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Posts Tagged ‘Liver Inflammation’

Fatty liver: The start of a serious disease

July 18th, 2008

Von

Though fatty liver is commonly seen among heavy alcoholics and in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, its presence in diabetics, in patients with high cholesterol and triglycerides, and in overweight or obese individuals – adults and kids alike – makes it a growing concern of the new millennium. What is needed alarming is that, according to Dr. Joel Lavine, University of California, San Diego, fatty liver has been found in obese children as young as three years old and its complication of cirrhosis as young as age seven.

Excessive alcohol intake of more than three bottles of beer, one shot of whiskey, or 100cc of wine daily may lead to fatty liver. Prolonged alcohol intake may then cause liver inflammation and later cirrhosis. If the fatty liver is not associated with alcohol intake, it is called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. (more…)

Tags: Alcoholic Fatty Liver, Blood Sugar Levels, California San Diego, Chronic Viral Hepatitis, Elevated Liver Enzyme, Excessive Accumulation, Excessive Alcohol Intake, Fat In The Liver, Fatty Liver Disease, High Cholesterol, Laboratory Examinations, Liver Biopsy, Liver Cancer, Liver Cells, Liver cirrhosis, Liver Inflammation, Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver, Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, University Of California San Diego, Viral Hepatitis

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Traditional Medicinal Uses of Ampalaya in Other Countries

October 19th, 2007

Von

In the Philippines, Ampalaya (Bitter Melon, Bitter Gourd) is widely known and used for diabetes. Leaves are used as tea, or made into capsules.

Vitamin content of Ampalaya (taken from http://www.foodsdatabase.com/) showed that a serving size of Bitter Melon, approximately 1 cup (93 grams) contains the following vitamins and minerals:

Vitamin A 9%
Thiamine 2%
Riboflavin 2%
Niacin 2%
Vitamin B5 2%
Vitamin B6 2%
Vitamin C 130%
Folate 17%
Calcium 2%
Iron 2%
Magnesium 4%
Phosphorus 3%
Copper 2%
Zinc 5%

One serving of Bitter Melon also contains the following:

Calories: 16
Total Fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 0 mg
Sodium: 5 mg
Total Carbohydrates: 3 g
Dietary Fiber 3 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 1 g

Furthermore, in different parts of the world, Ampalaya (Bitter Melon, Bitter Gourd) are known to have various medical uses. This list of of ethnobotanical uses of Ampalaya is taken from http://bittermelon.org. This site has more comprehensive information about Bitter Melon.

Brazil
Ampalaya is used in abortions, burns, colic, constipation, dermatosis, diabetes, diarrhea, eczema, fever, flu, hemorrhoids, hepatitis, hives, itch, impotency, leprosy, leukemia, libido, liver inflammation, malaria, menstrual problems, pain, rheumatism, scabies, skin, tumor, vaginal discharge, vaginitis, worms, wounds

China
Ampalaya is used in breast cancer, diabetes, fever, halitosis, impotency, renal insufficiency, kidney problems

Cuba
Ampalaya is used in anemia, colitis, diabetes, fever, hyperglycemia, intestinal parasites, kidney stones, liver problems, menstrual problems, sterility (female), worms

Haiti
Ampalaya is used for anemia, constipation, dermatosis, eye infections, fever, liver diseases, skin problems, rhinitis, and as an appetite stimulant and insecticide

India
Ampalaya is used in abortions, birth control, constipation, diabetes, eczema, fat loss, food, fever, gout, hemorrhoids, hydrophobia, hyperglycemia, increasing milk flow, intestinal parasites, jaundice, kidney stones, leprosy, liver, menstrual disorders, pneumonia, psoriasis, rheumatism, scabies, skin, snakebite, vaginal discharge

Mexico
Ampalaya is used for bowel function, burns, diabetes, dysentery, impotency, libido, scabies, sores, worms

Malaysia
Ampalaya is used for abdominal pain, asthma, burns, Celiac’s disease, dermatosis, diarrhea, headache, intestinal parasites, stomachache, worms

Nicaragua
Ampalaya is used for aches, anemia, childbirth, colds, constipation, cough, diabetes, fever, headache, hypertension, infections, lung disorders, malaria, pain, pregnancy, rashes, skin problems

Panama
Ampalaya is used for colds, diabetes, fever, flu, gallbladder problems, hives, hypertension, itch, malaria, menstrual problems, and as an insecticide

Peru
Ampalaya is used for colic, constipation, contusions, diabetes, diarrhea, fever, hepatitis, inflammation, intestinal parasites, lung problems, malaria, measles, menstrual problems, skin sores, pus, wounds

Trinidad
Ampalaya is used for diabetes, dysentery, fever, hypertension, malaria, rheumatism, worms.

Photo courtesy of www.special-tea.com

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