FitSugar

Three Ways to Love Your Liver

FitSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:30:00 -0700

The liver is the second largest organ of the body after your skin. Hard at work clearing toxins from your blood, the liver performs over 5,000 functions - that's one busy organ. Unfortunately, one in ten Americans has liver disease and many of those folks are unaware they have a problem. Here are three easy ways to show your liver some love.

One toxin that the liver breaks down is alcohol. Drinking excessively cannot only interfere with the liver's ability to process carbs, fat, and protein, it can scar the organ leading to cirrhosis. Limit your alcohol intake and consume no more than one drink a day, which means one glass of wine, a bottle of beer, or one shot of the hard stuff. Think of your liver as another reason to stop after one drink.

Maintaining a healthy weight is another way to take care of your liver. Obesity can lead to a fatty liver where fatty deposits on the liver cause inflammation and scarring. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is currently the most common liver disease in the US and it is totally preventable.

To see how to protect your liver when you're in the sack, read more.

Hepatitis B and C are both transmitted through sexual contact and both of these diseases attack the liver. This means practice safe sex and consider getting vaccinated for Hep B. There is no vaccine for Hep C.

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Do You Like Paté?

partysugar — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:45:51 -0800

Detoxing: There Really is No Need

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 08:45:00 -0700

There are so many ways to pursue the quest of health and there are many "detox" remedies out there for folks looking for a quick internal cleanse. However, the majority of health experts don't recommend detox cleanses or juice fasts, especially long term ones since fasting for more than 3 days robs the body of vital nutrients, vitamins and minerals.

Your best bet is to avoid a liquid detox regimen, since they can leave you both hungry (read: irritable) and gassy (read: anti-social). Instead, you should focus on adding fruits, veggies and whole grains to your daily diet since these types of foods all help to keep your system running smoothly. Plus, as I like to say "slow and steady wins the race." By focusing on what you can add to your diet daily, you have a much better chance of fully adopting healthy eating habits so thus avoiding the need to detox.

Limiting alcohol to one serving a day for the ladies, and two servings for the guys, will help keep your liver from having to work overtime. Of course, limiting the amount of acetaminophen you take will help your liver as well. This OTC painkiller used in Tylenol can cause liver damage if taken in excess.

The bottom line: take care of your body and it will take care of you!

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Alcohol: Women vs. Men

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 13:30:00 -0700

We all know that men and women are biologically very different, but do you know if the following statement is true or false? Quiz yourself and see.

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Artichokes: Artfully Yours and In Season Now

FitSugar — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 09:30:00 -0700

I must ask the question - what is not to love about artichokes? They look totally prehistoric. When left alone they bloom into a beautiful pale purple thistle. Their hearts are truly divine. Ahhh....but there are even more reasons to love this veggie and these I will share too.

The timeliest reason is artichoke season is peaking - right NOW!!! Although they are available throughout the year, March though May is when they are at their best. Artichokes are low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals. One globe artichoke provides not only 6.5 grams of fiber (that's 26% of your daily recommended intake - DRI), but it also supplies 61 mcg of folate (about 15% of your DRI). It also contains 4 grams of protein that seems like a lot for a little plant trying to disguise itself as an armadillo. Artichokes also promote liver health, which is important since the liver helps to detoxify your blood supply.

At the grocery store look for ones that are dark green with tight leaves. If you are looking for a recipe with artichokes, Yum posted a tasty pizza with artichoke hearts just the other day. Or you could just boil or steam one and dress it with a little olive and lemon juice. If you have never cooked one before check out Gourmet Sleuth.

Eat up and enjoy.

Stitch In the Side Explained

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:45:00 -0800

Do you ever get the annoying and painful stitch in your side when you are running? I do and I really don't like the sensation and went looking for a "cure."

It seems that there was no good explanation for the phenomenon until recently, and before that it was just referred to as exercise related transient abdominal pain (ETAP). How's that for vague? The pain is caused when the ligament that attaches your liver to your diaphragm gets stretched. Most runners tend to exhale every 2 to 4 step and those that exhale with stepping on the right foot tend to be the ones who suffer from the stitch. When the right foot hits the ground it pulls the liver down and the exhale is simultaneously forcing the diaphragm up, so the ligament gets over stretched, and that causes the pain.

To cure the pain, stop running immediately, reach your fingers into the right side of your belly and push your liver up. Breathe in and out evenly as you do this. Hopefully you can return to running with no pain.

Fit's Tip: To avoid getting the stitch in the first place, focus on taking deep breaths while running since short and shallow breaths tend to make the diaphragm spasm.

The Truth About Liver Disease

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 08:30:00 -0800

I didn't know this but many victims of liver disease are not alcoholics. Even people who are casual drinkers could risk damaging their liver. And people who never drink alcohol could still have serious liver problems.

There are actually more than 100 liver diseases. The American Liver Association says that drinking alcohol can affect your liver, but it's not the only thing.

Other causes include viruses, hereditary defects, and reactions to drugs and chemicals. Scientists are still investigating the causes for the most serious liver diseases.

Most doctors will agree that 1 drink a day, or less, is a good amount for a woman. For men, it's 2 drinks or less a day. Of course 1 drink doesn't mean 1 humongous glass - a standard drink is one 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine, or one 1.5-ounce shot of liquor. Each of these drinks contain about 1/2 an ounce of alcohol.

Obviously you'll be better off steering clear of alcoholic beverages entirely. But moderation definitely comes into play here - just keep your liver's health in mind. And if you know you have liver problems in your family, you may want to think twice about finishing off that bottle of wine.

Love Your Liver

FitSugar — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:45:00 -0800

There must be 50 ways to love your liver, but to truly love something you have to know what it is all about. Right?

Well, what impresses me most about the liver is not that it is the largest internal organ of the body, but that it performs over 5,000 functions. A small list includes balancing your cholesterol, storing vitamins, activating hormones, and metabolizing fat into glucose to give your body energy. It also acts as a filter to remove toxins (harmful substances) and waste products from the blood. Check this out - a healthy liver filters blood at a rate of about 1.5 quarts per minute. That's 540 gallons of blood a day and more than 13 million gallons over a lifetime! Wow.

The liver continues to function even with considerable damage, but that doesn't mean it is doing all of its jobs well. Signs of poor function include: tiredness, dark circles under the eyes, poor digestion and dull skin.

If your holiday season started out with a partying bang and lots of alcohol and fatty foods, you might want to do something nice for your largest organ. Want to know what foods help your liver out, then read more

Bitter food like broccoli, dandelion greens, cabbage and brussels sprouts have a cleansing effect on the liver.
In multiple studies, artichokes have been proven to promote liver health.
The spices turmeric, cinnamon and licorice are beneficial to the liver.

Of course it helps to avoid: saturated fats, refined sugar and alcohol (limit yourself to two drinks a day). Drinking plenty of water is always a good idea.

Is Cod Liver Oil a Cure All?

FitSugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 07:30:00 -0700

I have a friend who swears by cod liver oil; she takes a teaspoon everyday, which to me sounds like a punishment meted out on Tom Sawyer by his Aunt Polly. My friend swears it helps her skin (which looks great and she is nearing 50), her joints, and her overall health. She tells me my fish oil supplement is not enough, so I decided to investigate.

Here's what I discovered. It is true that cod liver oil is high in vitamins A and D, which is why it was taken as a nutritional aid back in the days of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Some holistic health practitioners think cod liver oil is still a great way to get these two vitamins, but others think that cod liver oil often provides too much vitamin A, which can be toxic and interfere with bone density.

Cod liver oil is also high in omega-3 fatty acids – the fat you should love, but so are my fish oil supplements. Additionally, cod liver oil being made from the organ that filters toxins out of blood, is more likely to contain toxins like PCB when compared to regular fish oil.

To see if there is any substance to the health claims of cod liver oil, read more.

While many of the health claims, like that cod liver oil prevents cancer and Alzheimer's have yet to be proven, the oil has been found to slow down the damage arthritis does to joints. There is also evidence that the oil may ward off depression, but it is believed that the omega-3s are responsible over any other element in the oil.

If you are interested in taking cold liver oil, you should limit your intake to one teaspoon a day and it seems the brand Carlson Labs is often recommended.

Me? I am going to stick with my fish oil capsules, and you?

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Cod liver oil (By mouth)

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 20:08:52 -0700

Overview

Introduction
Brand Name(s)
When This Medicine Should Not Be Used
How to Use This Medicine
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Warnings While Using This Medicine
Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

Introduction

Cod Liver Oil (kod LI-ver oyl)

Provides vitamin A and vitamin D to maintain healthy bones, skin, eyes, and immune system.

Brand Name(s)

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to cod liver oil or to fish. You should not use this medicine if you are under 18 years of age.

How to Use This Medicine

Capsule

Your doctor will tell you how much of this medicine to use and how often. Do not use more medicine or use it more often than your doctor tells you to.
If you are using this medicine without a prescription, follow the instructions on the medicine label.
It is best to take this medicine with food or milk.
Carefully follow your doctor's instructions about any special diet.
You should not use this medicine if the seal is broken.

How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Ask your pharmacist, doctor, or health caregiver about the best way to dispose of any leftover medicine after you have finished your treatment. You will also need to throw away old medicine after the expiration date has passed.
Keep all medicine away from children and never share your medicine with anyone.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Make sure your doctor knows if you are using hormone medicine, aspirin, or blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin®).
Make sure your doctor knows about all other medicines you are using.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

Make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or breast feeding.
Make sure your doctor knows if you have heart disease, liver disease, kidney stones, overactive parathyroid, or sarcoidosis.
Tell your doctor if you have diabetes or a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia.
Your doctor will need to check your blood at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Nausea.

Review Date: 8/4/2008

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2010 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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