What Are the Benefits of Persimmons?

By David Harris, eHow Contributor

(No article date)

Persimmon consumption dates to ancient China. The round fruit with a glossy, orange-red skin arrived in the United States in the 19th century. Persimmons have many health benefits since they are rich in fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C.

A Healthy Snack

• Rather than reach for a snack full of calories, eating a persimmon ( like most fruit), is a low calorie way to munch between meals and feel satisfied. A typical persimmon contains 70 calories per 100 grams, is very low in fats and rich in fiber. According to the CDC, one persimmon contains more than 20 percent of your daily fiber. Eating fiber helps regulate and normalize your bowels, helps you lose weight and lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Vitamins A and C

• One persimmon contains about 50 percent of your daily allotment of vitamin A and 20 percent of your vitamin C, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website (CDC). Vitamin A is helpful for fighting age-related eye ailments such as macular degeneration. It is also helpful for fighting cancer, enhancing the immune system and for people with skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema and sunburn. Vitamin C helps boost your immune system so you can better fight off infectious agents.

Antioxidants

• Fresh persimmons also provide numerous other important nutrients. Many of the nutrients in persimmons are considered antioxidants, such as manganese. Antioxidants work by eliminating free radicals, atoms that destroy cells, potentially leading to cancer, aging and other disease. Other antioxidants in persimmons include lycopene and beta-carotene. Persimmons are also rich in copper, which promotes red blood cell health.

Warnings

• Although persimmons are full of good nutrients, eating too many can be harmful to your health. Persimmons contain a compound called shibuol. Shibuol can react with the acid in your stomach and create another sticky compound known as bezoar. If you eat too many persimmons, the bezoar created in your stomach can eventually lead to intestinal blockage. In some severe situations, people who eat too many persimmons have required surgery to remove the obstructions. Only eat persimmons on a full stomach to avoid this issue.

References

• CDC: Fruit of the Month: Persimmons
• Health Mad; The Many Health Benefits of Eating Persimmons; K. Leong; November 2008
• Nutrition and You: Persimmon Fruit Nutrition Facts
• Rice University: Antioxidants and Free Radicals

Resources

• Mayo Clinic: Dietary Fiber
• eMedTV: Benefits of Vitamin A

• Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images                      

Source: What Are the Benefits of Persimmons?

About the Causes of Elevated Liver Enzymes

  By an eHow Contributor

             

The liver is an important organ that plays a role in multiple physiological processes. There are many conditions that can cause elevated liver enzymes, ranging from a simple infection to cancer. A physician will evaluate a patient's symptoms and then run liver enzyme tests on a blood sample, usually in conjunction with other blood work. A diagnosis generally is not made based solely on liver enzyme levels.

          

Function

 

The liver is the largest organ in the human body. It aids in digestion, metabolism, protein synthesis and general detoxification. It also produces bile, used in digestion to emulsify fats. Some of this bile is stored in the gallbladder, and abnormal liver enzyme levels can thus indicate a problem with the gallbladder. The liver also plays a role in the immune system, as phagocytes are dispersed throughout the liver tissue.

Significance

 

Since the liver is a critically important organ and its proper functioning is imperative to many physiological processes, elevated liver enzymes can be due to a multitude of conditions in several different organs. Infection or inflammation of the liver, gall bladder, or bile ducts can all lead to elevated liver enzymes, as can more serious conditions like cancer, cirrhosis and congestive heart failure.

Types

 

These are the liver enzymes that may be elevated, along with what conditions might produce these abnormal laboratory results.

ALT (alanine transaminase): When liver cells become damaged by injury or illness, this chemical leaks into the bloodstream. If there has been no injury, high levels of ALT may be caused by an infection, like viral hepatitis, or an overdose of drugs processed in the liver, like acetaminophen.

AST (aspartate transaminase): This enzyme is also raised in cases of liver damage. However, it is not specific to the liver, and may be elevated if there is damage to the kidneys, brain, heart or skeletal muscle. If AST is high but ALT is normal, the damage is probably not in the liver. If ALT and AST are both high, then the liver is likely to be affected.

ALP (alkaline phosphatase): High ALP is normal in children and pregnant women. In other patients, it may indicate an inflamed or blocked bile duct, inflammation of the gall bladder, cirrhosis, hepatitis, or liver tumors. Some prescription drugs may also cause high ALP levels.

GGT (gamma glutamyl transpeptidase): Elevated levels may indicate hepatitis, cirrhosis, bile duct obstruction or liver tumors. It may also be raised by congestive heart failure, alcohol usage and some prescription drugs.

TBIL (total bilirubin) and DBIL (direct bilirubin): High bilirubin levels can cause jaundice. When total bilirubin is elevated, direct bilirubin levels can help determine the problem. If DBIL is normal, the problem may be cirrhosis or hepatitis, whereas if both TBIL and DBIL are elevated, then there is likely an excretion problem in the gallbladder or a bile duct.

Identification

 

Normally, a physician will order other tests along with those for liver enzymes. These can include a complete blood count, (CBC), which will test levels of white and red blood cells or specific tests for viruses such as hepatitis. Liver enzymes ALT, AST, ALP and bilirubin are also included on the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, which tests kidney function, protein levels, electrolytes, glucose and calcium. A diagnosis is then made based on the outcome of all the blood tests and the patient's symptoms. If cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be performed. CAT scans and ultrasounds may also be used to confirm a diagnosis.

Prevention/Solution

 

Curative treatments will of course depend upon the underlying cause of the elevated liver enzymes. Solutions may include changes in diet and medication, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. Surgery may be necessary if there are gallstones, a blocked bile duct or a tumor. Chemotherapy and/or radiation may be necessary in cancer is discovered. In cases of cirrhosis and other chronic conditions, sometimes a liver transplant is required.

http://www.ehow.com/about_4568736_causes-elevated-liver-enzymes.html

How to Juice for a Healthy Liver

 By Juanita King, eHow Contributor

The liver, which carries blood to and from the heart, doesn't come in pairs like the kidneys, but it's huge size-- it's the largest organ in the human body--more than compensates. Essentially, the liver promotes digestion of foodstuffs and absorbs fats and vitamins. Also, it rids the body of toxins. For instance, if you take excessive amounts of aspirin, which builds up toxins, the liver flushes these poisons from the body. The same goes for prescribed medications.

 

Instructions

1. • 1
     Prepare your body for accepting raw vegetable and fruit juice. Removed fried foods, junk food, coffee and red meat from your diet. Also, stop ingesting refined foods products, such as bagels, white bread, white rice, pasta and potato chips.
   • 2
     Gradually ease into juicing, because drinking raw fruit and vegetable juices produces a powerful cleansing effect upon the body. You may experience a severe headache or even pain if you attempt this without preparing the body. Detoxify your body before you start on any type of juicing regime.

• 3
  Cleanse and detox your liver by changing what you put into your body; this change enhances hepatic health. To cleanse the liver, include apple cider vinegar, an excellent detoxifier for the entire body in general and the liver in particular. Take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and a teaspoon of honey in a glass of distilled or purified water the first thing each morning. 
• 4
  Each day, eat organic fresh vegetables that enhance the liver's natural ability to flush toxins from the body. Add baked fish and poultry. Salmon is an excellent choice because of its omega content.
• 5
  Take up to a month; do not rush this preparatory stage to juicing for the liver.
• 6
  Start juicing by preparing and drinking juice every morning. Choose raw fresh organic spinach, greens, carrots, beets, celery, cabbages, cauliflower, berries or apples. Apples are an excellent detoxifier for the entire body in general and the liver in particular. Apples are often added to vegetable drinks to improve the taste of otherwise bitter drinks. Add the vegetables to the blender hopper and juice. Drink it down immediately. Skip breakfast and eat a healthy lunch and dinner.
• 7
  Use raw fresh fruits for juicing. Grapefruit, pineapples, apples, watermelon and pears are all good choices for liver health.
• 8
  Drink vegetable juices liberally to improve your liver health. Drink two to three times daily if you like. However, fruit juices can raise blood sugar levels, so use sparingly. Consider eating a piece of salmon or some tuna to keep blood levels normal.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5614947_juice-healthy-liver.html

Fatty Liver Symptoms Diagnosis & Cure

By Angie Briggs, eHow Contributor

 

Fatty liver is a buildup of excess fat in liver cells. Fatty liver can have serious complications if more than 10 percent of the liver's weight is made up of fat.

 

Fatty liver causes no symptoms or damage for most people. The form of fatty liver that is not caused by alcohol abuse is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Severe forms can lead to liver failure.

  

Risk and Causes 

• Fatty liver is found in almost all people who are heavy drinkers. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has no known exact cause. In addition to alcohol abuse, fatty liver often accompanies rapid weight loss, obesity, diabetes, high triglycerides and malnutrition. Risk factors also include certain medications, gastric bypass surgery, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, toxins and chemicals (i.e. pesticides), type 2 diabetes and Wilson's disease.

 

Symptoms and Forms

• A fatty liver often shows no symptoms. Many people do not know they have fatty liver until they have medical tests. Severe cases may exhibit fatigue, weight loss, abdominal discomfort, weakness and confusion. 

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver causes excess liver fat without complications. Nonalcoholic fatty liver is a common condition. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is inflammation of the liver in a small amount of people with fatty liver. NASH can affect the liver's ability to function, leading to complications. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-associated cirrhosis is liver inflammation that leads to scarring of liver tissue. The scarring can become so severe that liver failure ensues. Alcoholic steatohepatitis occurs when fatty liver accompanies alcohol abuse and is associated with liver damage due to inflammation.

Tests and Diagnosis

• Liver function blood tests check liver enzymes and can help aid your doctor in making a diagnosis. Imaging such as ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used. Liver tissue testing is done via biopsy in severe cases of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease to look for inflammation and scarring.

 

Treatment

• There are no standard medical treatments available for fatty liver disease. Current treatment is to focus on the cause and on risk factors. Alcohol-induced fatty liver generally improves when alcohol is stopped. Increase exercise and lose weight if you are overweight. Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Select unsaturated fats over saturated fats in foods such as fish, olive oil and nuts. Eat whole grains such as brown rice. Keep your blood sugar under control if you suffer from diabetes. Patients with high cholesterol should work on lowering it with medication and diet.

 

Prevention

• A healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent fatty liver. Avoid anything that stresses the liver, such as alcohol and certain medications. Eat more fruits and vegetables to benefit from the antioxidants they contain. Use household and work chemicals with care and follow proper safety measures; some chemicals can have a toxic effect on the liver.

Related Searches

• Fatty Liver Symptoms
• Health Symptoms Diagnosis
• The Cure for Alcoholism
• Cure Inflammation
• Signs of Liver Disease

  

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The Benefits of Sea Cucumber

By Randi Flynn, eHow Contributor

Sea cucumbers are shaped like a cucumber. 

               

The sea cucumber is not a cucumber at all. It's a marine animal rich in protein that is used to treat many medical conditions and is known for its anti-aging properties. The sea cucumber is not attractive in appearance with its oblong body, but it is a popular seafood with less than 2 percent fat and a high concentration of vitamins. Truly a gift from the sea, the sea cucumber provides many health benefits.

History

• For thousands of years in Asia, sea cucumber was used to help arthritis, fatigue, impotence, constipation, frequent urination and joint pain. Thus, it is highly valued for its supposed medical properties. In addition, these cultures believe in its strong aphrodisiac qualities and healthful properties as a tonic for the kidneys, blood, stomach ulcers and stomach cancer. Today sea cucumbers are used in China to treat kidney disorders, constipation and reproductive problems, including impotence.

Benefits

• The benefits of sea cucumbers are numerous. Due to the large amounts of chondroitin sulfate found in it, the sea cucumber is used to ease joint pain and conditions like arthritis. Modern studies show that sea cucumbers improve the balance of prostaglandins, which are helpful for musculo-skeletal inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and arthritis of the spine. In addition, some people use sea cucumber to help the kidneys and treat frequent urination as well as give an instant energy boost. Modern research also indicates that sea cucumbers could help treat malignant growths and diseases due to its fatty acids. These benefits have gained attention, and scientists in many countries believe that certain extracts from sea cucumbers may help stop the growth of cancer cells.

Usage

• Extracts from sea cucumbers are used with herbs to produce ointments that can be used on the face, hands, feet, joints, muscles, scalp, hair, mouth, gums and other sensitive areas. In addition, using sea cucumber as a topical ointment is a great moisturizer. There are not currently any warnings surrounding the usage of sea cucumber. However, like all supplements, it's best to seek the guidance of your doctor before taking it.

http://www.ehow.com/list_6777789_benefits-sea-cucumber.html