Foods Good for the Liver

A functioning liver works as your bodies’ fat-burning organ: It converts nutrients from the food you eat into essential blood components, storing vitamins and minerals and producing proteins and enzymes to maintain hormone balances in your body. Your liver also helps your immune system fight infections, remove bacteria from the blood and make bile, which is essential for digesting meals. Mistreating your liver can raise the risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, chronic fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, allergies and many other ailments, which is why keeping your liver healthy is of vital importance.

Garlic, which has a high amount of allicin and selenium, helps your liver activate enzymes that can flush out toxins.

One of your most powerful allies in cleansing the liver is leafy greens, which can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. Extremely high in chlorophyll, greens soak up environmental toxins from the bloodstream and have the ability to neutralise metals, chemicals and pesticides that may be in your foods, acting as a protective mechanism for the liver. Incorporate leafy greens such as bitter gourd, spinach and mustard greens into your diet as this will increase creation and flow of bile—the substance that removes waste from the organs and blood.

Eating or drinking grapefruit juice can help your liver flush out carcinogens and toxins. This fruit is also high in both vitamin C and antioxidant properties.

In relation to fruits rich in vitamin C, citrus fruits like lemons and oranges also help your body cleanse out toxic materials and aid the digestion process.

Beets are high in plant-flavonoids, while green tea is full of plant antioxidants known as catechins, both of which have been known to improve the functions of your liver. Just remember that green tea offers the benefits, not green tea extract. Some research suggests green tea extract may actually have a negative effect on liver health.

Adding more avocados to your diet can help your body produce a type of antioxidant called glutathione, which is needed for your liver to filter out harmful materials.

Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cabbage and Brussels sprouts also increase the amount of glucosinolate (organic compounds) in your body that helps create enzyme production for digestion.

Turmeric has been known to help the body digest fats and stimulate the production of bile. It can also act as a natural form of detox for your liver.

Walnuts are also high in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids, which help support your liver through its cleansing process.

Avoiding an excessive consumption of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and white sugar and adding in low-impact exercises (like daily walks) and drinking lots of water are additional ways to ensure good liver health.

Often referred to as the gatekeeper of the body, it is important to remember that although the immune system protects your body from many dangers, it is the liver that protects the immune system from becoming overloaded.

Contact our Nutrition Department to create a liver-friendly diet that ensures maximum health!

https://www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/nutrition.html

With the mercury levels rising steadily every day, summer seems to completely drain everyone out. Temperatures have been scorching high and humidity levels are escalating by the day. In such conditions, your body needs the help of cooling foods that will balance your diet and keep your energy levels stable. The good part about summer is the availability of our favourite seasonal fruits and vegetables! Make the most of them by including them in your diet right away!

Here’s what to include and remove from your summer diet.

Watermelon

True to its name, watermelon is over 90% water. It’s also an even better source of cancer-fighting lycopene than raw tomatoes. At just 44 calories a cup, there’s no reason not to bite into this summery fruit. Avoid buying the chopped watermelon slices sold by the roadside vendors as it can increase your risk of getting diarrhoea.

Salad leaves

Amaranth leaves, rocket leaves, basil and other summer herbs should be tossed together to make a great summer salad. They create a powerhouse of nutrition and are a great way to lose weight. Add in fruits, nuts, peppers, mint or coriander leaves to make a light and lovely meal.

Cucumber

Stay cool as a cucumber! It’s a joy to have a cool bite of this crisp, nutritionally dense vegetable that is packed with nutrients like Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Riboflavin, B-6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc and Silica. Moreover, it helps keep constipation at bay!

Mint

Mint is a simple, easily available, inexpensive herb which you can add to your curd to make pudina raita or have it in the form of chutneys besides using it in dips. Besides having cooling properties, this refreshing herb aids in digestion and provides the perfect detox!

Tomato

Eating tomatoes could give you a little extra protection from the sun: consuming more lycopene—the carotenoid that makes tomatoes red—may protect your skin from sunburn.

Bottle Gourd

This vegetable is rich in calcium, magnesium, Vitamin A, C and folate. The superhero vegetable works well on high blood pressure, keeps the heart healthy and is considered an excellent blood purifier.

Curd

Curd is a delicious coolant in this scorching heat. Used in chaas or dips, curd can stimulate digestion and give your body a calcium boost! Is it advisable to keep a limit on the consumption of curd.

Coconut water

Laden with simple sugars, electrolytes and essential minerals, coconut water helps keep the body well hydrated.

While these foods help boost your health during the summer, certain foods do the reverse. Here’s a list of foods to avoid this season.

• Fried Junk Food
• Excess Dairy Products
• Excess Mangoes
• Spicy Foods
• Alcoholic Drinks
• Soft Drinks
• Garlic
• Excess Tea or Coffee

For all-rounded consultation on the appropriate diet for you this summer, take an appointment with our Nutrition Department.

www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/nutrition.html

Calcium Deficiency

The mineral calcium is well-known for its key role in bone health. Calcium also helps maintain heart rhythm, muscle function, and more. When you don’t get enough calcium, your risk of developing diseases like osteoporosis, osteopenia, and calcium deficiency disease (hypocalcemia) increases.

Calcium deficiency is a disease that affects the functioning of your body when your calcium storage depletes. Here’s what you need to know about it.

Symptoms

Though there are no early signs of calcium deficiency, people are known to experience the following symptoms:

• Wheezing
• Fainting
• Muscle aches
• Numbness in feet, face
• Brittle nails
• Depression
• Tooth decay
• Dry skin
• Memory loss
• Cataracts
• Kidney stones
• Allergies
• Chest pains
• Fatigue
• Numbness in hands
• Miscarriages
• Infertility
• Seizures
• Heart Failure
• Osteoporosis
• Cancer

Cause

Calcium deficiency occurs when your body is not receiving enough minerals such as calcium and goes through a process called demineralization. Without this vital alkaline mineral, your body relies on the existing calcium in your bones, teeth, and organs, which leads to calcium deficiency.

As you age, your bone density decreases naturally; and since most of your calcium is stored in your bones, your daily requirement for calcium increases. Other factors in losing calcium levels in your blood system include high sodium and phosphorus intake and deficiencies in vitamin D and magnesium.

Health conditions can also play a part in low calcium absorption or loss. This can include chronic kidney disease, thyroid issues, gastric bypass surgery, and even certain prescription drugs such as anti-seizure medications, proton pump inhibitors, and chemotherapy drugs.

Treatment

Calcium deficiency is usually easy to treat. It generally involves adding more calcium to your diet.

Do not self-treat by taking a lot of calcium supplements. Taking more than the recommended dose without your doctor’s approval can lead to serious issues.

Prevention

Ensuring you get enough calcium from your diet is crucial to preventing calcium deficiency.

Foods rich in calcium are:

• Milk
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Beans
• Figs
• Broccoli
• Spinach
• Tofu
• Soy milk
• Nuts and seeds

In addition to increasing your calcium intake, it is a must to take charge of your lifestyle by exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy body weight, and avoiding alcohol and smoking.

To ensure your diet is well-rounded and that you’re consuming enough calcium, consult our Nutrition Department.

www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/nutrition/generalservices.html

Ensuring you have sufficient amounts of calcium in your daily diet is vital to living a long, healthy life.

For comprehensive treatment of osteoporosis, contact our first-class Osteoporosis Clinic to avail the services of our highly trained professionals:

www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicsatkh/osteoporosisclinic.html

Oral Health should not be ignored. Your mouth is a prime gateway to your body, and keeping it clean and healthy can help prevent various diseases. Here’s a comprehensive guide on oral health.

The Basics

• Brush at least twice a day, especially after eating breakfast and before bedtime.
• Floss every day.
• Limit the number of times you eat snacks each day.
• Visit your dentist regularly.

Brushing Technique

• Place the toothbrush at a 45° angle along the gum line. Move the toothbrush back and forth, and repeat for each tooth.
• Brush the inside surface of each tooth, using the same back and forth technique.
• Brush the top of each tooth.
• Use tip of the brush behind each tooth — front and back, top and bottom and up and down strokes.
• Be sure to brush your tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria.

Flossing Technique

• Pull 18 to 24 inches of dental floss from the dispenser.
• Wrap the ends of the floss around your index and middle fingers.
• Hold the floss tightly around each tooth in a C shape; move the floss back and forth in a push-pull motion and up and down against the side of each tooth.

Monitor your food and beverage intake

• Harmful germs and bacteria feed on sugar. By reducing your sugar intake, you can deduct the quantity of bacteria in your mouth. Restrict your sugar intake to mealtimes and do not brush immediately after.
• Be careful while consuming acidic foods and drinks. Acid strips tooth enamel of its minerals. Over time, enamel damage leaves the teeth unprotected against cavity-causing bacteria.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to irritations of the tissues inside the mouth, including the tongue and slower healing and poor healing after dental surgery.
• Smoking also has harmful effects on your teeth. When you smoke, you interfere with the normal function of gum tissue cells and affect the attachment of bone and soft tissue to your teeth. This leaves you more susceptible to infections and impairs blood flow to the gums.

Regular dental check-ups

• The body naturally builds up plaque and calculus and if not removed, it embeds underneath the gum tissues and discreetly causes periodontal disease.
• Cavities can cause suffering and swelling, and in extreme cases, also the loss of a tooth. Regular checkups with your dentist will allow you to catch cavities before they turn into big problems.
• There is a strong correlation between gum disease and heart disease. Sugar and starch on the teeth produces large amounts of bacteria that end up in the blood stream. While bacteria normally exists in the mouth, gum disease increases the level of bacteria dramatically and it gets carried through the blood and can end up lodged in the heart and clog blood vessels.

Take a moment to think about your oral health. It’s something you should definitely not overlook. Developing and maintaining good oral health and hygiene is not time-consuming or difficult and it can lead to so many worthwhile benefits for the mouth and our overall wellbeing.

To keep your mouth healthy and your smile beautiful, visit our Dental Surgery Team for all oral and dental problems.

www.kokilabenhospital.com/departments/clinicaldepartments/dentalsurgery.html