Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is a technique in which mild electric currents are applied to areas of the skin by a small power pack connected to two electrodes. It is also known as TENS and sometimes denoted as TNS. A passive, non-invasive, non-addictive modality with few side effects, TENS works to improve mobility, decrease pain perception and may be used to control acute and chronic pain.

The method involves passage of a low-voltage electric current to electrodes pasted on the skin. The current may be delivered intermittently. The mild electric current generates heat that serves to relieve stiffness, improve mobility and relieve pain. The treatment stimulates the body's production of endorphins or natural painkillers. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation can be of three types namely Conventional TENS, acupuncture-like TENS and auricular TENS.

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Frequency, intensity and site of application depend on the specific condition and treatment goals. TENS can be used to treat a number of disorders like acute and chronic pain associated with cancer, joint disorders, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, autoimmune disorders, back pain, dysmenorrhea, nerve disorders, labor pain, nausea, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postoperative recovery, gastroparesis, cognitive impairment and much more.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is used in a variety of different clinical settings and has become popular with both patients and health professionals. It may be prescribed in combination with other treatments, primarily to provide relief from acute forms of nerve pain. TENS should not be used in people with implanted medical devices such as cardiac defibrillators, pacemakers, intravenous infusion pumps or hepatic artery infusion pumps. Portable TENS equipments are available for use which can be worn around the waist.

TENS, might in some cases, have side effects such as skin irritation and redness, hives, welts, allergic skin reactions, and burns. A number of isolated side effects such as nausea, muscle ache, headache, increased hair growth, dizziness, and loss of sensation have also been reported. So this technique should be used only under the strict supervision of an experienced licensed healthcare practitioner.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

HEPATIC

For Hepatitis C Treatment, Low-Calorie Diet May Be Your First Line of Treatment

Even with the latest advances, pharmaceutical treatment for hepatitis C is a hit or miss proposition that often results in side effects many people find as bad as the disease. To keep from needing interferon treatment, however, low-calorie diet may help.

In hepatitis C, liver cells suffer an onslaught of toxic free radicals. Healthy cells can handle the free radicals of oxygen that escape the normal biochemical pathways for turning glucose into energy, but liver cells infected with hepatitis C cannot.

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To protect themselves from damage, liver cells "turn off" their receptors for insulin. Called insulin resistance, this phenomenon keeps sugar out of the cell. If the cell does not receive sugar, it does not burn sugar, and there are fewer free radicals to be neutralized. The liver cell, however, continues to respond to insulin as a transporter of fat.

This means a large amount of glucose stays in the bloodstream. The pancreas tries to get blood sugar levels back to normal by sending out even more insulin. Liver cells become even more resistant to insulin, but they are flooded with even more fat.

That's how hepatitis C can lead to fatty liver and later cirrhosis of the liver. But the process is not inevitable.

Australian researchers tested 19 people with chronic hepatitis C in a 90-day test of diet and exercise. Some participants had previously been treated with interferon and some had not, but all had some degree of fibrosis (leading to cirrhosis), steatosis (significant risk of developing diabetes), and inflammation (indicating tissue death). All 23 participants were significantly overweight and all had measurable insulin resistance.

The Australian test participants modified their diet by a simple rule: eat less. Average food consumption in the group was lowered from 2,740 to 1,620 calories per day (50 percent carbohydrate, 20 percent protein, and 30 percent fat), enough for most to lose 1 pound a week. Participants gradually increased exercise to 30 minutes a day. Participants engaged in aerobic exercise, such as a brisk walk, but did not do strength training.

The diet and exercise changes in this program were hardly rigorous, but the results were impressive. Serum ALT, a measure of liver tissue destruction, steadily decreased as the participants lost weight. Fatty liver, fibrosis, and inflammation improved in almost all the participants. Most important, in four of the participants, smooth muscle antibodies, the measure of damage to the liver by the immune system itself, completely disappeared.

The Australian research team believes that any man with a waist measure of more than 37 inches (94 centimeters) and any woman with a waist measurement of more than 32 inches (80 centimeters) can benefit from gentle changes in diet and exercise to lose weight. Massive weight loss is not necessary. Losing as little as 2.5 percent of one's total body weight is frequently enough to stop the progression of the disease. And that's not hard to do with natural weight loss.

For Hepatitis C Treatment, Low-Calorie Diet May Be Your First Line of Treatment

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Gotu Kola - Uses and Side Effects

Gotu kola has been widely used to treat a variety of illnesses, especially in traditional Eastern medicine. It's derived from the leaves, stem, and aerial parts of Centella asiatica. Gotu kola contains madecassol, madecassic acid, asiatic acid, asiaticentoic acid, centellic acid, centoic acid, isothankuniside, flavonoids including quercetin and kaempferol, and various glycosides such as asiaticoside, brahminoside, brahmoside, centelloside, and madecassoid. It also contains fatty acids, amino acids, phytosterols, and tannin.

Asiaticoside promotes wound healing, brahminoside and brahmoside possess sedative properties, and madecassoid exerts anti-inflammatory action. Gotu kola is available as ampules, capsules, ointment, powder, tablets, tinctures, and extract. Common trade names include Centalase, Centasium, Emdecassol, Gotu Kola Gold Extract, Gotu Kola Herb, and Madecassol.

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Reported uses

Gotu kola is used for its anticarcinogenic, antifertility, and antihypertensive effects. It's also used to treat chronic venous in sufficiency, chronic hypertension, and chronic hepatic disorders. Gotu kola is used topically to treat psoriasis and burns and to promote wound healing in patients with chronic lesions such as cutaneous ulcers, leprosy sores, fistulas, and Surgical and gynecologic wounds.

Administration

Capsules: 400 to 500 mg by mouth every day

Creams, ointments: Applied to affected area every day, up to two times a day

Dried leaves: 0.6 g of dried leaves or infusion by mouth three times a day

Standardized extract (40% asiaticoside, 29% to 30% asiatic acid and madecassic acid, respectively, and 1 % to 2% madecassoside): 20 to 40 mg by mouth three times a day.

Hazards

Adverse effects associated with gotu kola include sedation with higher doses, hy­percholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, con­tact dermatitis, burning, and pruritus. The plant extracts appear to have very lit­tle toxicity, although hypersensitivity re­actions may still occur. Large doses of gotu kola may interfere with the effect of hypoglycemics. Large doses of gotu kola may interfere with the effect of choles­terol-lowering drugs.

Pregnant patients, breast-feeding patients, young children, and patients with severe renal or hepatic disease should avoid use. Patients with a history of contact dermatitis should use with caution.

Safety Risk Do not confuse gotu kola with kola or kola plant. They are different plants. The latter species has stimulant activities.

Clinical considerations

Topical asiaticoside may cause cancer.

Monitor patient for CNS depression, including drowsiness and increased sleep time.

Monitor blood glucose and serum cholesterol levels with long-term use.

Warn patient about potential for sedation. Advise him to avoid driving until he knows how the herb affects him.

If patient is using the herb for contra­ception, recommend another method.

Recommend that patient not use the herb for more than 6 weeks at a time.

Tell patient to take capsules with meals.

Advise patient to report planned or suspected pregnancy.

Tell patient to notify pharmacist of any herbal or dietary supplement that he's taking when obtaining a new prescription.

Advise patient to consult his health care provider before using an herbal preparation because a conventional treat­ment with proven efficacy may be avail­able.

Research summary

Studies support claims for gotu kola's ef­ficacy in wound healing, topical uses for psoriasis, antihypertensive effects, effects on varicose veins, and chronic hepatic disorders.

Gotu Kola - Uses and Side Effects

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Probiotics Help Support Liver Health

There are a number of common diseases that are caused primarily by a bacterial imbalance found within the body, specifically in the digestive system. Some of these diseases include obesity, heart disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). A condition increasing at an alarming rate in the United States, NAFLD is caused by the abundance of fat accumulation in liver cells. Bacterial growth is normal and even necessary to the human body, as it helps keep us healthy. However, when this equilibrium is disrupted, either from aging or the use of antibiotics, healthy bacteria known as flora may find themselves outnumbered by harmful bacteria. This imbalance can cause a multitude of unhealthy consequences.

Researchers believe that the imbalance in bacteria can be a contributing factor in NAFLD because of the role this relationship plays in hepatic insulin resistance. To help maintain healthy blood sugar levels, our bodies produce insulin. When the body is insulin resistant, the cells are unable to regulate blood glucose levels, causing fatigue. People who are overweight, and those who regularly consume sugary and fatty foods and drinks, can potentially be at risk for developing a resistance to insulin. This resistance results in an increased amount of insulin in the blood, which can cause diabetes.

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As opposed to antibiotics which can negatively affect the bacterial balance in the digestive system by killing healthy bacteria, probiotics can facilitate the body's flora and prevent the production of harmful bacteria. Probiotics can also help prevent the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by restoring the harmonious relationship between the good and bad bacteria in our bodies. Whether in the form of food or nutritional supplements, probiotics are a valuable addition to the daily regimen of someone battling NAFLD.

Probiotics Help Support Liver Health

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Fatty Liver Remedy - Know the Cures For Its Cause

Fatty liver is a condition where fats that could not be broken down by the live build up in the liver cells. This is not something that should be ignored for it can lead to a more serious health problem like cirrhosis, cell death, inflammation of the liver, and fibrosis. Before finding any remedy to help deal with the condition, it is necessary to find out what could have caused its occurrence. There are a lot of factors that contribute to the development of liver fats. It can root from diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, medications, obesity, and even toxic substances disclosure.

Obesity can cause such disease. Fats from the stomach are presented to the liver to be broken down. So, if the body takes in too much fat than the organ can actually crash, it will just accumulate in the liver and infiltrate the liver cells, thus forming liver fats. It is therefore advisable for the sufferers who are obese to lose weight in a slow manner. This can be done through eating nutritious foods like vegetables and fresh fruits accompanied by daily exercise. Whole grains are rich in fiber which can aid at cleansing the body.

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Another cause of fatty liver is diabetes. People with such health trouble are not allowed to eat sweetened foods or even processed ones. If the blood sugar level is high, it only means that the cholesterol level of the body has increased as well. Sodas, jams, and ice cream should not become part of the diet. Instead, fresh fruits can be eaten to get your sweet tooth satisfied.

There are also some alcoholic drinks that are good for the health like red wine, which is said to be good for the heart. However, for persons with a steatosis, alcohol intake should be abandoned totally. Alcohol has high cholesterol content which will not help but rather, worsen the situation. It may be hard for others to give it up completely so it may be done in a moderate way with the doctor's advice.

Herbs like dandelion, barberry, golden seal, cascara sagrada, and gentian root are good fatty liver remedies. They help cleanse the liver, help break down fats that has accumulated the liver cells and help the liver to function normally.

Though fatty liver can't be totally cured, it can be reversed by just following the suggested remedies. This would be done with the doctor's advice especially the alcohol intake. Any fatty liver remedy mentioned above can help the patient to deal with the condition depending on the cause of it.

Fatty Liver Remedy - Know the Cures For Its Cause

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Liver Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is an irreversible distortion of normal liver architecture characterized by hepatic injury, fibrosis, and nodular regeneration. The clinical presentations of cirrhosis are a consequence of both progressive hepatocellular dysfunction and portal hypertension.

As with other presentations of liver disease, not all individuals with cirrhosis develop life-threatening problems. Indeed, in nearly 40% of cases of cirrhosis, it's diagnosed at autopsy in individuals who did not manifest obvious signs of end-stage liver disease.

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The initial damage can be because of a wide range of processes. A crucial feature is that the liver damage isn't acute and self-limited but rather chronic and progressive. Within the United States, alcohol abuse may be the most frequent reason for cirrhosis. In other countries, infectious real estate agents (particularly HBV and HCV) are the most common causes.

Other causes consist of chronic biliary obstruction, drugs, metabolic disorders, persistent congestive heart failure, and primary (autoimmune) biliary cirrhosis. Increased or altered synthesis of collagen along with other connective structure or basement membrane elements from the extracellular matrix is implicated within the improvement of hepatic fibrosis and therefore in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis.

The role of the extracellular matrix in cellular purpose is definitely an important region of investigation, and studies suggest that it's included in modulating the activities from the cells with which it's in contact. Therefore, fibrosis may affect not only the physics of blood flow through the liver but additionally the functions from the cells themselves.

Hepatic fibrosis seems to occur in three situations: (1) as an immune response, (2) as section of the procedure of wound healing, and (3) in response to agents that induce primary fibrogenesis. HBV and Schistosoma species are good examples of agents generating fibrosis on an immunologic basis. Real estate agents this kind of as carbon tetrachloride that attack and kill hepatocytes directly can create fibrosis as part of wound healing.

In both immune responses and wound healing, the fibrosis is triggered indirectly by the results of cytokines released from invading inflammatory tissue. Lastly, particular real estate agents such as ethanol and iron might cause primary fibrogenesis by directly increasing collagengene transcription and thus increasing also the quantity of connective structure secreted by tissue. The actual culprit in all of these mechanisms of elevated fibrogenesis may be the fat-storing cells (stellate tissue) of the hepatic reticuloendothelial program.

In response to cytokines, they differentiate from quiescent stellate tissue by which vitamin A is stored into myofibroblasts, which lose their vitamin A storage capacity and turn out to be actively engaged in extracellular matrix production. Additionally to the stellate tissue, fibrogenic tissue are also derived from portal fibroblasts, circulating fibrocytes, bone marrow, and epithelial-mesenchymal cell transition.

It appears that hepatic fibrosis occurs in two stages. The very first stage is characterized by a change in extracellular matrix composition from non-cross-linked, non-fibril-forming collagen to collagen that's more dense and subject to cross-link formation. At this stage, liver injury is nevertheless reversible. The second stage entails formation of subendothelial collagen cross-links, proliferation of myoepithelial tissue, and distortion of hepatic architecture using the look of regenerating nodules.

Cirrhosis remains a dynamic state in which certain interventions, even at these advanced phases, might yield advantages such as regression of scar tissue and improvements in scientific outcomes. Regardless from the possible effects on hepatocyte function, the increased fibrosis markedly alters the nature of blood flow in the liver, resulting in essential problems discussed later.

The manner in which alcohol causes persistent liver illness and cirrhosis isn't well understood. However, persistent alcohol abuse is associated with impaired protein synthesis and secretion, mitochondrial damage, lipid peroxidation, formation of acetaldehyde and its interaction with cellular proteins and membrane lipids, cellular hypoxia, and both cell-mediated and antibody-mediated cytotoxicity. The relative importance of every of these elements in producing cell damage is unknown.

Genetic, nutritional, and environmental elements (including simultaneous exposure to other hepatotoxins) also influence the development of liver disease in chronic alcoholics. Lastly, acute liver damage (eg, from exposure to alcohol or other toxins) from which a person with a regular liver would fully recover might be sufficient to produce irreversible decompensation (eg, hepatorenal syndrome) inside a patient with underlying hepatic cirrhosis.

Grossly, the liver might be big or small, but it usually has a firm consistency. Liver biopsy may be the only method of definitively diagnosing cirrhosis. Histologically, all forms of cirrhosis are characterized by 3 findings:

(1) marked distortion of hepatic architecture,
(2) scarring consequently of increased deposition of fibrous structure and collagen, and
(3) regenerative nodules surrounded by scar tissue.

When the nodules are little ( three mm and variable in size. Cirrhosis from alcohol abuse is generally micronodular but can be macronodular or both micronodular and macronodular. Scarring might be most severe in central regions, or dense bands of connective structure might join portal and central places. More particular histopathologic findings may help to establish the reason for cirrhosis.

For instance, invasion and destruction of bile ducts by granulomas suggests main (autoimmune) biliary cirrhosis; extensive iron deposition in hepatocytes and bile ducts suggests hemochromatosis; and alcoholic hyalin and infiltration with polymorphonuclear cells recommend alcoholic cirrhosis.

The scientific manifestations of progressive hepatocellular dysfunction in cirrhosis are comparable to those of acute or persistent hepatitis and consist of constitutional signs and symptoms and indicators: fatigue, reduction of vigor, and weight loss;

GI signs and symptoms and indicators: nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and tender hepatomegaly; and extrahepatic signs and symptoms and indicators: palmar erythema, spider angiomas, muscle wasting, parotid and lacrimal gland enlargement, gynecomastia and testicular atrophy in men, menstrual irregularities in women, and coagulopathy.

Clinical manifestations of portal hypertension consist of ascites, portosystemic shunting, encephalopathy, splenomegaly, and esophageal and gastric varices with intermittent hemorrhage.

Liver Cirrhosis

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Risks of Not Keeping Your Kids At a Healthy Weight

Child Obesity is becoming a national concern for the last few decades and is getting worse every year. Many doctors are very troubled by this trend and are working on ways to fix this issue.

Child obesity affects children and youth in so many ways. Obesity in childhood is connected to many different health related problems. Some of the health problems are asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, high cholesterol and even social discrimination.

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One of the main issues is that if a child has obesity issues, these can carry on into adulthood.

Obesity in children has one side affect besides health affects. The Psychological affects of being over weight makes kids easy targets of social discrimination. This stress of social discrimination can cause low self esteem, which is very hard in young kids, and will carry on into adulthood.

Cardiovascular Disease risks in very high is children. In a recent study it was found that almost 60% of obese children age 5 to 17 year olds had at least one risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol or abnormal glucose tolerance. At least 25% of the children had at least two or more of these rick factors.

There are other health risks associated with obesity in children. Sleep apnea is not that common in kids, but can still be an issue with about 7% of kids. Hepatic Steatosis in another health issue associated with obesity. It is an fatty degeneration of the liver.

Type 2 diabetes in being diagnosed by doctors in children who are overweight. Asthma is also being diagnosed by doctors as more studies are showing that there is a connection between children being overweight and asthma.

So we all need to work with our Kids eating healthy food and keep they active. Start eating healthy at home and help them stay active. Tip: I know kids can end up loving playing video games on their computer, but keep track of their computer usage and make them get outside to play and run around.

Risks of Not Keeping Your Kids At a Healthy Weight

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Fatty Liver Infiltration Treatment in 3 Steps

Fatty liver infiltration results from excess fat or diminished liver function that leads to accumulation of fat inside liver cells. That fat takes up precious resources leading to further impairment of liver function and leaving two of the most important tasks on the body (metabolism and detoxifying) damaged.

Furthermore, fatty liver (steatosis) can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

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But steatosis is treatable, and preventable.

Step 1 - Diet

The first step in reversing fatty liver is adjusting your diet. Reducing meat products, eggs, and milk are important. But you don't need to become vegetarian - more important than not eating animal products is increasing consumption of vegetables and fruit.

Step 2 - Exercise

Exercise signals your liver it is time to start burning the fat. Because the most accessible fat after diet fat is inside the liver itself, that's the first fat that will be destroyed, reversing fatty liver infiltration. Combined with diet this may also lead to weight loss: weight loss will be delayed, because first the liver will burn the fatty infiltration, but once the liver is healthy it will start burning fat more effectively than before and weight will melt down.

Step 3 - Herbal Aids

One last step towards liver health is taking supplements and herbal teas. Turmeric, milk thistle, artichoke, and linen are the most important aid in reversing fatty liver infiltration. Treatment with these herbs has even been proven to reverse cirrhosis and liver cancer, previously deemed as chronic irreversible diseases.

What about liver detox?

Liver detox is not a life-long project, however, it can kick start fatty liver infiltration treatment routines. The detox should last no longer than a week and you shouldn't do more than three per year (I recommend one per year, maybe in the Spring, to act as a bodily spring cleaning).

A liver detox is very simple: for the period simply drink shakes and juices made of vegetables and fruit. Don't add any milk or products of animal origin, don't add nuts (they are extremely healthy and you should add them to your diet, just not during detox), and don't eat the vegetables and fruit, drink them.

Fatty Liver Infiltration Treatment in 3 Steps

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The Importance of Good Nutrition For a Healthy Liver

There is a condition that is an accumulation of fat cells in the liver which is known as steatosis, commonly referred to as fatty liver. This condition is present in alcoholics and non-alcoholics, and if not properly treated, can lead to a type of cancer of the liver known as hepatocellular carcinoma, which can be found in approximately 10-24% of the public. In fact, as much as ten percent of patients with fatty liver will develop the disease.

Fatty liver can be diagnosed with a simple blood test and is often discovered during screening for other conditions. There are a number of possible causes of fatty liver, including:

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- Improper transfer of fat from one part of the body to another

- Increased extraction of fat going from the intestine to the liver

- Slowing of the process of the liver breaking down fat and removing it from the body

- Sometimes occurs during pregnancy

- High doses of tetracycline

- Valproic acid toxicity

Risk Factors for Fatty Liver

There are a number of risk factors for fatty liver, some of which can be avoided, such as obesity and starvation. Other risk factors for fatty liver include irritable bowel syndrome, hepatitis C, diabetes, poisons, corticosteroids, Cushings syndrome and hyperlipidemia, which is caused by high levels of fat in the blood. Fatty liver is actually one of the most common causes of isolated liver enzymes, and in order to properly diagnose fatty liver, a liver biopsy must be performed.

A Healthy, Well-Balanced Diet is Essential

A healthy diet is essential to combat fatty liver because the liver, which is the second heaviest organ in the body next to the skin, distributes nutrients from food to our bodies, deciding which are toxic and which are not, which nutrients to use as energy and which should be stored as fat. The liver works pretty much as hard as the heart does, and the poorer the diet, the harder the liver must work to ensure that the proper nutrients are getting to the proper places. When the liver works this hard, it can become overstressed, which can lead to fatty liver.

There are three essential nutrients that the body depends on to remain strong and healthy: carbohydrates, fats and proteins.

Carbohydrates

The body gets its energy mainly from carbohydrates, and contrary to popular belief, we do need at least 50% of our diets to consist of carbohydrates. Even though most of the body can use other nutrients for energy, the only one that the brain is able to use is carbohydrates, which can either be simple or complex. Simple carbohydrates are the ones that you want to avoid, or at least have in small amounts. These are more easily digested, therefore, they cause significant spikes in blood glucose levels. The best carbohydrates to have in a healthy diet are complex carbohydrates, which can be found in whole grain foods such as whole grain bread and crackers.

Fats

Fatty liver is not a condition that is typically cause by having too much fat in the diet. Fats are necessary for survival, and it is important to include the right fats in a well-balanced diet. Too much fat in the diet can lead to obesity, which is a definite risk factor for fatty liver. But if you are considering going on a low-fat diet, remember that being underweight is also a risk factor. This is why it is important for your diet to be well-balanced, with all of the proper amounts of the macronutrients that the body needs. Excellent dietary sources of fat include fatty fish such as salmon, olives and olive oil and nuts.

Proteins

This is a macronutrient that the body needs in order to survive. Protein plays a vital role in tissue and muscle growth, recovery and regeneration, and affects every cell in the body. There are two dietary sources of protein, plants and animals, with animal and soy being the best sources, providing all 22 essential and non-essential amino acids. According to the American Heart Association, most diets should be around 35% protein. In addition to being necessary, protein helps dieters as it makes one feel fuller than other nutrients, thereby resulting in eating less.

Types of Protein Supplements

There are a number of terrific protein supplements available that will give you the protein, along with many other important vitamins and nutrients, that you need for energy and good health. Some of the more popular types of protein supplements include:

Protein Powders

These are available unflavored, and can be added to most of your favorite recipes. They are also available in a number of delicious flavors and can be used to make great-tasting shakes, smoothies and slushies. Protein powders are usually made from whey, casein, soy and rice proteins, which are all considered to be complete proteins.

Liquid Proteins

These can be found in delicious flavors and are often ready-to-drink. Many liquid proteins are made with whey or casein proteins, both milk derivatives, so those who are allergic to milk and milk products or are lactose intolerant should try soy, rice or egg proteins instead. Read the ingredients carefully to make sure that you are getting a product that will be good for your health. If you are unsure, speak with your physician.

Protein Bars and Snacks

There are a number of delicious protein bars and other snacks available that are ideal for mid-morning and afternoon snacks. They provide the protein you need, which will give you the energy you need to get through the day, and many are low in fat and calories so they are great for diets.

Another terrific protein supplement is Profect, from Protica. This little drink that is less than three ounces really packs a protein punch, with 25 grams of protein per serving. It is low in calories (only 100 per serving), and is also low in carbohydrates and fats. This is a great supplement for dieters who want to get their protein without the fat and calories.

The Importance of Good Nutrition For a Healthy Liver

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Fatty Liver - Causes and Treatment

Did you know that 33% of the American population suffers from fatty liver and doesn't know about it? Fatty liver, or steatosis, is the accumulation of fat inside liver cells. This fat takes up precious resources and leads to mild liver failure that can grow into cirrhosis and full-blown liver failure. The causes of steatosis are multiple but, fortunately, this is a reversible malady.

Causes of Fatty Liver

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The main cause of fatty liver today is obesity. Eating too much fat or sugar stresses the liver, which must process it. In time it develops steatosis and its function of burning fat is compromised, reducing metabolism and making weight loss difficult.

Another major culprit is alcohol. Alcohol puts too much stress on the liver's detoxifying function, killing cells which are replaced by non-functional fibrotic tissue (cirrhosis). Drugs (even doctor prescribed and homeopathic remedies) act in the same way, though they are not as aggressive as alcohol and, unless you are overdosing, your liver can regenerate faster than these drugs damage it.

Even if you are not obese and don't take drugs or alcohol, you can still have steatosis. This happens when your diet is not healthy - if you eat too much meat and few vegetables or fruit your liver will be damaged, even if your silhouette doesn't show it.

Treatment of Fatty Liver

The first step in treatment of any disease is removing the causes. So, a diet rich in vegetables and fruit and low in meat, an active lifestyle, restriction of alcohol and other drugs are the first steps. Weight loss is also important, but a fatty liver makes weight loss difficult, so you should concentrate on healing your liver and weight loss follows as your metabolism fires up.

To aid in healing a few herbs have been tested and showed incredible results. Turmeric, milk thistle, and artichoke are the most important. Flax seed oil is also beneficial. These herbs have been combined in several commercial preparations, but you can take them individually as well. They have the added benefit of reducing cholesterol, reversing diabetes, and leading to weight loss.

Fatty Liver - Causes and Treatment

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Diet Plan For Fatty Liver - Foods To Eat To Reduce A Fatty Liver

A diet plan for fatty liver should be one of moderation and balance. Much like a healthy diet for the average person, a diet for reducing a fatty liver should focus on highly nutritional foods. All food groups need to be represented, but nothing should be eaten in excess.

A key goal of a fatty liver diet should be reducing fat intake into the body. Fatty liver disease (FLD) results from excess fat accumulations in the liver, so it only makes sense to cut out high fat foods, particularly those containing saturated fats. No more than 30% of the overall caloric intake each day should be composed of fats.

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You might be wondering why fat accumulates in the liver in the first place. After all, doesn't it usually collect in adipose tissues around the belly, under the forearms, and around the thighs?

While it is true that fat does accumulate in these places, it is an entirely different form of fat. Adipose tissues collect fat in the form of adipocytes whereas the liver collects fat in the form of triglycerides.

Following a low-fat diet can help stop the progression of fatty liver disease from simple steatosis (its first and least severe stage) to Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (its most severe and potentially life threatening stage). However, reducing fat alone is not the solution to FDL.

The best diet plan also needs to be rich in vitamins and minerals. Some of the most important vitamins and minerals are folate (folic acid), active forms of vitamin B such as thiamine and riboflavin, manganese, sulfur, selenium, and vitamin C. The best sources for vitamins include citrus fruits and vegetables, particularly greens and leaves.

Protein is also needed since it is an important part of metabolic and cellular processes. The best sources of protein come from vegetables (such as beans), seafood, and lean meats.

Excess fat should be removed from meats prior to cooking or eating them. It is also best to focus on white meats such as chicken and turkey instead of dark meats like beef and pork. Protein should account for about 20-30% of the diet.

Dairy products should be consumed sparingly. Lean toward those that have reduced fat and/or those that are fat-free. A good diet plan for fatty liver will be high in fiber, and complex carbohydrates (such as those found in wheat bread and brown rice) will make up a majority of the caloric intake. Simple carbohydrates (such as those found in candy) should be avoided. Overall, complex carbohydrates should account for 60-70% of the diet.

Steer clear of alcoholic beverages as well as high sugar fruit drinks and energy drinks. Water is always the best option when it comes to beverages.

Diet Plan For Fatty Liver - Foods To Eat To Reduce A Fatty Liver

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Is Kava Safe For You?

Kava (Piper methysticum) has a long history of traditional use for the treatment of symptoms related to anxiety, stress, nervous restlessness and has demonstrated effectiveness for treatment of anxiety in randomized placebo controlled trials.

Kava's popularity were due to the lack of both dependence and documented adverse effects. Kava has been promoted as an axiolytic agent with little risk for dependence or adverse reactions. An unblinded, comparative, crossover trial of kava (120 mg) and Valerian (600 mg) was conducted, each agent administered for 6 weeks with a 2 weeks period between.

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This was followed with administration of a combination of the two compounds. Both stress and insomnia were measured regarding social, personal, and life Kava 29 events. Results: the severity of stress was equally relieved by each of the two compounds and there was further improvement of insomnia with combination therapy. With kava, 67% of the subjects reported no adverse events, 53% denied adverse events with Valerian, and likewise with combination therapy. Vivid dreams were experienced by 21% of subjects taking combination therapy and 16% of those taking Valerian alone. Dizziness or gastric discomfort was reported by 3%.

In the United States and Europe, evidence of hepatic failure following the use of kava extracts is accumulating. Kava users, experienced liver failure after consuming kava extract for 2 months. Liver biopsy revealed active fulminant hepatitis with extensive necrosis and tests for viral hepatitis were negative.

A 33-year-old woman took 210 mg of kava extract for 3 weeks and discontinued the product. After 2 months, she resumed taking the same product for an additional 3-week period. Symptoms of hepatotoxicity developed a day after ingesting 60 ml of alcohol. Tests for viral hepatitis were negative and liver biopsy revealed evidence of hepatic necrosis.

According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory letter dated March 25, 2002 warned health care providers of a total of 11 patients who had used kava products and developed liver failure requiring liver transplantation.

General consumers should be aware that Kava should not be used by anyone who has any liver problems. In addition, as well as anyone who is taking any drug product with known adverse effects on the liver, or anyone who is a regular consumer of alcohol.

Is Kava Safe For You?

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One Simple Step to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease

What is fatty liver disease, or steatosis? A mild liver condition where fat accumulates inside liver cells and causes them to malfunction. Over time, steatosis may lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and liver failure.

Do you think you may suffer from this condition?

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Fatty liver is very common (up to 30% of all people in the Western world) and it causes very mild symptoms, like nausea, bad breath, rashes, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension.

But is there anything you can do to reverse fatty liver disease?

There are actually three very well known herbs that studies have shown cause a consistent reduction and reversion on any liver disease, even cancer!

These three herbs are so effective that some pharmaceuticals already have studies under way to extract the active substances in them in order to produce drugs for liver cancer and cirrhosis. But they haven't yet been able to do so.

Fortunately, these herbs are very accessible and anyone with fatty liver disease can get them and start treating him or herself.

Want to know what these herbs are?

Ginger, milk thistle, and turmeric. Didn't I tell you they were very well known?

There are already combinations of these on the market. They are more convenient than the three herbs separate, but if you take all three herbs there is no gain in effect from taking them as a whole pill or separate.

The studies that have shown the efficacy of these herbs used them as pills (i.e. true supplements). However, I suggest you also include them in your cooking to increase their effect.

One Simple Step to Reverse Fatty Liver Disease

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Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

Alcoholic fatty liver disease not unlike other forms of fatty liver is reversible. When the cause of fatty liver is alcohol, it is more likely to develop into cirrhosis and cancer, so it is very important to reverse it and prevent it from haunting you again.

Alcohol damages your liver cells by overloading them with work. When that happens fat accumulates inside them because they can't handle taking care of both fat and alcohol (fatty liver, or steatosis stage). As more fat accumulates, less damage the liver can endure and cells start to die and be replaced by fibrotic tissue (cirrhosis stage). Fibrotic tissue does not function and leads to chronic liver failure. Damage to the liver also increases the probability of developing cancer.

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But even when you already have alcoholic fatty liver disease, treatment is possible. The first step is, of course, reducing alcohol intake or, better yet, remove it completely. Alcohol not only damages your liver directly, but it is causes malabsorption of nutrients essential for liver recovery.

The next step is adjusting your diet. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and, if at all possible, become vegetarian. Meat, fish, eggs, and milk put extra load on the liver, which you want to avoid. On the other hand, fruit, vegetables, grains, and beans are rich in nutrients and poor in calories, providing the nutrients necessary for liver regeneration while keeping calories low to signal the liver to burn the fat inside it.

Finally, one last step is taking supplements. A few herbs have been proven to cause liver regeneration and fight liver cancer, and they have healed people with steatosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. The most important of these are milk thistle, and artichoke, but the list is very long. You can either try to take one supplement of each or, better yet, use one of the many combinations available.

Alcoholic fatty liver disease treatment is one of the best steps you can take towards health. It is beneficial for everyone who takes, or took, alcohol, because even moderate amount have been shown to cause some degree of liver damage.

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatment

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Fatty Liver Homeopathy Cure - Why Is It a Better Alternative?

There are different forms of alternative medicine that could be found in the market. A popular one is called homeopathy that utilizes highly diluted preparations. Homeopathy also works through stimulating your immune system.

This is good news for people who are suffering from various diseases such as FLD for this is a risk-free and inexpensive alternative to surgical treatments. There are several guides on fatty liver homeopathy cure that you can use.

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FLD or steatosis in its medical term is simply the excessive accumulation of fats in the liver over a period of time. The build-up of fats in the liver is a normal condition of the body since the liver will just break these down.

However, with FLD, the normal process of metabolism is disrupted. In contrast with homeopathy; allopathy medicine utilizes drug treatment of liver disease. But this is very limited and restricted to treating the symptoms and preventing the complications.

Furthermore, over-the-counter drug could be more toxic to the liver later on and may interfere with its recovery period. Thus, fatty liver homeopathy cure is much preferred. Here are its other important advantages:

1. This alternative treats the whole body and not just the symptoms by improving the function of the liver and promoting a healthy liver by preventing further damaged and complications such as viral hepatitis and cirrhosis caused by medications and alcohol intake. It will also improve other parts of the digestive system such gall bladder by reducing complications such as inflammation and formation of gallstones.

2. Another advantage is that homeopathy inhibits other liver-associated problems. These include weakened immune and digestive system, fatigue, obesity, and allergies among others.

3. Homeopathy will also neutralize toxins and at the same time it could be an anti-oxidant, vitamin and mineral supplement to your body.

The effectiveness of fatty liver homeopathy cure will vary from one person to another depending on the severity of the condition. To sum it all, the best thing about this alternative medicine is that it will not just cure the negative condition but the cause primarily with no known side effects at a very low cost as compared to allopathy treatments.

A person suffering from fatty liver might then try several homeopathic options in order to assess which approach is effective after a reasonable period of time. Make the right choice now - it's your health and life that are at stake.

Fatty Liver Homeopathy Cure - Why Is It a Better Alternative?

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The Truth About Unilateral Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia or man boobs is abnormal enlargement of the breast of men. This is quite embarrassing for any man, but is actually very common. Normally this occurs during puberty stage because there is hormonal imbalance during this time. When men reach adulthood, this unilateral gynecomastia disappears. However this is not the case for everyone. There are times when breast tissue still remains which can be a problem. For elderly men, this is often associated with weight gain. Aside from hormonal imbalance, there are medications that can hamper estrogen. This is also sometimes due to alcohol intake or a disease in the liver.

Unilateral gynecomastia can actually be corrected surgically. It could potentially be a sign of other serious disorders like tumors, although this is rare. If there is a significant enlargement in the chest, it is best to go to the doctor and have a medical evaluation. Sometimes it is caused by a tumor found in the breast or lung. It is best if a biopsy is performed in order to rule out any potential for cancer. There is unilateral gynecomastia because of fat accumulation. In order to diagnose if this is the case, a physical examination is required. The doctor will use thumb and forefinger at margins of the breast. This is to test the tissue underneath the area. If the tissue is moving, it is a sign of developing unilateral gynecomastia.

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If you decide the problem is severe enough to warrant looking for a solution, possible treatments are dependent on several factors. One is the cause of the gynecomastia. If this is caused by medication, it is best to stop taking any of the drugs that could be causing it (with your doctors consent of course). If it is due to puberty, then it is best to leave it at least until adulthood when the condition should have disappeared. Man boobs can be caused by hyperthyroidism, acute hepatic disorder and others that would respond to therapy. There are actually some causes of unilateral gynecomastia that can only be detected through physical exam. It requires no therapy other than treating the root cause.

Another factor to consider is the length of time. If it has been present for only six months or less, there are treatments that will work very quickly to eliminate the condition.

The most effective cure for this is actually surgery. The glandular tissue would be removed. This would certainly lead to improvement in appearance. Treating this can actually improve the confidence of men in dealing with others.

The Truth About Unilateral Gynecomastia

HEPATIC

A Tumor In The Brain Can Cause Dog Seizures

All dog owners need to know what the signs and symptoms of dog seizures are. Many dogs can have seizures and these are medical episodes that are not limited to certain breeds. Some conditions that your dog could have can increase the chances for seizures.

There are different types of seizures in dogs. Some are mild while others are severe. A severe seizure is described as a 'Grand Mal'. There are multiple causes for mild and severe seizures in dogs. Taking the time to learn what you can about how to know when your dog is having a seizure and what to do in the event of one is important.

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A seizure occurs when the brain's nerves begin to misfire. This is sign that there is a neurological problem going on. Keep in mind that a seizure is a symptom of some other medical issue and it is not a disease on its own. When one occurs, you are going to be dealing with an additional issue including the seizure.Keeping up with regular vet care helps to prevent some illnesses that could bring on a seizure.

Some liver disorders can cause horrible seizures. The condition in dogs known as hepatic encephalopathy is one underlying cause of seizures. This disease caused brain tissue degeneration brought on by insufficient hepatic activity due to an advanced form of liver disease. Abnormal behavior and impaired brain functioning are evident signs that help to cause seizures related to this disease.

Infectious or inflammatory conditions can also cause seizures. The most likely to relate are those that severely affect the nervous system. Canine distemper is one of these disease and is a common affliction in dogs that have not been properly vaccinated. Rabies is another brain virus that causes severe seizures. Making sure a dog is up to date on all vaccines can help to prevent these issues.

When your dog has been poisoned, seizures are going to happen. You would be surprised at how many pets are poisoned every year just in the United States. Make sure to keep up poisonous substances that could harm your dog, especially antifreeze. Animals are attracted to to the taste of antifreeze because it is sweet. In fact, many vets can diagnose this type of poisoning by smelling the breath of the animal.

The presence of a brain tumor can cause seizures as well. A tumor in the right place can cause severe seizures while one in another place may cause only mild ones. Dogs that have suffered head trauma can also have mild to severe seizures. This is common in those dogs that are hit my cars or are abused by owners.

Dog seizures are scary and when an owner does not expect it or know what to do, it can be a frightening experience. If a dog has any type of medical problem that may include the symptoms of seizures, make sure you talk to your vet about what to in the event of one happening. The biggest thing to remember is to remain calm and immediately call your vet.

A Tumor In The Brain Can Cause Dog Seizures

HEPATIC

Diets For People With Fatty Liver - 4 Keys To Removing Excess Fat From Your Liver

Diets for people with fatty liver are not only healthy for the liver, but also for the rest of the body. In fact, a good fatty liver diet is not much different than a good, healthy diet for the average person. However, it's important to know what you're up against because making a few minor changes in the foods you eat can make a huge, long-term difference in maintaining proper liver function.

Fatty liver (sometimes referred to as fatty liver disease or FLD) simply refers to an overabundance of fat, specifically triglycerides, in the liver. The end result of fat accumulation is a liver that is much larger and heavier than that of a healthy individual.

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You might also hear the term, "steatosis", tossed around when researching this condition. Steatosis simply refers to the process by which the fat accumulates in and around liver cells (hepatocytes). It is also used to describe the first of four stages of FLD that range from steatosis to steatohepatitis (fatty liver coupled with inflammation).

Early stages of FLD are often benign and asymptomatic. However, if the condition is left undiscovered and uncontrolled, then it can become life threatening in the form of cirrhosis or liver cancer. Definitive confirmation of the presence of FLD can only be done through a liver biopsy procedure. The condition is closely tied to obesity and, in the case of AFL (alcoholic fatty liver), excessive alcohol consumption, which is why proper diet and exercise are critical to improving and reversing the disease.

A good diet plan for fatty liver often focuses on 4 central ideas: high fiber and complex carbohydrates, control and monitor calories, reduce fat intake, and go heavy on fruits and vegetables.

Pasta, brown rice, and other foods rich in complex carbohydrates are generally recommended to make up the main energy source for people with excessive fat in the liver. Approximately 60-70% of the diet should come from complex carbohydrates and foods high in fiber.

These foods help provide your body with a useable energy source so it doesn't have to resort to breaking down fats that can accumulate in the liver. They also aid digestion which helps remove excess fat.

By reducing calories, you can reduce weight. This in turn helps take some of the stress off your liver. A 1200 to 1500 calorie meal plan should be a good diet for reducing a fatty liver, so long as the proper foods are consumed.

The most important part of a good diet plan for FLD is reducing your overall fat intake. Shoot for gradual weight loss and keep fat from ending up in your liver by shooting for a diet low in saturated fats. Fat should not make up more than 30% of your daily caloric intake.

Lastly, remember when your mom used to tell you to eat all your fruits and vegetables? Now is the time to start listening to her if you haven't already. A fatty liver disease diet should be rich in fruits and vegetables, particularly those containing large amounts of vitamin C (citrus fruits) and folate.

Diets For People With Fatty Liver - 4 Keys To Removing Excess Fat From Your Liver

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The Colon Anatomy - What it Does

Anatomy
The location of the parts of the colon are either in the abdominal cavity or behind it in the retroperitoneum. The colon in those areas is fixed in location.

Ascending colon
The ascending colon is on the right side of the abdomen, is about 12.5 cm long. It is the part of the colon from the cecum to the hepatic flexure (the turn of the colon by the liver). It is [retroperitoneal] in most humans. In grazing animals the cecum empties into the spiral colon. Anteriorly it is related to the coils of small intestine, the right edge of the greater omentum, and the anterior abdominal wall. Posteriorly, it is related to the iliacus, the iliolumbar ligament, the quadratus lumborum, the transverse abdominis, the diaphragm at the tip of the last rib; the lateral cutaneous, ilioinguinal, and iliohypogastric nerves; the iliac branches of the iliolumbar vessels, the fourth lumbar artery, and the right kidney.

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Transverse colon
The transverse colon is the part of the colon from the hepatic flexure (the turn of the colon by the liver) to the splenic flexure (the turn of the colon by the spleen). The transverse colon hangs off the stomach, attached to it by a wide band of tissue called the greater omentum. On the posterior side, the transverse colon is connected to the posterior abdominal wall by a mesentery known as the transverse mesocolon.

The transverse colon is encased in peritoneum, and is therefore mobile (unlike the parts of the colon immediately before and after it). More cancers form as the large intestine goes along and the contents become more solid (water is removed) in order to form feces. It is primarily supplied by the middle colic artery, a branch of superior mesenteric artery.

Descending colon
The descending colon is the part of the colon from the splenic flexure to the beginning of the sigmoid colon. It is retroperitoneal in two-thirds of humans. In the other third, it has a (usually short) mesentery.

Sigmoid colon
The sigmoid colon is the part of the large intestine after the descending colon and before the rectum. The name sigmoid means S-shaped (see sigmoid). The walls of the sigmoid colon are muscular, and contract to increase the pressure inside the colon, causing the stool to move into the rectum.

Due to the intermittent high pressure within it, the colon can develop pockets called diverticuli in its walls. The presence of diverticuli, whether harmful or not, is called diverticulosis. An infection of the diverticuli is called diverticulitis.

Sigmoidoscopy is a common diagnostic technique used to examine the sigmoid colon.

Function
The large intestine comes after the small intestine in the digestive tract and measures approximately 1.5 meters in length. Although there are differences in the large intestine between different organisms, the large intestine is mainly responsible for storing waste, reclaiming water, maintaining the water balance, and absorbing some vitamins, such as vitamin K. This is why a colon cleanse is very important to vibrant health.

By the time the chyme has reached this tube, almost all nutrients and 90% of the water have been absorbed by the body. At this point some electrolytes like sodium, magnesium, and chloride are left as well as indigestible carbohydrates known as dietary fiber. As the chyme moves through the large intestine, most of the remaining water is removed, while the chyme is mixed with mucus and bacteria known as gut flora, and becomes feces. The bacteria break down some of the fiber for their own nourishment and create acetate, propionate, and butyrate as waste products, which in turn are used by the cell lining of the colon for nourishment. This is an example of a symbiotic relationship and provides about 100 Calories a day to the body. The large intestine produces no digestive enzymes - chemical digestion is completed in the small intestine before the chyme reaches the large intestine. The pH in the colon varies between 5.5 and 7 (slightly acidic to neutral).

There are a number of diseases or disorders of the colon:

Angiodysplasia of the colon,
Chronic functional abdominal pain,
Colitis,
Colon cancer,
Constipation,
Crohn's disease,
Diarrhea,
Diverticulitis,
Diverticulosis,
Hirschsprung's disease (aganglionosis),
Irritable bowel syndrome,
Polyposis (see also Polyp),
Pseudomembranous colitis,
Ulcerative colitis and toxic megacolon.

The Colon Anatomy - What it Does

HEPATIC

Fructose Contributes to a Fatty Liver

Ever heard of Hepatic Steatosis? It's the medical term for a fatty liver, and it describes a liver condition in which there is an abnormal and excessive build up of fat in the cells of the liver. When the fat in the liver accounts for more than 10% of the liver's weight, then it is called "hepatic steatosis" and this condition could lead to more serious complications for the patient.

Most people know that alcoholics develop liver damage as a consequence of chronic alcohol consumption. But not all fatty, inflamed livers are caused by excessive alcohol consumption. It's estimated that over one third of Americans suffer from fatty liver disease unrelated to alcohol consumption. That's over 60 million people.

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This type of liver disease is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and it's a concern because just like the type that alcoholics get, NAFLD can lead to an inflamed liver, a disease called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH, and set the sufferer up for a higher risk of liver cancer.

Worse, a fatty liver produces no symptoms on its own, so people often only learn about their fatty liver when they have medical tests for other reasons.

What Causes Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

There are many different causes for NAFLD. Most sites, including the American Liver Foundation, mention elevated triglycerides, but they don't tell you what to do.

So then, what causes elevated triglycerides? As it turns out, a diet high in carbohydrates, especially a diet high in fructose, has been shown to elevate triglyceride levels, and as a consequence, worsen NAFLD.

On average, Americans eat about 75 pounds of fructose per year, mostly in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). HFCS is added to just about every processed food, and it's in foods that you wouldn't suspect, including artificial crabmeat, soups, and other supposedly non-sweet foods. And study after study has shown that fructose elevates triglyceride levels and increases inflammation in the liver. Fructose is metabolized exclusively in the liver, and a diet heavy in fructose takes a toll on the liver.

Other Causes of NAFLD

In addition, a high consumption of omega-6 polyunsaturated fats also contributes to fatty liver disease. Omega-6 fats include vegetable oils such as corn, canola, and soybean oils. (Omega-6 oils do not include olive oil, and nut oils; these are monounsaturated oils.)

In addition to contributing to NAFLD, many studies have shown that omega-6 oils are highly inflammatory, and linoleic acid, the main fatty acid found in vegetable oil, has a suppressive effect on the immune system and on thyroid function.

Treating NAFLD
At least two studies, one from Duke University, and one from Cambridge in London, have shown that reducing carbohydrate consumption and increasing saturated fat intake helps the liver shed excess fat in as little as three days.

So, if you want a healthy liver, cut your overall carbohydrate intake, and avoid fructose and processed vegetable oils as much as possible!

Fructose Contributes to a Fatty Liver

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Chronic Hepatitis

Persistent hepatitis is really a category of disorders characterized through the combination of liver cell necrosis and inflammation of varying intensity persisting for a lot more than 6 months. It might be due to viral infection; drugs and poisons; genetic, metabolic, or autoimmune elements; or unknown causes. The intensity ranges from an asymptomatic constant illness characterized only by laboratory test abnormalities to some extreme, gradually progressive sickness culminating in cirrhosis, liver failure, and death.

Depending on scientific, laboratory, and biopsy findings, chronic hepatitis is best assessed with regard to (1) distribution and intensity of inflammation, (a couple of) degree of fibrosis, and (three) etiology, which has important prognostic implications. Patients might present with exhaustion, malaise, low-grade fever, anorexia, weight loss, slight intermittent jaundice, and mild hepatosplenomegaly.

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Others are initially asymptomatic and present late within the course of the illness with problems of cirrhosis, such as variceal bleeding, coagulopathy, encephalopathy, jaundice, and ascites. In contrast to chronic persistent hepatitis, some patients with persistent active hepatitis, particularly those without having serologic proof of antecedent HBV infection, present with extrahepatic symptoms such as skin rash, diarrhea, arthritis, and various autoimmune problems.

Either type of chronic hepatitis could be triggered by infection with several hepatitis viruses (eg, hepatitis B with or without having hepatitis D superinfection and hepatitis C); a range of drugs and poisons (eg, ethanol, isoniazid, acetaminophen), frequently in amounts insufficient to cause symptomatic acute hepatitis; genetic and metabolic disorders (eg, 1-antiprotease [ 1-antitrypsin] deficiency, Wilson's disease); or immune-mediated injury of unfamiliar origin.

Much less than 5% of otherwise healthy adults with acute hepatitis B remain chronically infected with HBV; the risk is greater in those who are immunocompromised or of young age (eg, persistent infection develops in around 90% of neonates). Among those chronically infected, about two-thirds develop slight persistent hepatitis and one-third develop extreme persistent hepatitis (see later on discussion).

Superinfection with HDV of the patient with chronic HBV infection is associated having a much higher rate of persistent hepatitis than is observed with isolated hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis D superinfection of individuals with hepatitis B can also be associated having a high incidence of fulminant hepatic failure. Finally, 60-85% of people with acute post-transfusional or community-acquired hepatitis C develop chronic hepatitis.

Many cases of persistent hepatitis are thought to represent an immune-mediated attack about the liver occurring consequently of persistence of certain hepatitis viruses or after prolonged exposure to particular medicines or noxious substances. In some, no mechanism may be recognized.

Proof that the disorder is immune mediated is that liver biopsies reveal inflammation (infiltration of lymphocytes) in characteristic regions of the liver architecture (eg, portal versus lobular). Furthermore, a variety of autoimmune problems occur with high frequency in patients with chronic hepatitis.

Postviral Chronic Hepatitis: Viral hepatitis may be the most common trigger of chronic liver illness within the United States. In approximately 5% of instances of HBV virus and 60-85% of hepatitis C infections, the immune response is inadequate to clear the liver of virus, resulting in persistent infection.

The individual becomes a chronic carrier, intermittently producing the virus and hence remaining infectious to other people. Biochemically, these individuals are frequently found to have viral DNA integrated into their genomes inside a method that outcomes in abnormal expression of particular viral proteins with or without having production of intact virus.

Viral antigens expressed on the hepatocyte cell surface are connected with class I HLA determinants, thus eliciting lymphocyte cytotoxicity and resulting in hepatitis. The severity of chronic hepatitis is largely dependent about the activity of viral replication and also the response through the host's immune program.

Persistent hepatitis B infection predisposes the patient to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma even within the absence of cirrhosis. It remains unclear regardless of whether hepatitis B infection is the initiator or simply a promoter within the procedure of tumorigenesis. In hepatitis C virus, hepatocellular carcinoma develops only within the setting of cirrhosis.

Alcoholic Persistent Hepatitis: Chronic liver disease in response to some poisons or poisons may represent triggering of an underlying genetic predisposition to immune attack about the liver. In alcoholic hepatitis, nevertheless, repeated episodes of acute injury ultimately cause necrosis, fibrosis, and regeneration, leading at some point to cirrhosis. As in other forms of liver disease, there's considerable variation in the extent of signs or symptoms before development of cirrhosis.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Illness: In light of increasing obesity within the United States, there may be a substantial increase within the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a form of persistent liver disease that is connected using the metabolic syndrome. NAFLD occurs in problems that cause predominantly macrovesicular fat accumulation within the liver.

Conditions this kind of as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertriglyceridemia, and insulin resistance are regarded risk factors for improvement of NAFLD. An estimated 3-6% from the U.S. population with an aggressive type of NAFLD generally known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis are, in particular, at higher risk of progressive liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Idiopathic Chronic Hepatitis: Some individuals develop chronic hepatitis in the absence of evidence of preceding viral hepatitis or exposure to noxious agents. These individuals typically have serologic proof of disordered immunoregulation, manifested as hyperglobulinemia and circulating autoantibodies.

Almost 75% of these patients are women, and numerous have other autoimmune problems. A genetic predisposition is strongly suggested. Most individuals with autoimmune hepatitis display histologic improvement in liver biopsies right after remedy with systemic corticosteroids.

The scientific response, however, can be variable. Primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune cholangitis signify cholestatic types of an autoimmune-mediated liver illness. All forms of chronic hepatitis share the typical histopathologic features of (1) inflammatory infiltration of hepatic portal areas with mononuclear cells, particularly lymphocytes and plasma tissue, and (2) necrosis of hepatocytes within the parenchyma or immediately adjacent to portal areas (periportal hepatitis, or "piecemeal necrosis").

In slight chronic hepatitis, the overall architecture from the liver is preserved. Histologically, the liver reveals a characteristic lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltrate confined towards the portal triad without disruption from the limiting plate and no proof of energetic hepatocyte necrosis. There's small or no fibrosis, and what there's usually is restricted to the portal region; there is no sign of cirrhosis.

A "cobblestone" look of liver tissue is observed, indicating regeneration of hepatocytes. In more severe cases of persistent hepatitis, the portal areas are expanded and densely infiltrated by lymphocytes, histiocytes, and plasma cells.

There's necrosis of hepatocytes in the periphery of the lobule, with erosion from the limiting plate surrounding the portal triads (piecemeal necrosis; A lot more extreme instances also display proof of necrosis and fibrosis in between portal triads.

There's disruption of typical liver architecture by bands of scar tissue and inflammatory tissue that link portal areas to a single another and to central locations (bridging necrosis). These connective tissue bridges are evidence of remodeling of hepatic architecture, a crucial step in the development of cirrhosis.

Fibrosis might extend from the portal locations into the lobules, isolating hepatocytes into clusters and enveloping bile ducts. Regeneration of hepatocytes is observed with mitotic figures, multinucleated cells, rosette formation, and regenerative pseudolobules. Progression to cirrhosis is signaled by extensive fibrosis, loss of zonal architecture, and regenerating nodules.

Some patients with slight chronic hepatitis are completely asymptomatic and identified only within the course of routine blood testing; other people have an insidious onset of nonspecific signs or symptoms such as anorexia, malaise, and exhaustion or hepatic symptoms this kind of as correct upper quadrant abdominal discomfort or pain.

Fatigue in chronic hepatitis might be related to a change in the hypothalamic-adrenal neuroendocrine axis brought about by altered endogenous opioidergic neurotransmission. Jaundice, if present, is usually mild. There may be slight tender hepatomegaly and occasional splenomegaly. Palmar erythema and spider telangiectases are observed in extreme instances.

Other extrahepatic manifestations are unusual. By definition, signs of cirrhosis and portal hypertension (eg, ascites, collateral circulation, and encephalopathy) are absent. Laboratory scientific studies display slight to moderate increases in serum aminotransferase, bilirubin, and globulin levels. Serum albumin and the prothrombin time are typical until late within the progression of liver disease.

The clinical manifestations of persistent hepatitis most likely reflect the role of a systemic genetically controlled immune disorder within the pathogenesis of severe disease. Acne, hirsutism, and amenorrhea may occur being a reflection from the hormonal effects of persistent liver disease. Laboratory scientific studies in patients with severe chronic hepatitis are invariably abnormal to various degrees.

Nevertheless, these abnormalities don't correlate with scientific intensity. Thus, the serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and globulin levels may be typical and aminotransferase levels only mildly elevated at the same time that a liver biopsy reveals extreme chronic hepatitis.

Nevertheless, an elevated prothrombin time generally reflects severe disease. The natural history and remedy of persistent hepatitis varies based on its cause. The complications of extreme chronic hepatitis are individuals of progression to cirrhosis: variceal bleeding, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypersplenism, and ascites. These are largely due to portosystemic shunting instead of diminished hepatocyte reserve.

Chronic Hepatitis

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Jaundice Diet - A Proper Diet Can Help Treat Jaundice

A few years ago, I noticed that my skin and sclerae (the whites of my eyes) were turning yellow, a condition they commonly call jaundice, so I had my check-up. After some tests, it was discovered that my jaundice was due to hepatic steatosis.

Jaundice usually results from too much bilirubin being produced in the liver, which makes it a symptom of increased fat in the liver. One way to treat jaundice is through a proper healthy jaundice diet.

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I asked my nurse on how I could start and maintain a proper diet so I can treat my fatty liver disease and get rid of jaundice. After some time, she recommended me an e-book entitled "The Fatty Liver Diet Guide" by Nurse Dorothy Spencer, who has been helping out patients with fatty liver disease for about five years.

The book introduced me to the many roles that the liver plays and how I possible acquired my disease. According to the e-book, a proper diet and regular exercise may help treat fatty liver disease by helping the liver in its bile production. Thus, these will help eliminate jaundice.

In her e-book, Nurse Spencer recommends certain steps to treat fatty liver disease and eliminate symptoms such as jaundice. In Chapters 8 to 11, she discussed the importance of a proper diet and suggested a diet plan, with instructions on how to cook certain recipes to complete your meal. These recipes were truly very helpful so I could start my diet to cure my jaundice.

After several months, I noticed that the yellowing had decreased and when I had my routine check-up, it was found out that the bilirubin production was better. I believe that my jaundice is starting to go away - thanks to this healthy diet plan of Nurse Spencer.

Jaundice Diet - A Proper Diet Can Help Treat Jaundice

HEPATIC STEATOSIS

Yoga For Liver Care

A yogasana aims to attain a sustained and comfortable sitting posture to facilitate meditation. They also have wide range of therapeutic use. Meditation helps to calm the mind. Yoga also helps to cultivate Sattva (superlative quality of mind) and Ojas ( ultimate positive energy in the body)which is critical for a positive mind frame and healing process.

Asanas most helpful in hepatic conditions are vajraasana, shalabhasana, halasana, padahastasana, abdomen lift and stomach lift. These asanas improves the circulation of the blood to the hepatic cells, sensitises lymph nodes supplying liver, removes the toxins in the peritoneum and hepatic region.

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Apart from the above Ardha Navasana works on liver, gall-bladder and spleen and helps to strengthen abdominal muscles. Sarvangasana works on glands and inner organs, especially heart and liver. Halasana stimulates stomach, spleen, small intestines, heart, liver, gall bladder, & kidney. Paschimothasana aids in condition of enlarged liver and spleen. Salabhasana stimulates pranic flow in the lung, stomach, spleen, heart, liver, small intestine, pericardium, & bladder meridians, increase digestive fire, and maximizes use of all nutrients, produce body heat. Dhanurasana helps to restore energy, vigor, youthful vitality, stimulates lung, small intestine, stomach, liver, & urinary bladder meridians.

In addition to these Ardha matsyendrasana, Mayurasana Trikonasana , and shavasana , also assist in hepatic conditions.

Care should be taken while performing Yoga and should be done only at morning or evening with calm mind. Pranayama helps in all disease conditions. Chanting of manthra and meditation in a quiet place is important to heal different emotions associated with liver. Nature walk and gazing at moon also helps to balance pitta. In addition an ayurvedic diet, some herbal ayurvedic medicines and life style modification will speed the recovery.

Yoga For Liver Care

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What Causes Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a range of disease states, from steatosis (fatty liver) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (also called NASH; steatosis with inflammatory changes) followed by progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

The above may mean very little to the average person until you understand what function the liver actually has in your body.

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The liver, believe it or not, is the second largest organ in your body and is located under your rib cage on the right side. The liver takes care of many jobs in your body. Most importantly it processes what we eat and drink into energy and nutrients our body can use. The liver also filters the blood and removes harmful substances from the blood. It breaks down and removes cholesterol and regulates the blood sugar throughout the body.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the build up of fat in liver cells that is not caused by alcohol. It is normal for the liver to contain some fat. However, if more than 5% - 10% percent of the liver's weight is fat, then it is called a fatty liver (steatosis).

NAFLD tends to develop in people who are overweight or obese or have diabetes, high cholesterol or high triglycerides. Rapid weight loss and poor eating habits also may lead to NAFLD. However, some people develop NAFLD even if they do not have any risk factors. NAFLD affects up to 50% of overweight people in the United States alone and the figures are similar in other westernised states.

In a few of the cases, fatty liver does not cause any harm; however, for some, the long-term presence of fat in the liver leads to inflammation. This is characterised by swelling and tenderness (hepatitis).

As is the case for a large number of diseases our diet plays a very important role. That being said you would think that by simply going on a diet and losing some weight would be enough to reverse NAFLD.

Well yes, a specific diet can reverse fatty liver disease, but a random diet plan will more than likely fail because of the following reasons.

1. The primary source of energy in people is Glycogen (which is a form of carbohydrates)

2. Glycogen is stored in the muscles and once they are full, it is stored in the liver. This means that once the liver is full the body recognizes that it is full of carbohydrates.

3. Body fat is burned only when glycogen from the blood, muscles and finally liver is depleted.

In people with fatty liver, the liver holds on to the carbohydrates in it's tissues and thus imitates a situation where the body is full of carbs. In this situation, the body "thinks" that there is no need to reach for the body fat because it has all the carbs it needs. Therefore a fatty liver can actually prevent you from losing weight.

On very rare occasions it can even result in our body decomposing muscle for energy instead of burning fat. This wreaks havoc in the body of a fatty liver sufferer.

What Causes Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)?

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Functions Of The Liver, Gallbladder, And Pancreas

There are three additional organs take part in digestion of the food are the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas.

FUNCTION OF THE LIVER:

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The liver is located in the right upper quadrant or RUQ of the abdomen. The liver creates an yellowish-brown colored or greenish, thick fluid named bile. Bile contains a fatty substance i.e. cholesterol, bile acids, and many bile pigments. The pigment named bilirubin is manufactured from the breakdown of hemoglobin in the liver. Bile combines with bilirubin in the liver and then passes into the duodenum. This material is also excreted out from the body with feces.

The bile is manufacturing continuously in the liver travels down to the gallbladder via hepatic duct and cystic duct. Gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac like structure, which is under the liver. Gallbladder collects the bile and stored inside. The bile gets concentrated in the gallbladder. The bile forced to out to the duodenum via common bile duct and pancreatic duct. The duodenum or the first part of the small intestine receives a mixture of bile and pancreatic juice.

Emulsification is an effect of bile on fats in the duodenum, by which bile breaks large fat globules and then the enzymes from the pancreas can digest the fats. So fat digestion is the important function of the bile. Without bile fat materials from the food will remain undigested. The liver apart from producing bile, which also participates many important functions in human body.

The liver maintains the amount of blood sugars also called glucose normal in the body by removing excess of sugars from the bloodstream and stores it in the form of starch (glycogen) in the liver cells. In the situation of very low blood sugars in the blood, which is a danger condition to the body, the glycogens or the starch are converted again to the glucose by the liver. This process is called glycogenesis.

Another important function of the liver is also to convert fats and proteins in the body into glucose and uses it when the body needs it. This process is called gluconeogenesis. The liver also produces the important blood proteins essential for blood clotting. Bilirubin is produced by the liver destruction of old erythrocytes. The liver also removes the poison materials from the blood through a process called detoxification.

The another important function of the liver is formation of urea. The liver receives amino acids from the blood and it removes ammonia and which is converted into urea, and removed by kidney and excreted out with urine.

The liver helps in the digestion of fats via bile.

The liver also helps in controlling body temperature. It stores hematrin necessary for the formation of RBCs. It forms RBC in the fetal life. It is a storehouse for many chemicals enzymes, and substances life vitamins etc.

Hepatic Portal System:

The blood vessels that bring to the liver from the intestines. This system of blood vessels is called hepatic portal system.

Digested foods pass into the portal vein directly after being absorbed into the bloodstream from the small intestine, thus giving the liver first chance at using the nutrients.

Functions of the pancreas:

The pancreas is an gland, which works both as an endocrine and also as an exocrine organ. As an exocrine, the pancreas produces pancreatic juices filled with enzymes called amylase and lipase to digest the food. These pass into the duodenum through the pancreatic duct.

As an endocrine gland, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin is a hormone essential to help release sugar from the blood, which acts as a carrier to bring glucose into cells of the body to be used for energy.

Functions Of The Liver, Gallbladder, And Pancreas

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Child and Adolescent Liver Disease: Are We Creating the Next Generation of Transplant Recipients?

Should we be so surprised at the epidemic of childhood and adolescent we are now facing? Were we unable to see that a diet consisting of hydrogenated and processed fats, fried foods and super-starches would not come back to haunt us? With childhood obesity already a pervasive problem we are learning about the related complications and diseases that this extreme condition is exacerbating in our children. At first the weight gain was a disturbing footnote in our modern world. But then we were introduced to childhood diabetes, heart conditions, and sky high cholesterol numbers. While serious in their impacts to a growing bodies health, their occurrence may take a back seat to what could be the greatest problem to encounter the collective declining health of our children. This emerging medical issue is known as Fatty Liver Syndrome.

What is Fatty Liver Syndrome?

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Simply put conditions known as Fatty Liver Syndrome arise when the body's liver starts accumulating fat. According to the Liver Society the statistical population numbers for Fatty Liver Syndrome are 10-20 percent. While the accumulation of fat in the liver is not normal, it in and of itself is not currently known to be harmful or cause permanent damage. One of the livers functions is producing a form of fat known as triglycerides. These are important for new cell production and are necessary to produce hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and adrenal hormones. In the liver of a patient with Fatty Liver Syndrome, the liver cells accumulate large droplets of fat that consist of mostly triglycerides. In normal liver operation, fat from the diet is metabolized by the liver and other tissues.

If the amount of fat exceeds the body's requirement, large fat accumulations may develop in the liver, which results in an increase in liver enzymes and inflammation. This inflammation can cause scarring and hardening of the liver (cirrhosis) and results in decreased liver function.

The types of Fatty Liver Syndrome

The disease popularly known as Fatty Liver Syndrome includes a range of liver conditions. There are listed here in the order of severity.

Fatty Liver (steatosis).

The most common condition. Fatty Liver Syndrome is the accumulation of fat in the liver cells. This condition typically does not result in damage to the liver and is not associated with other liver abnormalities. The scarring or inflammation of the liver typically is not present. Of the three conditions this one is asymptomatic with most patients unaware of their condition.

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

The most common form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients who have NASH typically have an inflammation of the liver as a result of its accumulation of fat. At this point the liver may not have scarring present. If left untreated NASH may lead to cirrhosis. According to the Liver Society NASH affects 2 to 5 percent of Americans

Cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is the result of an inflammation left untreated for years. The danger occurs if it may progresses into cirrhosis of the liver. At this point the liver will more than likely have scar tissue. A liver with Cirrhosis encounters progressive and irreversible liver damage.

What causes it?

As with many liver ailments the most common cause of fatty liver syndrome is alcohol abuse. But this may soon be eclipsed by its non-alcoholic variety, steatohepatitus (NASH) In all varieties of steatohepatitis the condition is brought on or aggravated by malnutrition, obesity, diabetes mellitus, Hepatitis C virus, Wilson's disease, hyperlipidemia or endocrine disorders, and Reye's syndrome in children. There is also a rare, but serious, form of fatty liver that begins late in pregnancy which has the possibility of leading to jaundice and liver failure. In the real of non-dietary causes, Fatty Liver Syndrome may be caused by certain drug overdoses or chemical poisonings. Some of the medications and substances that can cause fatty liver include amiodarone, methotrexate, high doses of vitamin A, tetracycline, cortisone, phosphorus, prednisone and carbon tetrachloride. Carbon tetrachloride is one of the chemicals that can injure the liver in a way that makes the liver cells accumulate fat.

This sounds so familiar, where have I heard this before?

Even for those of you that are hearing about this for the first time the subject of the liver and fat seems oddly familiar. Ever hear of foie gras? That's French right? Yes, Martha it's French all right, French for fatty liver! (For those of you doubters translate the words "fatty liver" via the Google Translate tool into French and see what you get.) Even the beer&BBQ types know that to make foie gras you funnel a large amount of fat down some French goose's throat! The liver grows twice the size of normal and before the goose becomes a patient in the French healthcare system he is boxed up by some French Pate house. For those of you who have connected the dots, we are basically turning ourselves in to human pate. The "fatting up" process is something of our own design and own freewill. We trade cages for lazyboys, and the quacking for the bleeps of video games.

Most people are familiar with cirrhosis of the liver, and typically attribute this disorder to the long term effects of alcohol. The heavy use of alcohol leads to fatty liver and inflammation called alcoholic hepatitis, but known to the majority of the population as cirrhosis of the liver.

Symptoms of NASH or Fatty Liver

Most individuals diagnosed with these conditions previously exhibited little if any symptoms or complaints. Some individuals do experience symptoms and here is a brief list:

Jaundice, right-side abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, and fever overall itchiness, and small yellow skin nodules,

How is it diagnosed?

Fatty Liver Syndrome and NASH are usually detected as the result laboratory tests yielding abnormal data. In a majority of the situations the lab work was being performed for unrelated issues. In other cases the liver is tender upon examination and is found to be enlarged. The typical results from laboratory tests include the elevation of liver enzymes. These enzymes are typical AST and ALT. If you results are severe enough to warrant testing your doctor my recommend an ultrasound. Other imaging methods include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or a computerized tomography (CT) scan. Ultimately it is a physical examination (if needed) that confirms the condition of Fatty Liver Syndrome or NASH. This examination is consists of a microscopic examination of a sample of liver tissue (biopsy).

How is it treated?

As of this moment treatment for fatty liver syndrome consists of eliminating or treating the cause of the condition. It is believed that most cases of fatty liver syndrome are reversible. As with many curable diseases and disorders fatty liver syndrome is reversible if caught early in its development stages. Regardless of the background cause it should be the goal of the patient to develop a healthy diet. Since there are no miracle drugs associated with NASH or Fatty Liver Syndrome, people are looking to vitamin and mineral supplements as components in healing. If left untreated, NASH and Fatty Liver Syndrome can result in severe liver damage. In cases like these, the patient may eventually require the extreme measure of a liver transplant.

How can Fatty Liver Syndrome be avoided?

To avoid fatty liver adopt and follow these guidelines:

Follow a low-fat and low-cholesterol diet Exercise regularly to maintain an ideal weight.

Establish a regimen to insure your body is receiving the necessary and essential vitamins and minerals.

Avoid alcohol Review medications to ensure that they aren't toxic to your liver.

Have blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked regularly

Nutritional causes are treated by impacting the availability of fat and modifying how it enters the liver. As many nutritional causes tend to be rooted in diet deficiencies this can be accomplished by providing available carbohydrates or by adding protein to overcome complete or large deficiencies. ( See South Beach Diet)

Proteins are used to make lipoproteins to carry cholesterol and fats. (Also see South Beach Diet) Doses of L-carnitine, Lecithin, Zinc, and Choline are also increasingly being recommended for patients.

Vitamins, Herbs, and Minerals

There are many well known and traditional vitamins, herbs, and minerals that may help the body deal with liver issues. The following is a list of items that are increasingly being studied in regards to fatty liver syndrome. Always talk with your doctor regarding your supplement and vitamin intakes.

Choline Choline is an essential nutrient that is found in foods, principally in the form of phosphatidylcholine but also as free choline. An association between a low-choline diet and fatty infiltration of the liver in rats has been documented for quite some time. Choline is a lipotrope, which is a substance that prevents deposition of fat in the liver.

Inositol Inositol is primarily used in the treatment of liver problems. It also aids in the breakdown of fats and helps in the reduction of blood cholesterol. It is necessary for the formation of lecithin and functions closely with Choline, folacin, Vitamins B-6 & B-12, betaine, and methionine to prevent the accumulation of fats in the liver.

Lecithin Lecithin is largely composed of choline, plus linoleic acid and inositol. It acts as an emulsifying agent, enabling fats and other lipids to be dispersed in water.

L-carnitine L-Carnitine is a water-soluble, B-vitamin-like nutrient that the body uses to turn fat into energy.

Milk Thistle (Silymarin) Composed of three flavonoids: primarily Silybin and minor amounts of Silydianin and Silychristin, which support liver function by raising protective glutathione levels. Milk Thistle is one of the more well known herbs to benefit the liver.

SAMe It has been suggested that SAMe acts as an "intracellular control switch" which regulates hepatic cellular regeneration, differentiation, protects against oxidative stress, and hepatotoxin exposure. (1) Lowered SAMe levels are suspected to lead to steatosis and steatohepatitis. (2)

Zinc Zinc is necessary for the metabolism of selenium. Both selenium and zinc found to be reduced in patients with Hepatitis C.

Household chemicals and Fatty Liver

If you have been diagnosed with Fatty Liver syndrome it is extremely important that you limit exposure to everyday chemicals that are already noted for their toxicity to the liver. It is important to use gloves or adequate protection when utilizing these chemicals in order to limit absorption. The following is a brief list of household chemicals that you should exercise care around:

Chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons

Found in: Paint Thinner

Can cause liver and kidney damage.

Naphthalene

Naphthalene Also Known As: 1-methylnapthalene, and 2-methylnapthalene
May be Found in: Mothballs, Moth Flakes, Toilet Bowl Cleaners, Deodorant Blocks for toilets and diaper pails

Para-Dichlorobenzene

Para-Dichlorobenzene also known as: para-DCB, p-DCB, 1,4-Dichlorobenzene
Para-Dichlorobenzene is a probable carcinogen that can also harm the central nervous system, liver and kidneys.

Perchloroethylene

Also Known As: tetrachloroethylene, tetrachloroethane, 1-1-1 trichloroethane solvents, PCE

Found in: Dry Cleaning Fluid, Spot Removers, and Carpet Cleaners
Can cause liver and kidney damage if ingested. Can accumulate and persist in human fatty tissues and breast milk.

Phenol and cresol

Found in: Disinfectants

May cause diarrhea, fainting, dizziness, and kidney and liver damage

Toluene

Also Known As: methylbenzene

Found in: Adhesives, Nail Polish, Cosmetics, Rubber Cement, Paints, Paint Thinners, Lacquers, Stain Removers, Dyes and Inks.
toluene in highly toxic, may cause skin, kidney, liver, central nervous system damage; may damage reproductive system.

(1) Matt JM, Corrales FJ, Lu SC, Avila MA. S-adenosylmethionine: a control switch that regulates liver function. FASEB J 2002; 16:15-26.

(2) Rozenthal P, Biava C, Spencer H, et al. Liver morphology and function tests in obesity and during total starvation. Am J Dig Dis 1967; 12:198-208.

Child and Adolescent Liver Disease: Are We Creating the Next Generation of Transplant Recipients?

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Colon Function and Shape

A healthy normally functioning digestive and elimination system means the cecum is located in the lower right abdomen. From there the bowel rises up into the ascending colon until it reaches the first turn toward the left. This turning point is called the hepatic flexure because it's close to the liver.

From there the bowel travels across the abdomen beneath the stomach until it reaches the second turn called the splenic flexure. This section of the bowel, transverse colon, is the only organ within the body that makes a transit from right to left.

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In a normal bowel the transverse colon makes a slightly upward turn to the splenic flexure. From the splenic flexure, the bowel moves down as the descending colon until it reaches the sigmoid colon just above the rectum. Here in the sigmoid is the holding place for feces waiting to be eliminated. The rectum continues from the sigmoid and makes an "S"-like bend into the anus where the anal sphincter (one way valve) is located.

Well, that's a brief synopsis of a healthy colon. However, there are many obstacles we must be aware of that interfere with this ideal. When the body poisons itself because elimination is not healthy, it's called autointoxication. Autointoxication is the result of faulty bowel functioning which produces undesirable consequences in the body and is the root cause of many of today's diseases.

Unfortunately modern civilization with all its perks, has the greatest bowel disturbances. We find that native peoples living close to the land and nature do not experience such diseases as diverticulitis, colitis, Crohn's and the like.

So what makes these bowel disorders in our culture? It's hard to pinpoint because circumstances vary. Individuals suffer from one aspect more intensely than another due to environmental factors and personal living habits.

Colon Function and Shape

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