liver is generally highly effective in repairing and regenerating itself so the damage takes longer to come into notice. It often becomes distinctive by the time the damage is already irreversible.

This disease usually takes place in people between 40 and 50 years of age. This disease is most commonly seen in men. Certain cases have been seen where people may have inherited the risk for the disease.

Liver disease related to alcohol consumption fits into following 1 of 3 categories:

Fatty liver: This takes place due to acute consumption of alcohol. This state is generally reversible if alcohol isn t consumed.
Alcoholic hepatitis: This is an acute type of alcohol-induced liver injury which takes place when alcohol is consumed excessively over a long period of time. It can lead to liver failure and death as well.
Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by over consumptions of alcohol. It can also occur due to other reasons as well.
Some Facts about Alcoholic Liver Disease

It is the main cause of chronic liver disease in Western nations and the third most common cause of liver transplants.
Staying away from alcohol is the only way to the patient s recovery.
Jaundice and tremors are the most common symptoms of this disease.
Medication, lifestyle changes, and surgery are some available treatments.
Early signs of the Disease
The early signs of alcoholic liver disease are not much noticeable and affect many systems in the body.

Pain in the abdomen
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Decreased appetite
If these signs are left unattended and the patient continues to consume alcohol, it can lead to a faster damage to the liver.

The symptoms of this disease become noticeable usually during the later stage of liver disease. The symptoms of this disease include:

Jaundice
Edema or swelling of the lower limbs
A build-up of fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites
Fever and shivering
Extremely itchy skin
Clubbing of fingernails
Loss of weight
General weakness
Blood in vomit and stools
Bleeding and bruising more easily
More sensitive reactions to alcohol and drugs
In most patients with the alcoholic liver disease, the illness is not severe. You may not require hospitalization immediately as long you take necessary precaution like stopping the consumption of alcohol, take good nutrition and follow the advice of the doctor. However, in more severe cases, the doctor may be able to suggest the best line of treatment.

Alcoholic Liver Disease - Know The Symptoms!

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