Table of Contents

• Liver disease meaning
• Liver disease types
• Liver disease causes
• Liver disease symptoms
• Liver disease diagnosis
• Liver disease affects
• Best foods to eat for liver patients
• Foods to avoid for liver patients
• Liver disease prevention
• Liver disease ayurvedic medicine
• Liver disease home remedies

Liver Disease Meaning

Liver disease is a common term used for several conditions that affect or damage the liver. The liver’s function is to separate the nutrients and waste when they move through the digestive system in the body.

It produces bile which is a substance that carries toxins away from the body. When the liver is unable to do this function then it results in several liver diseases.

Liver diseases need early attention. It must be diagnosed and treated properly as if left unattended it can cause serious life-threatening issues.

Liver Disease Types

• Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is a contagious virus. It spreads from food, water, or coming in contact with the affected person. It can be cured with proper treatment. The best part is this disease doesn’t last more than 2 weeks if proper treatment is given.

• Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is also a contagious virus. It spreads when a person is exposed to the body fluids of the infected person (sexual contact). In some cases, it is life-threatening and a liver transplant is advised. This infection also can be cured by timely vaccination.

• Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C also is a contagious virus that is transmitted through contact with contaminated blood. This infection is caused when the virus attacks the liver and inflames it. However, it can be treated with the use of antiviral medications.

• Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic Hepatitis is caused by drinking too much alcohol over a long period of time. In this case, the liver inflates. Steroid drugs are used to treat this disease. However, certain precautions are much more necessary.

• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This disease is very common in India. In most cases, NAFLD affects people who are obese. However, there are some other cases also where people with normal BMI (Body Mass Index) get affected by it. This disease needs to be attended immediately as if not treated it can cause inflammation and scarring of the liver.

• Cirrhosis Of The Liver

Cirrhosis is one of the last stages of liver disease where the healthy liver tissues are replaced by the scar tissues which leaves the liver permanently damaged. Any treatment can not cure this but it can prevent further damage.

• Hemochromatosis

Excess iron storage causes hemochromatosis. It is a hereditary disease where symptoms start appearing in midlife. This is also one of the most chronic liver diseases.

Liver Disease Causes

• Causes of Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, & Hepatitis C

These are the liver diseases that are caused by viral infections. These can be easily transmitted from one person to another. We have already mentioned the ways in which they can spread above. These diseases can be cured by timely treatment by giving vaccinations and medications. 

• Causes of Alcoholic Hepatitis

This liver disease is caused by consuming alcohol in large amounts over a long period of time. Another name for this disease is Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as in this liver inflammation can be seen.

• Causes of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is one of the most common types of liver diseases that can be seen in India. The major cause of this disease is consuming excess fat on a daily basis. Diabetes is also acknowledged as one of its potential causes.

• Causes of Cirrhosis of the liver

As already mentioned, cirrhosis of the liver is a later stage in liver diseases. Here the scar tissues replace the healthy ones hampering the liver’s function. It is caused by several other liver diseases like Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Alcoholic hepatitis, NAFLD, Autoimmune liver diseases, Hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, Biliary atresia, Galactosemia, Syphilis, etc.

• Causes of Hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis develops because of a genetic condition, it is an inherited disease. It is also caused because of excess iron storage in the liver.

Liver Disease Symptoms

Most liver diseases show no noticeable symptoms. However, some conditions show one common symptom and that is jaundice. Here, the skin and the whites of your eyeballs appear to be yellow. It happens because your liver is not able to clear a substance called bilirubin. Other symptoms are as follows:

• Abdominal pain on the right side
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Itchy skin
• Swelling of your legs & arms
• Often getting bruises
• Loss of appetite
• Pale stool color
• Dark urine color

If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, consult with your doctor immediately and get the blood sugar tests done.

Liver Disease Diagnosis

To diagnose your liver disease and also to know the cause of it, your doctor will suggest you one or more below-listed physical examinations:

• Blood Tests

Your doctor will take a group of blood tests commonly known as liver function tests to diagnose liver disease. For example, the International Normalised Ratio (INR) test to check the clotting of blood in your body. 

• Imaging Tests

To check the liver scars, tumors, or damage the doctor may conduct CT Scan, MRI, or Ultrasound. For further knowledge about the level of damage to the liver and fat deposition in it, a specialized image testing known as fibroscan is conducted.

• Liver Biopsy

In a liver biopsy, a sample of liver tissue is extracted from your liver. It is done with a long thin needle. It is inserted through the skin to extract the tissue sample and then it is sent to a lab for testing. It is conducted to look for signs of liver disease.

Liver Disease Affects

• Liver diseases can be life-threatening. 
• Some liver diseases can cause serious complications like increasing the risk of getting liver cancer. 
• Liver diseases if left untreated can cause damage to your liver. In these cases, Cirrhosis means scars develop in your liver. 
• These scars or damaged tissue will replace with the healthy tissues of the liver over time, thus hampering the liver to function. 
• This can eventually lead to liver failure too.

Best Foods To Eat For Liver Patients

Foods play an important role in maintaining your liver health. The things you put inside your body support the body’s functionality. If you are a liver patient, and especially have a fatty liver disease then you must take utmost precautions. Here’s a list of foods that are best for liver patients.

• Coffee
• Green tea
• Blueberries
• Beetroot juice
• Grapes
• Broccoli
• Olive oil
• Green leafy vegetables
• Beans
• Nuts (especially almonds)
• Fatty fish (salmon, tuna)
• Turmeric
• Garlic
• Sunflower seeds

Foods To Avoid For Liver Patients

If you think that consuming healthy foods will balance out the unhealthy foods you eat then let us tell you that you are absolutely wrong. Consuming small amounts of any food occasionally is fine but regularly having them can worsen your liver disease. Here’s the list of foods from which you need to keep a distance.

• Alcohol
• Sweets & candies
• Sodas
• Fruit juices with added sugar
• Fried food items
• Red meat
• White flour
• Packaged food items

Liver Disease Prevention

Liver diseases can be prevented, especially those that are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. By changing from an unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle to an active and healthy lifestyle you will see changes happening for the good and your liver health becoming better. Here are 10 prevention tips you must follow for a healthy liver.

1. The most important advice is to drink alcohol responsibly.
2. Don’t forget to take the vaccination doses for Hepatitis A & B.
3. Don’t take unnecessary medicines. 
4. If you are on medications, take doses as prescribed by your doctor only and not more than that.
5. While getting a tattoo pay attention to the needle & ink pots being used. They should be single-use only.
6. Get a yearly liver blood analysis.
7. Don’t live a sedentary lifestyle. Exercise regularly.
8. Be cautious of what you eat. Eating unhealthy foods can cause obesity, which has been a major reason for fatty liver disease.
9. Do not smoke.
10. Don’t share personal hygiene maintaining items like razors, manicure & pedicure tools, etc.

Liver Disease Ayurvedic Medicine

Everyone, especially in India knows the importance of Ayurveda. Everyone acknowledges the benefits of ayurvedic medicines. It has proven time and again how much effective it is against vivid ailments. 

For liver diseases (fatty liver, cirrhosis of the liver), Ayurveda has listed certain herbs that are essential for its treatment. Here’s the list:

• Katuki

It is one of the most crucial herbs for the treatment of liver disease. This herb facilitates the liver to produce more bile thus relieving liver congestion and pain. Besides this, it also stimulates affected tissues for normal functioning.

• Kalmegh

For hundred of years, kalmegh has been an important part of ayurvedic treatments. It is extracted for the plant Andrographis paniculata which is also known as kalmegh.

• Bhringraj

Bhringraj is useful for patients with infantile liver cirrhosis. It also protects the liver cells against damage caused by free radicals due to its hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties.

• Triphala

Triphala as the name indicates is a mixture of tri meaning three and phala meaning fruits. They are Haritaki, Bibhitaki and Amalaki. It is effective in liver diseases because of its detoxifying property.

• Vasaka 

Vasaka is used as an alternative herb for liver diseases, especially for inflamed liver conditions. With its anti-inflammatory property, it has been proven effective.

Some of the best ayurvedic medicines for liver diseases are:

• Gynoveda- Liver detox, Arogyavardhini Vati
• Baidyanath- Punarnawarishta
• Kapiva- Liver care juice
• Cureveda- Liver loyal
• Krishna’s- Bhumi amla juice

You can find several ayurvedic medicines for liver diseases in the pharmacy. Just remember to read the ingredients and see if it has the aforementioned herbs or not. 

Liver Disease Home Remedies

Allopathic, homeopathic, or ayurvedic medicine, everyone will be effective but if you follow some home remedies then that can help you in making quick progress. But you can not just do it for a day or two and expect to have fruitful results. You have to be consistent and then only benefits will start showing. Here are some easy home remedies for liver diseases:

• Papaya seeds act as a detoxification agent for the liver, and thus immensely help in liver cirrhosis. You can grind the papaya seeds to make juice and then have it. For better results, add lemon juice too.

• Vitamin C is an excellent source to prevent fatty liver problems. You can have Vitamin C-rich foods like blackberries, lemons, and oranges.

• Turmeric has antiseptics, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, and can work wonders in treating liver disease. You can have turmeric mixed in hot milk.

• Apple cider vinegar is effective against fatty liver diseases. Mix 1 tablespoon of ACV with lukewarm water and have it.

• Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that help in reducing cirrhosis of tissues. It also helps in fighting viral hepatitis. Consume 2 cups of green tea daily.

So this was all about liver diseases. We have covered the basics of everything, from the different types of liver diseases to their causes. The liver disease symptoms and their diagnosis. The best foods to eat and avoid. Ayurvedic medicines for liver diseases. And some wonderful and easy home remedies for liver disease too! Read and gain all the knowledge.

Happy Healing!