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Ayurveda has always been one of the most reliable fields of medicine; it is ancient and effective, having surpassed the test of time, especially concerning liver health. The liver is one of the vital organs of the body, performing many essential functions, including detoxification, metabolism, digestion, and nutrient storage. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in overall health and well-being by performing more than 500 tasks. The liver acts as a filter, removing harmful toxins and substances from the blood while converting nutrients from food into forms the body can use for energy. Let’s look at a few practices backed by Ayurveda to ensure liver health.
Fatty liver has been around for centuries, but lately it is more common than when it was restricted to only older age, as well as people with alcohol addiction.
Some of the contributing factors leading to the rising number of fatty liver cases in today's generation are due to modern lifestyle and diet, including environmental factors.
Ultra-processed foods like sugary drinks, frozen meals, processed meat, etc, are the culprits for causing insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction leading to fatty liver disease across people of all ages.
In simple terms, fatty liver is a condition in which excess fat accumulates in the liver cells, typically exceeding 5% to 10 % of the liver's total weight.
There are two types of fatty liver:
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), also known as Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), is a silent disease with few or no symptoms.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), an individual with fatty liver may not show symptoms even when the condition extends beyond developing cirrhosis due to NASH.
Meanwhile, others may experience fatigue, which is one of the most common presenting symptoms, often accompanied by sharp or dull aching upper abdominal pain, thirst, bloating, and sleep disturbances."
"Patients who develop NASH-associated cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease, or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) present with symptoms like: Nausea, Vomiting, Jaundice, Pruritis, Ascites, Memory impairment, Easy bleeding, Loss of appetite," NIH explains.
"The most common clinical sign is mild to moderate hepatomegaly. Advanced stages of the spectrum can demonstrate signs of end-stage liver disease, such as: Jaundice, Spider angiomas, Palmar erythema, Caput medusae, Gynecomastia, Dupuytren contracture, Ascites, Petechiae."
The liver is one of the largest internal organs, and its functions are crucial for overall well-being. According to UChicago Medicine, the best diet for maintaining a healthy liver is the Mediterranean diet.
"The Mediterranean diet is everything you would expect a dietitian to recommend more fruits and veggies, more whole grains, more nuts and legumes, lean meats, less red meat and less sweets/added sugars," UChicago Medicine concludes.
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