Liver Self Healing Properties and Liver Cirrhosis Diet

By | November 24, 2008

Diet for Liver Cirrhosis

The liver does have the capacity to regenerate itself. Liver is the storehouse of energy, which is derived from the food we eat. Liver diseases call for immediate attention, so as to ensure proper functioning of the same. Liver is an important organ, which requires a lot of care. The liver is an organ, which goes unnoticed, many a times. This is due to the fact that it fails to result in any kind of problems, by itself, such as the kidneys or the heart. Any kind of complication in the liver is slightly difficult to recognize, as such, as the symptoms are characteristic of many other bodily problems.

Treatment of Liver and Liver Medication

Scarring of the liver, due to necrosis or cirrhosis is easy to rectify by certain herbal remedies. Dandelion leaves are an integral part of salad. Poor functioning ability of the liver reduces the functioning of the organs. Dandelion leaves are helpful for liver insufficiency and inflammation of the liver. Milk thistle seed extract and Artichoke are helpful in healing the liver. Cirrhosis is the damage of the liver tissue, thereby resulting in destruction of the cells. Liver cirrhosis results in malnutrition, as it inhibits the absorption and assimilation of nutrients, which fails to heal the scars. Decrease the intake of salt in the diet.

Sodium restriction is essential, when the liver is affected by cirrhosis. Avoid processed foods, which have loads of salt, such as frozen peas, readymade soups, processed meats and cheeses. General guidelines involve about two grams of sodium per day. Allowance of calories from fat is around 25 per cent. Healthy fat, in the form of omega 3 fatty acids is beneficial. Animal foods are restricted, as the risk of encephalopathy is high. Protein should be taken in adequate quantities. Avoid protein in excess. The absorption and assimilation of protein from plant foods is better. Thus, seeds, nuts and yoghurt are preferred.  Increase the protein and calories, as the former helps in tissue repair. Avoid alcohol, as it results in fatty liver and thus worsens the condition.

Adequate amount of water and rest are recommended. About four to seven meals are beneficial, in comparison to the regular three large meals. This ensures fewer burdens on the hair. A supplement of multi vitamins help to provide the missing nutrients. These supplements should be organic and easily soluble. Nutritional shakes and bars are good supplements for animal proteins and animal fats.

Liver healing

The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body, which performs the function of producing bile, which helps in the digestion of the food that we eat. In addition to the production of bile, it is the liver that stores the excessive amounts of sugar in the body and it also tries to keep the bowel movements regular. However, one of the most important functions that are performed by the liver is getting rid of the toxic substances that may be present in the blood. Unfortunately, if the levels of toxins in the body reach high levels, it could cause the liver to get overworked, which slows the organ down. This in turn can lead to several health problems, including further damage to the liver. If the liver stopped functioning properly, it would mean that the body cannot digest foods or absorb its nutrients. Moreover, the body would lose its ability to eliminate the toxins, which in turn, could lead to a life threatening situation.

There are several diseases and health conditions that can affect a person’s liver. Some of the most common liver problems include enlarged liver, alcoholic fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, acute liver failure and alcoholic hepatitis, just to name a few. Unfortunately, not a lot of people realize that they are suffering from liver damage or problems, as the symptoms are usually quite in the initial stages. Some of the symptoms that may be associated with certain liver conditions are changes in the color of the urine, weakness, nausea, fatigue, pale stools and excessive itching. If liver problems are ignored for an extended period of time, or left untreated for any reason, they could result in coma or even death. However, majority of the people only realize that they have certain liver conditions, after visiting a doctor. This could delay application of the appropriate treatment, as well as the liver healing process to a great extent. Of course, the process of treating and healing a liver may vary, based on the condition that has caused the damage. Given below are some of the most common liver conditions, their causes, as well as the different measures that can be adopted for healing the liver, in each instance.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a serious condition that can be described as the scarring of the liver. This condition could occur in response to chronic liver damage, which are caused by conditions such as alcohol abuse, cystic fibrosis, hepatitis B and hepatitis C, destruction of the ducts that produce bile, an excess of copper in the liver, the presence of a parasite in the liver, the buildup of excessive iron and the accumulation of fats in the liver, to name a few. In most mild cases of cirrhosis, liver self healing takes place and the liver then resumes its normal role. However, if the condition reaches an advanced level, then the liver may not be able to function properly, without being treated. In order to treat cirrhosis, it is necessary to first cure the underlying condition that is scarring the liver. There may be certain medicines that are prescribed to control some of the conditions. Additionally, therapy or a cirrhosis exercise (like yoga) may also be recommended in order to heal the liver faster. If an advanced case of cirrhosis leads to complete liver failure, then a liver transplant surgery may be required.

Liver Cancer

Although liver cancer is not very common in the United States, it is one of the most common forms of cancer around the rest of the world. This condition refers to the cancer that begins in the cells of the liver. The exact causes of liver cancer are still not clear, but in some cases, the condition is a result of chronic infections with specific hepatitis viruses. There are different treatment options that may be explored in order to heal liver cancer. At times a combination of several treatment options may need to be used for healing liver cancer. Some of the various liver cancer treatment methods include:

• Alcohol injections administered directly into the tumor
• Freezing cancer cells
• Heating cancer cells
• Liver transplant surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Surgery, where a portion of the liver is removed
• Targeted drug therapy
• The injection of chemotherapy drugs to the liver

Many people also adopt alternative treatment measures, for healing liver cancer naturally. These measures could include acupuncture, deep breathing, crystal therapy, music therapy and acupressure. However, there isn’t adequate scientific evidence to prove the effectiveness of such methods.

Alcohol hepatitis (Alcohol damage)

This condition can be described as an inflammation in the liver, caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, or alcohol abuse. However, liver alcohol damage is not seen in all people who drink excessively; at the same time, this condition has also been seen in people who only drink moderate amounts. In order to heal liver alcohol damage, it is absolutely imperative for the person to quit drinking with immediate effect. The various treatment options adopted for healing liver alcohol damage will be rendered useless, if alcohol is still consumed. Medication for healing liver inflammation is also usually a part of alcohol damage treatment. Other medical options to heal liver damage caused by alcohol are treatment for malnutrition as well as liver transplant surgery. Alternate methods of healing liver damage include the use of milk thistle and a supplement known as SAMe. There are several methods of healing the liver after alcohol abuse, which have been recommended by rehab centers. Given below, are some of the natural ways of healing the liver from alcohol abuse:

• Weight loss
• Controlling the intake of carbs
• Quitting the habit of smoking
• Taking antioxidant and nutritional supplements

However, there is no sufficient evidence to support alternate methods of liver healing from alcohol.

Liver healing diet

There are several foods that encourage optimal liver function and also help in the healing liver of congestion. Given below are some of the most common healing foods for the liver which assist in healing the liver naturally:

• Cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and broccoli
• Citrus fruits like limes and lemons
• Fruits like apples
• Leafy greens like spinach and kale
• Whole grain food items
• Root vegetables like beets and carrots
• Nuts like walnuts
• Spices or mainly garlic

However, it is important to check with a doctor before including any liver healing foods in a diet, especially for those people, who are suffering from a preexisting medical condition. Moreover, people should not make any attempts at healing liver disease, without the approval of a doctor. It is best to allow medical health care givers to heal liver diseases, using proper medical treatment options.