Thursday, 12 April 2012

Keep Your Liver Healthy

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

The liver is very important to the overall health of the human body. There are many diseases that can create problems with your liver. The liver is located on the right side of the abdomen directly below the rib cage. It is the body's largest organ and it holds over 500 key functions to your health. This makes it an extremely important organ. The liver produces various proteins that include enzymes and hormones of various types. The reason liver health is so vital is due to the fact that it is necessary to the proper digestion and absorption of food and nutrients. It also is the main source of removing toxins from the body. Clearly having a healthy liver is extremely important to good health. The liver can become unhealthy from a variety of causes and can be temporary or more serious resulting in long term damage. Symptoms associated with unhealthy liver may include: skin itching, pain in abdomen with potential abdominal swelling, yellowish skin, fatigue, nausea, pale stools and lack of appetite. It is vitally important if you have any of these symptoms to see your medical provider right away. Types of Liver Disorders: From temporary to more serious in nature, here are some of the liver problems that can occur; obstruction of bile ducts, hepatitis, acute or chronic liver failure, Cirrhosis, enlarged liver and liver cancer.

Risk factors that may cause liver problems: The following are risks that you should avoid in order to prevent liver damage. These include; piercings of the body of any kind, tattoos, being overweight, developing diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption and sharing needles in drug injections. There are also various herbal supplements as well as certain prescription medications that are associated with potential liver damage.

Healthy Lifestyle Choices: If you want to keep your liver healthy or you already have liver damage, having a healthy lifestyle will help keep your liver in the best shape possible. Of course if you suffer from any type of liver condition you must be under the care of a medical provider. Adequate rest: Sufficient sleep is important to liver health. The body restores and repairs during the sleep cycle so getting enough sleep is important. You need to also learn to manage stress in your life. Extreme stress on a consistent basis will not only rob you of peace in your life, it will affect your physical health as well. Find ways to reduce stress that work for you. Exercise: Regular exercise is incredibly important for everyone. Exercise makes you stronger and will give you more energy and vitality. Find a simple routine that works for you that you can do three to five times weekly for twenty to thirty minute sessions. This should not be strenuous exercise but rather moderate and consistent exercise. Avoid undercooked or raw seafood, particularly if you already have liver problems such as hepatitis. Also limit or avoid spicy foods and foods that are high in bad fats.

Cirrhosis of the liver: This is one of the more serious conditions that can occur. It is not a common disease and is found mostly in people who suffer from alcoholism. Cirrhosis creates fibrous tissue in the liver which decreases the normal functioning ability. As a result, fluid will build in the liver and jaundice can also occur. In many cases the cirrhosis can be halted if the underlying cause is alcoholism and the person ceases to consume alcohol. But once you have cirrhosis it is difficult to reverse the damage that has already occurred.

Foods that are helpful to a clean and healthy liver: There are various foods that may help to keep your liver as healthy as possible. Green Vegetables: Eat a diet with plenty of fresh leafy greens. Eating greens helps to clean the liver because of the high levels of chlorophyll that they contain. Chlorophylls are found naturally in greens and they are known to help remove toxins from the blood stream. They also stimulate bile production which works to eliminate waste from the blood and organs as well. Great choices to incorporate in your diet include spinach and arugula. Avocados: This super food helps the body to produce glutathione. Glutathione also aids in removing toxins from the liver. Add a sliced avocado to your salad or prepare a delicious guacamole dip to enjoy with fresh vegetables such as celery and carrots. Apples: This fruit helps the body to remove toxins from the digestive tract therefore reducing the load on the liver. Try eating an apple on its own as a snack or slice the apple and add to a freshly prepared salad.

Cold pressed oils: Healthy oils for you to use include olive oil and flax seed oil. Do not overuse these oils as they are calorically dense. However, cold pressed oils also help to remove toxins from the body therefore helping to take some of the workload off of your liver. Add fresh organic olive oil or flax seed oil to your vegetable and salad dishes as well as rice and protein entrees. Citrus Fruits: Fruits such as lemons and limes have high levels of Vitamin C. Vitamin C has been shown to also help the body eliminate toxins from the bloodstream. Just add fresh lime or lemon juice to your water and enjoy throughout the day. Squeeze some lemon over salads, seafood and vegetable dishes for a delightful flavor addition.

Cruciferous Vegetables: Great choices here are cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli and cabbage. These vegetables help your liver to increase its production of enzymes which work to remove dangerous toxins from the body. There are so many delicious ways to prepare these vegetables from a simple saut to adding them to soups, stew and rice dishes. Turmeric has also been shown to be healthy for the liver as it helps to produce liver enzymes that allow the liver to detoxify. This Asian spice can be added to vegetable dishes.

There are clearly numerous lifestyle and dietary choices that you can make to improve your overall liver health. Living with liver disease is not easy so you should try to do everything in your ability to avoid developing it if at all possible. Of course, always consult with your medical provider before undergoing any type of lifestyle, nutritional or exercise program, particularly if you are elderly or suffering from any disease or ailment.

The Issels Medical Center in Santa Barbara, California is a world renowned alternative cancer treatment center. The Issels Treatment is an Integrative Immunotherapy program with a 50 year history. Founded in 1951 by a pioneer in integrative cancer medicine, Dr. Josef Issels, MD., a German oncologist, The Issels Medical Center in Santa Barbara, California treats patients with all natural non toxic therapies for a variety of health conditions including cancer.

If you would like more information regarding the treatments available at The Issels Medical Center in Santa Barbara, California, please call 805-962-2126 or toll free at 888-374-7735. And please visit the website at: http://www.issels.com/Questionaire/questionnaire_IMC.aspx.

By Tina C. Loren

No comments:

Post a Comment