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Is an Egg White Good for Liver Problems?

Can eating egg whites help with liver problems? There is no simple answer to this question. Liver problems can range from inherited diseases of the liver to problems that develop due to exposure to chemicals, viruses, or a bad diet. Some liver problems are temporary, while others are chronic and can lead to serious, life-threatening complications. A change in diet might be part of the solution, but so might be medication or other treatments.

  1. Types of Liver Problems

    • When deciding on the best treatment for your liver problem, you might want to consider the potential cause. Some causes of liver problems include such serious illnesses as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common liver illnesses, caused by ingesting too many trans-fatty acids. The acids impede the liver's ability to absorb toxins and reduce fat. If you feel you are having liver problems, check with your doctor for testing and proper treatment.

    Effects of Diet

    • While some people believe that it is healthier to just eat the white of the egg, currently, there is no evidence to suggest that eating egg whites alone will relieve liver problems. However, a healthy, liver-friendly diet is much more important for putting your liver back on track. Eating lots of vegetables is ideal, including broccoli, asparagus, peas, tomatoes, spinach, and anything green and leafy. Vegetable juice is also healthful. Fruits such as cherries, apples, and berries will help cleanse the liver. Fish and chicken are healthful in moderation, but if you have liver disease, avoid red meat and all the greasy, fatty foods most of us crave.

    Alternative Treatments

    • If you have been diagnosed with a liver problem and are thinking about alternative treatment, be cautious. According to the Mayo Clinic, herbs such as black cohosh, ma-huang, chaparral, greater celandine, skullcap, and valerian, which are used to treat the liver, can also have adverse effects on your liver health. Other common remedies include drinking lemon juice, liquid green tea, and distilled water. Check with your physician before embarking on any type of alternative therapy, since these methods, if improperly applied, could be harmful to your liver health.

    A Lifelong Change

    • Treating your liver problem may require medication or even surgery. Treating your liver also requires a lifetime commitment to changing your diet and lifestyle and may require avoiding the foods that you love. If eating an egg white will help you begin this journey, then by all means begin. But reestablishing liver health requires a much more complex solution that involves a total body and mind commitment.

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