hepatitis c

[Guest guest]

I recently went for a study group for shingles/phn and they di a hep blood test

it came back saying i have the antibody for hep c don't have any symptoms get

tired but could br grom the neurontin i take have a pain on right side but by

groin which doen't relate what altrnative meicine could i take i alo take

lisinopril and two inhalers and estrdiol please help

 

gale

[Guest guest]

Hepatitis C

 

Infection by the hepatitis C virus is a great health challenge to millions of

people today. A person may be carrying this virus for a long time without

showing any symptoms of the infection. The amount of long term liver damage

caused by the hepatitis C virus varies from person to person, depending on how

strong the immune system is and upon a healthy diet and lifestyle.

 

25% of people who have hepatitis C will suffer serious liver damage.10% will

develop liver failure and/or liver cancer (Let's Live, March, 1999).

 

Here's a positive note about survival with hepatitis C. In the magazine Let's

Live, March, 1999, a survivor case of hepatitis C was documented. His name is

Kevin Krueger. He was told that he would need a liver transplant to survive.

His condition was too severe for drug therapy, so his name was added to a liver

transplant list. Because he changed his diet totally and went on a liver

cleansing diet and took liver supporting supplements, he is no longer on the

list for a liver transplant. He is totally recovered. He founded the National

Hepatitis C Coalition.

 

How can you use nutrition to reduce liver damage from the hepatitis virus?

 

I recommend that you consume a diet that helps in liver cleansing and liver

regeneration. Here is an article I previously wrote about certain foods and

whole food supplements that support liver health.

 

If Your Liver Needs Help, What Can You Do?

 

Whether you have Gilbert's syndrome, Hepatitis C, congested liver, or some other

degenerative process going on in the liver, you need to know that you can

personally " take charge " and work with nutrition to support your liver and

perhaps bring the liver back to normalcy again.

 

Educating yourself is a good place to start. One of the best books written on

liver health is by Dr. Sandra Cabot, The Liver Cleansing Diet: Love Your Liver

and Live Longer. She says in her book that after 20 yrs. of practicing medicine,

she discovered the liver is the missing key for so many unhealthy people who

cannot find a solution. The liver is the master controller of metabolism.

 

The reason I like this book is because Dr. Cabot's " Liver Cleansing Diet " uses

foods to deliver the correct balance of micro and macro nutrients for healthy

liver function and efficient metabolism. Her plan views nutrition as a medical

aid.

 

Here are some symptoms that indicate an unhealthy liver function:

Abdominal bloating, poor digestion, frequent fatigue, headaches, unpleasant

moods, bad breath, coated tongue (white coat), irritable bowel syndrome,

insomnia, high cholesterol, itching, skin problems, allergies, sugar cravings,

intolerance to alcohol, excessive alcohol intake, and excessive body heat

(Cabot, pp.18-19) .

 

Many of the symptoms above indicating liver malfunction are also symptoms of

candida. Dr. Pizzorno in his book " Natural Medicine " , believes that impaired

liver function promotes candida overgrowth (candida is the overgrowth of yeast).

The toxins of candida absorbed from the gut are filtered from the blood by the

liver. Impaired detoxification mechanisms of the liver are thought to be

responsible for the high sensitivity to chemicals in individuals with candida

overgrowth. The liver as a result is no longer filtering the blood sufficiently

(p.185).

 

There are several supplements that can support your liver function, but your

diet must also be a healthy one. Here's a list of foods that you can actually

live on, that will normally assist you to experience excellent results within 3

to 6 months. (It is recommended that all of these foods be organically grown).

 

FOODS THAT CAN ASSIST WITH LIVER HEALTH (All organic if possible):

 

APPLES: Apples cleanse the liver and gallbladder (especially green apples). Eat

one apple a day.

ARTICHOKE: Has great phytochemicals which improve liver function and lower blood

cholesterol levels.

BLUEBERRY: Has medicinal properties affecting the liver and blood.

CARROT JUICE: Excellent for liver rejuvenation and cleansing.

CELERY: It is a diuretic that can relieve liver congestion.

CHICORY: Both the root and the greens, is an excellent tonic that cleanses and

helps regulate the liver and gallbladder.

GRAPE JUICE (Must be juiced fresh): Has been used in ancient times to treat

liver malfunction, including jaundice and hepatitis, with great success.

KALE: It can ease liver congestion.

LEMON: It benefits bile formation and therefore supports liver function.

LETTUCE: Used to reduce liver inflammation.

OLIVE OIL: In the Middle East, extra virgin olive oil is highly regarded for its

ability to support liver and gallbladder functions.

ORANGES & TANGERINES: Used in ancient times for its medicinal properties for

those with liver weakness because it's a liver cleanser. These fruits also

contain phytochemicals that strongly stimulate liver detoxification enzymes

(Albrecht, p.4).

ORGANIC BLUE GREEN ALGAE (Wild Crafted): It helps lower cholesterol (Kushak, et

al, pp. 59-64) and suppresses fatty accumulations in the liver.

TURMERIC: This spice is the flavoring agent used in curry. It helps tone the

liver and is known as a liver regenerator (p. 4).

STRAWBERRY: Can break-up excessive toxins in the liver.

SAFFRON: A liver detoxifier.

ORGANIC APPLE CIDER VINEGAR: Can energize the liver meridians.

FREE RANGE EGGS (Boiled or eaten raw): It's important to eat foods like eggs

high in sulphur containing compounds to aid the liver in it's detoxification

ability.

BROCCOLI, CAULIFLOWER AND CABBAGE: High in sulphur. These vegetables contain a

phytochemical that stimulates detoxifying enzymes in the liver as well as in the

gut (p.4).

BRAZIL NUTS: A vital antioxidant. A selenium deficiency is linked to different

types of cancer.

 

NATURE'S MARVELOUS ANTI-VIRAL FOOD:

 

One of the most amazing foods is coconut oil for its ability to fight

infections. When coconut oil is consumed, the body transforms its unique fatty

acids into powerful antimicrobial powerhouses capable of defeating some of the

most notorious disease-causing microorganisms. Even the super germs are

vulnerable to these lifesaving coconut derivatives. Coconut oil is, in essence,

a natural anti bacterial, anti viral, anti fungal, and anti protozoal food

(Fife, p. 57).

 

Coconut oil's antimicrobial effects come from its unique composition of medium

chain fatty acids (MCFA). Coconut oil is composed of 48 percent lauric acid, 7

percent capric acid, 8 percent caprylic acid, and .5 percent carproic acid.

These medium-chain fatty acids give coconut oil its amazing anti microbial

properties and are generally absent from all other vegetables and animal oils

with the exception of butter (p.58).

 

MCFA are natural substances the body knows how to use for its benefit. They are

harmless to us while they are deadly to certain microorganisms. For example,

most bacteria and viruses are encased in a coat of lipids (fats). The fatty

acids that make up this outer membrane or skin, hold together the organism's

DNA. Lipid coated viruses and bacteria are easily killed by MCFA, which

primarily destroy these organisms by disrupting their lipid membranes. MCFA,

being similar to those in the micro-organisms's membrane, are easily attracted

to and absorbed into it. Unlike the other fatty acids in the membrane, MCFA are

much smaller and, therefore, weaken the already nearly fluid membrane to such a

degree that it disintegrates. The membrane literally splits open, spilling its

insides, thus killing the organism. Our white blood cells quickly clean up and

dispose of the cellular debris. MCFA kill invading organisms without causing any

known harm to human tissues. The potential coconut oil has in treating and

preventing a wide assortment of infections is truly astounding, ranging from the

flu, to life-threatening conditions such as AIDS (p.58).

 

" Researchers have been finding coconut oil to be of great benefit to liver

health. MCFA are resistant to free-radical formation and actually help prevent

their formation in the liver. A study by H.Kono and others showed that MCFA can

prevent ...liver injury by inhibiting free-radical formation. Several other

studies have also shown that fatty acids, such as those found in coconut and

palm oils, protect the liver from....free-radical injury and tissue death;

indicating that the use of these oils not only prevent injury but even

rejuvenate diseased tissue " (p. 113).

 

When you buy the coconut oil, make sure that it is in a glass jar and the label

would say that the oil is unheated.

 

NUTRITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:

 

ENZYMES - as digestive aids and cleansing agents. Use enzymes micro-blended with

wild-crafted blue green algae (enzymes need minerals, which are supplied by the

algae, to work).

PROBIOTICS - To assist digestive system functioning and reduce candida. Use

friendly bacteria micro-blended with blue green algae.

ORGANIC BLUE GREEN ALGAE (Wild) - To nourish the body with simple to digest

macro and micro nutrients.

COENZYME Q10 - To supply oxygen to the liver. A potent liver protector. Use Q10

microblended with organic flax oil.

WHEAT SPROUTS - To promote liver cell regeneration. Use wheat sprouts

micro-blended with blue green algae. An excellent whole food antioxidant.

 

Detoxify your liver: Do the other nutritional steps first before you try this

liver detoxification drink. Use organic apple cider vinegar, organic whole

lemons, organic maple syrup and hot water. Begin with one tablespoon of vinegar,

the juice of one half lemon, enough maple syrup to make your drink tasty, and

hot water (not boiling). Drink this 20 minutes after taking your friendly

bacteria and wait another 20 minutes before you eat. Gradually, increase the

vinegar to 3 tablespoons per day and continue to drink this mixture for 30 days.

At any time if you feel your body is telling you to stop this drink (you'll

actually develop an aversion to the taste), then stop. Your body is getting

ready to do a major cleanse. Always listen to your body. This drink may seem

like it contains only harmless ingredients, but vinegar, lemon and maple syrup

combined are very potent liver detoxifiers. The first time I started on this

drink, I had to stop after one week because of the onset of detoxification

symptoms. The second time I tried the drink it took me about 20 days before I

again had to stop because I was experiencing strong detoxification symptoms.

 

Drink 8 to 12 glasses of spring water daily. Take small and frequent sips to

prevent your cells from shrinking (from dehydration). Avoid large amounts of

fluid with meals (liquid with meals dilutes digestive enzymes which are designed

to work without dilution from liquids).

 

If I was noticing alarming symptoms from my liver, I would live the next three

to six months by consuming mostly the above listed foods with the recommended

supplements. The results might be astonishing!

 

References:

Albrecht, Frances. (June 1999). " Supporting Liver Health Through Nutrition. "

Food-based Nutrition Track. Bastyr University Distance Learning Instructor. pp.

1-8.

Cabot, Sandra, M.D. (1999). The Healthy Liver and Bowel Book. Australia: Hero

Productions.

Fife, Bruce, N.D. (2001). The Healing Miracles of Coconut Oil. Colorado Springs,

Co: Health Wise.

Kushak, Fafail, PhD. (January 2000). " Favorable Effects of Blue-Green Algae on

Rat Plasma Lipids " . JANA. Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 59-66.

Pizzorno, Joseph, N.D. & Murray, Michael. (1991). Encyclopedia of Natural

Medicine. Rocklin, CA: Prima Publishing.