Cirrhosis of The Liver - Symptoms and Treatment. Folk Recipes and Diets.

Cirrhosis of the liver

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Liver is the largest gland in our body that performs many important functions. Some of them are:

• purifies blood from harmful substances (alcohol, drugs)
• regulates blood sugar
• degrades hemoglobin
• destroys old red blood cells

Because the liver performs many vital functions, it is disposed to various diseases. Some of them are:

Liver steatosis, hemochromatosis, abscesses of the liver, liver echinococcus, alcoholic liver disease, toxic liver damage, liver failure, chronic hepatitis, inflammatory diseases of the liver, fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver

Liver Cirrhosis - Causes

Cirrhosis can be provoked by many liver diseases, where there is a disruption of the structure and function of the liver.

Among the main reasons are:

• excessive alcohol consumption
• viral hepatitis B and C
• various inflammations
• intoxications
• infections

People who suffer from cirrhosis can develop jaundice, they get tired very easily or have itching all over the body. When you have liver damage and the tissue is destroyed, it can have far reaching consequences for the whole organism as the blood flow through the liver may be blocked.

Hepatic cirrhosis is a progressive illness, continuing  for many years. The possible consequences could be stopping the function of the liver (liver failure).

If cirrhosis is in softer form, it can renew itself and continue to function properly. However, if the disease is in an advanced stage, the damage is irreversible.

Signs and symptoms of cirrhosis

The listed symptoms below may occur at an earlier stage of the disease:

• capillaries become visible on the skin of the abdomen
• fatigue and insomnia
• itchy skin
• loss of appetite and weight
• nausea and weakness
• pain in the liver
• redness of the palms of hands

With the disease progression may appear the following symptoms:

• stomach collects fluid
• fast heartbeat
• personality change (blood accumulates toxins that affect the brain).
• bleeding gums
• alcohol and drugs are processed very hard
• confusion and dizziness
• accumulation of fluid in the ankles and feet
• hair loss
• jaundice
• loss of libido
• memory problems
• muscle cramps and fever
• easily tired
• bleeding from the nose and vomiting blood
• darke colored urine

1.Over alcohol consumption-not only alcoholics are at risk, people who regularly drink alcohol in large quantities are also endangered. In order to develop cirrhosis you should have had alcohol problems for at least ten years, but this is fairly relative. Female alcoholics  are more at risk than men.

2. Hepatitis C – Bloodstream infection( by hepatitis C) also may provoke liver cirrhosis. It should not be forgotten that cirrhosis can be caused by hepatitis B and D.

3. Accumulation of excess fat in the liver – at risk are overweight and hypertensive patients, and those with a lot of blood lipids. The accumulated fat causes inflammation, which leads to the formation of cirrhosis later.

 4. Autoimmune hepatitis – it may occurs when the patient's immune system begins to attack healthy organs in the body. There are cases when the immune system attacks the liver and the patient may develop cirrhosis.

5.Bile duct occlusion- various kinds of diseases such as cancer of the gall bladder or pancreas can block the bile duct and thus increase the risk of developing liver cirrhosis.

Which symptoms are dangerous?

Immediately visit a doctor if:

• have fever and shivering
• feeling short of breath
• vomit blood
• have very dark stools
• feeling very confused 
• weakness and fatigue

How to prevent cirrhosis of the liver?

• refrain from alcohol
• use a well-balanced diet
• do not smoke
• wash your teeth regularly, avoid infection, which can lead to the spread of infection in the liver
• practice safe sex with a condom (hepatitis B and C are transmitted sexually)
• maintain a healthy weight (excess fat in the body can damage the liver) 

Best Diet For Cirrhosis of Liver

The diet should be initiated by placing the patient on bed. He should rest and refrain from alcohol, drinking fresh juice for about 6 days( juices of papaya, grapes, beetroot and lemon). After a six-day period it’s nice to be included lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts and grains. You should keep a high protein diet. For this purpose you can drink raw goat milk, it is the best source of protein for the liver. Very useful are pumpkins, beetroot, tomatoes and radishes. Avoid oil and fats for a few weeks. Exclude the following foods from your diet:

• foods made ​​with refined oil
• tea, strong coffee
• prepared and preserved foods
• spices
• fried foods

It's good to do a daily enema (with warm water) to cleanse the bowels. If you suffer from chronic constipation , you should first deal with it.

Reduce sodium intake, ie you must use less salt in food. You will feel much better and it will prevent the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and legs

What foods to eat?

• fresh meat
• fresh fruits and vegetables
• avocado
• nuts
• fish
• vegetable oils

Folk Recipes For Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis

Yoghurt and Cumin Powder

Dilute 2 tablespoons of yogurt  into 50oml. water.  Add 2 teaspoons cumin and a teaspoon of salt, mix well. Divide the mixture into two glasses and drink 1 cup in the morning and one in the evening before  meal.

Lemon Juice and Salt

In a glass of 250 ml.  of water, squeeze half a lemon. Add a teaspoon of salt, stir and drink 3 times a day before meals.

Juice From Spinach and Carrots

Choose two large carrots and grate well.  Strain and filtrate the juice. Make the same with 7- 8 leaves of spinach.  Mix both juices and drink 3 times per day till feeling beter.

Useful Links:

The Ultimate Liver Cleanse Recipe