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Two organs that are vital to the way the body functions are the liver and kidneys. While the kidneys sees to it that waste is removed from the body and that toxins do not spread to other organs, the liver is crucial in helping your body fight against infections, regulate blood sugar, and aids in digestion. In the event of disease attacking the liver or kidneys, there will be some subtle symptoms that indicate a problem with these organs. As the liver and kidney problems escalate, the symptoms become prominent and tend to weaken the body.

Symptoms

To avoid such problems and the discomfort that comes along the disease, it is vital identify symptoms as early as possible. When the liver is damaged it could lead to cancer, cirrhosis, or hepatitis. The symptoms are the same despite the kind of liver disease.

• You will see a marked change in the color of your urine: it will either darken or lighten considerably and is a sign of liver disease. Stools will also tend to be black in color.
• If your kidney is affected, you will notice changes in your urine: it could either prompt you to urinate frequently or less. Your urine might also foam and bubble. In severe cases of kidney disease, you might stop urinating altogether.
• People who are suffering from liver and kidney disease tend to feel tired and weak more quickly, and often feel nauseous. This situation occurs as red blood cells decrease when the kidney is affected, resulting in less oxygen travelling through the body. When the liver fails, your body tries to cope with the damage and tends to overwork itself leading to fatigue, nausea and weakness.
• You could also suffer from loss of appetite and get confused as a result of liver and kidney diseases.
• The initial stages of liver disease tend to lead to swelling and inflammation. This happens because the liver tries to fight the infection, leading to an enlarged liver. When you are suffering from kidney disease, body tissues tend to get swollen; this is known as edema. When the kidney is no longer able to filter excess water in the body effectively, it leads to various parts of the body swelling up.

You can get your liver and kidney screened for diseases if you feel you any of the symptoms. The test shows you whether the organs are functioning well. The tests do not try to identify the toxin as there is difficulty in detecting them in the body. The test normally used is the liver and kidney function tests and blood tests. It is best to consult a doctor for proper medical advice.

Foods to Eat for Liver and Kidney Problems

The working of our liver and kidneys is very important as they are responsible for getting rid of bacteria, toxins, and viruses present in our body. When affected, the liver and kidney stop working properly, allowing toxins to build in the body leading to disease. Few of the factors that cause liver and kidney disease are alcohol consumption, bacterial infections, diabetes, and smoking. There are certain foods that can help your liver and kidney function better. However, make sure that you consult your doctor before making any drastic changes to your diet if you are suffering from liver or kidney disease. Here are a few foods that help.

• Alfalfa: This herb is helpful as it contains antifungal properties and could aid in averting fungi from damaging your liver and kidney cells. Alfalfa also contains vitamin K that prevents tissues in the liver from bleeding severely.
• Celery: Celery contains natural diuretics that aid in maintaining healthy kidneys. It also helps get rid of extra uric acid in your present in your bloodstream. Excess levels of uric acid are toxic for your kidneys and can cause permanent damage to them.
• Turmeric: This spice helps protect your liver from acetaminophen, alcohol consumption, prescription drugs, and toxins in the environment as it contains curcumin that protects your liver.
• Vitamin C-Rich Foods: Vitamin C helps strengthen your immune system, while also getting rid of bacteria and viruses that could damage your liver. Vitamin C also contains antioxidant properties. Some fruits you can include in your diet are watermelon, strawberries, raspberries, pineapple, papaya, mango, kiwi fruit, orange, grape fruit, cranberries, cantaloupe, and blueberries. Vegetables that you can include in your diet plan are white potatoes, winter squash, tomatoes, turnip greens, sweet potatoes, spinach, red peppers, radish, green leafy vegetables, green peppers, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and asparagus.
• Vitamin E-Rich Foods: This vitamin shields your liver from toxins that could damage it. It also has antioxidant properties and helps avert the scarring of the liver, while promoting regeneration as well. Foods that contain vitamin E include cold-pressed olive oil, kale, spinach, sunflower seeds, and walnuts.

References:

1. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cirrhosis/index.aspx
2. http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/progression/
3. http://lifeoptions.org/kidneyinfo/ckdinfo.php?page=4
4. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/19.html
5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm