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The liver
The liver is the body's largest organ, weighing between 1 and 2
kilograms in most adults.
The liver routinely performs over 500 known functions to
regulate your cell's metabolism.
It is the alchemical wizard of the body, transforming toxins
into harmless chemicals for excretion, and digestively absorbed
nutrients into the proper biochemical forms your cells can use to
function.
The liver is therefore most assaulted by our toxic modern
lifestyles, which is full of pollution, drugs, stress, fast foods,
etc.
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Fatty Liver (steatosis) Build-up of excess fat in the liver
cells. Fatty liver disease damages the organ and
leads to serious complications such as cirrhosis.
Risk factors for fatty liver disease: overweight and obesity
(Eating excess calories) diabetes elevated triglyceride levels.
Alcohol abuse rapid weight loss malnutrition However, some people
develop fatty liver even if they have
none of these conditions.
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Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic fatty liver
Fatty liver may cause no damage, but Sometimes the excess fat
leads to inflammation of the
liver. This condition, called steatohepatitis, does cause
liver
damage. When inflammation from a fatty liver is linked to
alcohol
abuse- alcoholic steatohepatitis. Otherwise, the condition is
called non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis, or NASH. An inflamed liver may become scarred
and hardened over
time- cirrhosis, is serious and often leads to liver failure.
NASH is one of the top three leading causes of cirrhosis.
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Normal vs Fatty liver
http://www.drcederquist.com/weight-loss-library/insulin-resistance/is-your-liver-gaining-weight.aspx
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Metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease
Metabolic syndrome a cluster of disorders that increase the risk
of diabetes, heart disease and stroke plays an important role in
the development of fatty liver.
Signs and symptoms of metabolic syndrome include: obesity,
particularly around the waist (abdominal
obesity) high blood pressure (hypertension) one or more abnormal
cholesterol levels high levels
of triglycerides, a type of blood fat, or low levels of
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the goodcholesterol
resistance to insulin Of these, insulin resistance may be the
most
important trigger of NASH. Because the condition can remain
stable for many years, causing little harm, researchers have
proposed that a second hit to the liver, such as a bacterial
infection or hormonal abnormality, may lead to cirrhosis.
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Treatment for fatty liverThere are no medical or surgical
treatments for fatty liver, but
some steps may help prevent or reverse some of the damage.
lose weight safely. This usually means losing no more than half
to one kilogram (one to two pounds) a week
lower your triglycerides through diet, medication or both avoid
alcohol control your diabetes, if you have it eat a balanced,
healthy diet increase your physical activity get regular check-ups
from a doctor who specializes in liver
care.
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Progression of liver disease
http://hepcbc.ca/stages-of-liver-disease/
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Cirrhosis Cirrhosis is irreversible scarring of the
liver. Alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C are
common causes, although there are many other causes.
Cirrhosis can cause weakness, loss of appetite, easy bruising,
yellowing of the skin (jaundice),itching, and fatigue.
Complications of cirrhosis include edema and ascites, spontaneous
bacterial peritonitis, bleeding from varices,
hepaticencephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome,
hepatopulmonarysyndrome, hypersplenism, and liver cancer.
Transplantation of the liver is becoming an important option for
treating patients with advanced cirrhosis.
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Progession of liver disease
http://hepcbc.ca/stages-of-liver-disease/
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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Polycystic ovary syndrome is a
problem -
woman's hormones are out of balance. It can cause problems with
the menstrual cycle
and make it difficult to get pregnant. PCOS also may cause
unwanted changes looks. Untreated, over time it can lead to
serious
health problems, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Women with PCOS grow many small cysts on their ovaries. That is
why it is called polycysticovary syndrome. The cysts are not
harmful but lead to hormone imbalances.
Early diagnosis and treatment can help control the symptoms and
prevent long-term problems.
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Normal vs polycystic ovary
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Symptoms of PCOS The cause of PCOS is not fully understood, but
genetics may be a
factor. The most common symptoms are:
Acne. Weight gain and trouble losing weight.
Extra hair on the face and body. Often women get thicker and
darker facial hair and more hair on the chest, belly, and back.
Thinning hair on the scalp. Irregular periods. Often women with
PCOS have fewer than nine
periods a year. Some women have no periods. Others have very
heavy bleeding.
Fertility problems. Many women who have PCOS have trouble
getting pregnant (infertility).
Depression.
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Modern Lifestyle and PCOS..
Around 40-60 percent of women with PCOS suffer from obesity-
leads to diabetes, uterine cancer and high cholesterol.
Many develop insulin resistance, which leads to obesity and in
turn results in hormonal imbalances and develops into PCOS.
Unlimited food supply and a modern sedentary lifestyle can
trigger full-blown PCOS.
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Hormonal imbalances in PCOS PCOS is usually a condition of
estrogen dominance, meaning that estrogen tends to be
the dominant sex hormone all month, instead of letting
progesterone rise for the second half of the month.
Progesterone doesnt just play a role in fertility. It also acts
as an anti-anxiety agent, an antidepressant and a diuretic.
In PCOS, the eggs in the ovaries ripen on the surface of the
ovary but are not released. They harden and form cysts (hence the
name of the condition). To obtain optimal progesterone levels
ovulation is essential, as the majority of
progesterone is made from the corpus luteum, the crater that
remains on the surface of the ovary after ovulation. Yet this
doesnt occur regularly for someone with PCOS.
Androgens, such as testosterone & DHEAThe androgens, of
which testosterone is one, tend to be elevated in women with PCOS.
high androgen levels in the ovary interfere with the maturation of
eggs DHEA, another hormone also tends to be elevated in 50 percent
of women with
PCOS. This elevated DHEA is usually produced in response to
stress. The excess DHEA then converts to androgens which in turn
contributes to the typical
elevated androgen levels seen in PCOS. Women develop
hirsutism
Cortisol, the long term stress hormone imbalances
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www.dentalarticles.com
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http://www.csh.org.tw/dr.tcj/Tseng2013/html/education-pcod.html
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The normal ovary
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The polycystic ovary
humrep.oxfordjournals.org
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Dietary modifications to treat PCOS
Avoiding sugary foods. The worst offenders are soft drinks,
cookies, cakes, chocolate, sweets, and processed breakfast
cereals.
Avoid foods containing unhealthy sugar compounds such as
high-fructose corn syrup, sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, isomalt,
and glycerol.
Eating two servings of fruit daily- it's a much healthier
"sweet" option. Increase the consumption of vegetables. Ideally you
should consume five servings
of vegetables daily. Limit processed grain-based foods such as
boxed breakfast cereals, white bread,
and pasta. Choose small amounts of whole grain alternatives.
Fiber contributes to improved blood sugar control and healthy bowel
function. Aim
to eat 25-30 grams of fiber per day. Protein helps balance your
blood sugar and can help tame a sweet tooth. Fresh
fish, lean red meat, organic chicken, organic eggs, whole
grains, and legumes are all good sources of protein.
The type of fat in your diet plays an important role in
assisting with insulin reception at the cell level. Cold-water
fish, organic eggs, avocadoes, extra virgin olive oil, and raw nuts
and seeds are rich in essential fatty acids.
Ensure you eat regularly and choose healthy snacks mid-morning
and mid-afternoon to balance your blood sugar levels between meals.
Fruit, nuts, seeds and natural yogurt all make healthy snacks.