Excess fat cells in the human body can settle under the skin and cause obesity, Additionally, they may even settle in specific organs and liver is one of them. When fat starts accumulating in the liver, a condition known as fatty liver manifests itself.

There are two types of fatty liver disease alcoholic and non-alcoholic. As the name suggests, the former is triggered by excessive alcohol consumption, whereas the latter takes place due to other reasons. While non-alcoholic fatty liver disease interferes with the normal functioning of the liver, alcoholic fatty liver disease has specific symptoms such as jaundice, fever, spider veins, and increase white blood cells (WBCs) count.

In the world of Ayurveda, the liver is a pitta organ, which is absolutely essential for normal digestion and elimination. Therefore, the pitta dosha should always be in balance so that toxins are eliminated by the liver from the body. A liver disease results when the pitta is aggravated, which can be treated with the help of lifestyle and dietary modifications, in addition to Ayurvedic remedies.

The following are some of the Ayurvedic tips and guidelines that can support liver healing and reduce the symptoms of fatty liver:



Avoid fatty and fried foods as these can further aggravate pitta and heating and overstimulating.
Incorporate cool and non-acidic food items such as berries, pears and melons into your diet.
Eat a combination of steamed vegetable and whole grains such as quinoa.
Consume aloe juice in moderate quantities as it is cooling.
Regularly consume a mixture of 2 grams of long pepper powder and 1 teaspoon honey once a day for complete 1 month.
Consume a decoction of giloy (Tinospora cordifolia), 30 ml, mixed with a teaspoon of honey once a day. 7. Drink plenty of water to cool the body down and eliminate toxins.
Consume 10 to 20 ml of bhumi amla juice.
Take 1 to 3 grams of kakuti powder twice a day with water after meals.
In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Fatty Liver Diseases - 8 Best Ayurvedic Home Remedies to Treat It

Liver cirrhosis is characterized by the replacement of normal liver tissue with fibrous tissue. This condition occurs when the liver has been exposed to certain causative factors for a prolonged period of time. Liver cirrhosis can be compared to  Kumbhakaamla  as stated in Ayurveda.

In Ayurvedic terms, liver cirrhosis is through to result due to an extreme aggravation of the pitta dosha. The liver is considered as the seat of pitta and therefore, an aggravated pitta dosha affects the functioning of this vital organ that helps eliminate toxins from the body. It can lead to problems such as anemia, jaundice, hemorrhage, ascites, and liver and spleen enlargement. This may end up aggravating and dis-balancing other doshas as well.

Because of aggravation of the pitta dosha, all the functions of the pitta such clarity of skin complexion, hunger, digestion, and production of blood are seriously affected. Because of the aggravation, the rasa and rakta dhatus are severely affected followed by other dhatus.

Ayurvedic treatment for liver ailments is highly recommended as it is completely natural and does not result in any side effects. It helps reverse all of the symptoms of liver cirrhosis and other diseases while restoring the normal functioning of the liver. There are several Ayurvedic remedies that you can practice to relieve the symptoms of liver cirrhosis.



The following are some of the most common Ayurvedic tips for liver cirrhosis:

Patient must take expert opinion of an Ayurveda for the right treatment of liver cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a complicated and serious situation thus, home remedies or any single herb treatment is not recommended.
Quit alcohol
Eat a well balanced and nutritious diet that contains a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables
Opt for sources of good fats such as nuts, seeds, avocado, soy and olives
Avoid packaged food items with added preservatives, including pickles
Ayurvedic treatment varies from person to person and therefore one must consult an expert and not try any home remedies.

Liver Cirrhosis Treatment With Ayurvedic Remedies 

The human body s ability to manage the fats consumed and the way the liver functions to handle this in the overall metabolism setting are dependent on choline. Choline, which is present mostly in the form of Vitamin B12, is available in plenty in most of the foods consumed by people regularly. The issue arises when the body system fails to absorb choline nutrient from the food consumed. There are also cases where the dietary intake does not possess adequate choline in it.

Natural Difficulty in Absorbing Choline
There are certain conditions in which the system finds it difficult to absorb choline though the diet may contain the nutrient. People who have just undergone a by-pass surgery or those who have had a kidney transplant done or if there is already a liver problem like cirrhosis face this issue. There are other reasons also which can lead to choline deficiency, such as the prolonged intake of anti-convulsant drugs and so on.

How to Detect or What are the Symptoms?
Some apparent symptoms can lead the GP to ask for more tests to establish that the person does have choline deficiency. In normal person, even high blood pressure could be caused due to choline deficiency. Then in many cases, a blood test for any other condition might reveal very low levels of VLDL (Very Low-Density Lipoprotein). This substance in the blood is used by the liver to transport fats and naturally, if VLDL is below a certain threshold the person is bound to be suffering from choline deficiency. High level of cholesterol is another symptom. It has to be understood that choline is also essential for the human brain to be functioning at its active best. Deficiency of choline can lead to an early setting in of dementia. Of course, any patient with liver and kidney related condition reaching the doctor will be checked for choline deficiency since these are closely related.

Where to Get Choline from?
The next obvious question is which foods can get you choline easily and you won t suffer from a deficiency. As mentioned there are plenty of food items of daily consumption which have choline in them. The most frequently recommended are the yolk of the egg. Pastured eggs are recommended and though even one egg can give some 115mgms of choline, you can make a couple of eggs a part of your daily breakfast menu. The other suggestion is raw liver as in beef liver which is quite rich in choline. Those who consume only vegetarian foods can always eat a lot of green vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage and also nuts and legumes (soaked) and milk and yoghurt are all good for choline intake.

Choline is an essential nutrient in the human body and is critical to the growth and development of cognitive functions and its deficiency can lead to many serious conditions, including liver impairment and brain disorders. There are plenty of foods rich in choline and should be consumed regularly.


Choline Deficiency - Signs You Are Suffering From It + Sources Of Choline!! 

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.

Your Liver Is Your Power Engine - Learn More!

Having some fat in your liver is legit. But, if you have too much of fat say more than 5%-10% of the organ's weight then you are at risk of getting fatty liver disease. At the onset, you can do one important thing to help your liver stop drinking. It causes fatty liver disease.

There are two main types of fatty liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease or ALD
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD
If you are a woman who is pregnant, you can also get fatty liver disease.
Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD)

You can get ALD from drinking lots of alcohol. ALD can also present itself after a short period of heavy drinking.
Genetics has a role to play in ALD. Genes can make you hit the bottle and increase your chances of becoming an alcoholic.
Genes can also impact the way your body breaks down the alcohol you drink.
Other root causes of ALD are:

Hep C doesn't cause ALD. it is one of the causes of fatty liver. 
Hep B is also a cause of fatty liver. There are certain medications which may be helpful from person to person besides lifestyle management.
Excess iron in your body
Obesity
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
The cause of NAFLD is not clear, but we know that it tends to run in families.
NAFLD is also more common in the middle-aged and the obese or, those who have high cholesterol and diabetes.

Other risk factors are:

Certain medicines
Viral hepatitis
Auto-immune or inherited liver disease
Gaining weight fast
Malnutrition
Acute Fatty Liver during Pregnancy
Fat can build up in your liver when you're pregnant, causing this kind of fatty liver disease.
It s a serious condition as it can be risky for both you and your baby. It can cause liver or kidney failure in you and your child, both.
Causes are unknown. But, hormones may play a role.
Symptoms of fatty liver disease
This disease can sometimes cause no symptoms for long. But, the things to look out for are-

Feeling tired all the time
Loss of appetite or weight
General weakness
Nausea
Confusion and trouble concentrating
Your liver can become larger
Pain in the centre or right upper part of your belly
In ALD, your symptoms get worse after bouts of heavy drinking. Fatty liver disease is diagnosed during routine exams when your doctor notices your enlarged liver. Ultrasound, blood tests to check for certain enzymes and biopsy of the liver are performed to confirm it.

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for the fatty liver disease.
You can manage it by managing your diabetes and giving up drinking. If you have ALD and you don t quit, you get complications like alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Even if you have a non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcohol cessation helps.
Losing weight if you are overweight also helps to manage this disease and having a good balanced diet with exercise also shows benefits.

Fatty Liver Disease - Signs You Are Suffering From It!

Liver disorders are very common. Gastroenterologists trained in liver diseases are known as Hepatologists.Symptoms of liver disease include jaundice, vomitting of blood(Hemetemesis), bleeding in the motions(also known as Melena or hematochezia),altered sensorium known as Hepatic encephalopathy(HE), Renal failure also known as Hepatorenal syndrome(HRS), Breathlessness (due to Hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension).

Let s understand the liver disease point by point: 

1. Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is a virus which is usually acquired in four ways. Unprotected sexual intercourse with the infected partner, from infected to the child, infected needles, infected blood. It takes many years for the hepatitis B virus to cause liver damage. Once the liver is damaged it is called Cirrhosis or chronic liver disease. When liver is more then 80 percent damage, it causes blood vomiting also known as hematemesis, Ascites(water in the stomach), Jaundice, HE, HRS etc. Treatment depends on virus count which is calculated by HBV DNA PCR and other lab parameters. Once the treatment starts monitoring of viral count is done to document the effectiveness of the treatment. All the family members and sexual partners must get HbsAg screening done to detect early silent infection. All those who test negative, Hepatitis vaccination should be done, by three injections which provide them with 100% protection against the HBV infection.

2. Hepatitis C: Hepatitis C is a virus which is acquired by injection drug abuse and infected needles and blood. Transmission by unprotected sexual intercourse is possible but chances are very low. Hepatitis C virus damages the liver slowly and takes years before clinical symptoms of liver failure appear. Once the liver is damaged it is called Cirrhosis or chronic liver disease. When the liver is more than 80 percent damage, it causes blood vomiting also known as hematemesis, Ascites(water in the stomach), Jaundice, HE, HRS etc. All hepatitis C virus infected patients must be treated irrespective of virus count. Baseline virus count by HCV RNA  is done to measure the effectiveness of the treatment. HCV Genotype is done for patients with cirrhosis. Vaccination is not available for hepatitis C but newer medicines(Direct acting antivirals DAA) for Hepatitis C can cure it with more than 95% certainty.

3. Acute viral Hepatitis: Sudden infection in the liver can be due to multiple causes but commonly is due to Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E, which are caused due to eating or drinking contaminated food and water. Rarely Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can cause Acute hepatitis including Acute liver failure. Acute hepatitis presents with Jaundice, loss of appetite, generalised fatigue, vomiting and abdominal pain.  Patients are usually treated on an outpatient basis but if they have severe vomiting, abdominal pain or altered sensorium, they are admitted for inpatient care and monitoring. Drugs or complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) such as herbal or bodybuilding protein supplements which contain steroids and heavy metals can cause acute hepatitis.

4. Liver transplant: Removing the damaged liver and to put a new liver in the patients is called Liver transplant. Liver transplant is major surgery and costs around 20 to 30 Lacs. Indications of liver transplant are an acute liver failure due to hepatitis viruses such as hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis E, decompensated cirrhosis due to any cause including chronic hepatitis B and C, Drug-induced liver failure such antitubercular drugs(ATT). The donor for liver transplant is either a close relative (Living donor liver transplant LDLT) or a brain dead donor (deceased donor liver transplant DDLT).

5. Chronic liver disease or Cirrhosis: It is the end result of slow damage to the liver, where many liver cells are damaged and replaced by fibrosis. Apart from viruses such as Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, Alcohol is one of the most common causes of cirrhosis.

Drinking alcohol for years together causes irreversible liver damage causing cirrhosis. Alcohol can cause acute severe hepatitis, acute liver failure and chronic liver disease.  Patients with suspected heavy alcohol drink must-visit Hepatologist (Liver doctor ) for proper diagnosis of stage of liver damage and deaddiction programme. USG Abdomen, blood tests, endoscopy and Fibroscan is usually done to know the liver health.

Fatty liver is also known as non-alcohol fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is a lifestyle disorder due to lack of exercise, high fat diet, obesity and due to drugs. Fatty liver causes silent liver damage and if not recognised in time can cause irreversible liver damage and cirrhosis. The evaluation includes Liver function tests, Ultrasound abdomen, Fibroscan. Treatment includes daily moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, drinking coffee and a low-fat diet. Few medicines are available which help in the reversal of fatty liver.

What Should You Know About Liver Disorders?

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