Chocolate lover's thread!

[Janine]

Virgil, I am sorry for your troubles, too. Group sympathy always helps, right? I think if you exercise at a gym, that will made the big difference. Moderate your eating and maybe eat dessert now and then. Did your doctor tell you to restrict pasta and starches, too? They turn to sugar in your system. Eat smaller portions and don't overdo. Some chocolate is bad for certain conditions. I know someone who has kidney stones periodically and he cannot have chocolate at all. He used to be a chocolate addict before this. I think balance is the key word and all things combined will help with the liver problem. You probably won't have to give up the good things in life permanently but get to a moderation level. Diets are hard, so we all do sympathise.

[Virgil]

Did your doctor tell you to restrict pasta and starches, too?

Thanks janine. He didn't tell me anything. Just lose weight.

[bluevictim]

So the doctor didn't say how much weight to lose or to avoid any foods? Just trim your nails and shave!

[Janine]

Well, from my experience, doctors don't know that much about nutrition. Amazingly enough, one told me they only get about one class in it. Usually they just say go see a nutritionist. If he said just to lose weight, I would do so, but I read online that it might be harder to lose with that condition, and they also recommend losing slowly, not rapidly. So don't get discouraged. I think exercising will help with the weight loss. That never hurt anyone and it makes your metabolism work more efficently. We all get lazy and don't exercise enough. I know that is the case with me. I slowed down greatly as I got older. I used to be so active doing all kinds of exercise - skating, skiing, etc. Now we exercise our computer chairs a little too much. If only we could lose weight by typing.

[Madhuri]

If only we could lose weight by typing.

I wish

Hey Virg, you can look at it this way, see, if you lose weight you'll look younger and handsomer (is that a word?), dont you think? Mrs Virgil will give you due attention and you dont need to attend the evening classes with Claes. *I hope I havent said more than I should have*

Your health isnt the only reason to lose weight, see.

But, on a serious note, you should listen to what your doc says.

[Virgil]

I wish

Hey Virg, you can look at it this way, see, if you lose weight you'll look younger and handsomer (is that a word?), dont you think? Mrs Virgil will give you due attention and you dont need to attend the evening classes with Claes. *I hope I havent said more than I should have*

Your health isnt the only reason to lose weight, see.

But, on a serious note, you should listen to what your doc says.

Thanks Maddie. Mrs. Virgil has been after me to take better care of myself. If I understand what you're saying, it means I'm going to have my nights busier.

[Nightshade]

Really dont want to be a scare monger or anything but my Granddad didnt drink that heavily ( well as far as I know but then he wouldnt have drunk that much around us with us being muslims would he??) But he used to have a glass of beer or wine pretty much every night, anyway he died of liver cancer which starts of as fatty liver and becomes cirocus of the liver, I belive so be careful. Then again every one of his 6 brothers and sisters who has died and a few of thier kids died of some fore serious cancer, heart, lung, liver , brain tumor. So it runs in the family but still be careful and watch out for your health, yeah?

[Madhuri]

Thanks Maddie. Mrs. Virgil has been after me to take better care of myself. If I understand what you're saying, it means I'm going to have my nights busier.

No, I did not mean what you understood. I was saying it more in terms of affection wise.

And, do listen to all the advises here, from Kathy, Janine to Night. You shouldnt take any problem related to an organ of the body lightly, and liver is an important part. So, just take care. Hope you get well soon.

[Virgil]

Really dont want to be a scare monger or anything but my Granddad didnt drink that heavily ( well as far as I know but then he wouldnt have drunk that much around us with us being muslims would he??) But he used to have a glass of beer or wine pretty much every night, anyway he died of liver cancer which starts of as fatty liver and becomes cirocus of the liver, I belive so be careful. Then again every one of his 6 brothers and sisters who has died and a few of thier kids died of some fore serious cancer, heart, lung, liver , brain tumor. So it runs in the family but still be careful and watch out for your health, yeah?

Thank you Night. The potential of future of cirohcis (sp?) of the liver is a potential. I probably drink as much as your grandfather. I will now have to seriously reduce it. Fatty liver isn't so bad of itself; its just the potential that scares me. Plus my grandmother died (she was only in her 50's) of a liver problem; I can't get a straight answer as to whether it was cancer or something else. She did not drink. So I worry also that this could be hereditary. I wonder if liver problems are a mediterranian people issue.

[Virgil]

No, I did not mean what you understood. I was saying it more in terms of affection wise.

Isn't that kind of the same thing?

And, do listen to all the advises here, from Kathy, Janine to Night. You shouldnt take any problem related to an organ of the body lightly, and liver is an important part. So, just take care. Hope you get well soon.

Rest assured Maddie that I am not taking this lightly. I've researched the internet for all possible causes. In fact I'm now doing what i do on my engineering projects, and that is a root cause failure analysis to break down the likely causes and put together a plan to address them. If anything it's overkill, and some of my engineering friends have laughed. Hey it's my life and i ought to work on it as well as I do my job.

[Nightshade]

Thank you Night. The potential of future of cirohcis (sp?) of the liver is a potential. I probably drink as much as your grandfather. I will now have to seriously reduce it. Fatty liver isn't so bad of itself; its just the potential that scares me. Plus my grandmother died (she was only in her 50's) of a liver problem; I can't get a straight answer as to whether it was cancer or something else. She did not drink. So I worry also that this could be hereditary. I wonder if liver problems are a mediterranian people issue.

Err well he was a irish-liverpudlian, not a med drop of blood in his body.

[Madhuri]

Rest assured Maddie that I am not taking this lightly. I've researched the internet for all possible causes. In fact I'm now doing what i do on my engineering projects, and that is a root cause failure analysis to break down the likely causes and put together a plan to address them. If anything it's overkill, and some of my engineering friends have laughed. Hey it's my life and i ought to work on it as well as I do my job.

Thats the spirit

[Schokokeks]

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles, Virgil, and sorry again that your doctor was of so little help concerning a reform of your nuitrition.
The description of the causes for a fatty liver you found online are quite versatile to me. This is what I find most curious:

It may occur with [...] excess vitamin A in the body

Maybe you should stop eating carrots ?

I'm sure it won't be difficult for you to lose some weight, as you are definetely not heavy, whereas obese people typically have to wait longer before their body reacts to the new treatment/diet, but shouldn't be a problem for you .
I hope that everything will go your way !

[kathycf]

Hmm, Virgil. I am not trying to presume to tell you your business, but you may want to consider a second opinion. Your doctor doesn't seem to have supplied you with a lot of information. Just a thought....

here is a nice recipe to cheer us up, and some more information about livers and such.

Low Fat Fudge Brownies

Don't feel guilty about eating one of these low fat brownies. They make a wonderfully chocolately treat with very little of the original fat. Sometimes I add a teaspoon of peppermint extract to make a minty version. Or you could add some chopped walnuts for a little crunch.
INGREDIENTS:

* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
* 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
* 3/4 cup cocoa powder
* 1/2 tsp baking powder
* 1/4 tsp salt
* 1 egg or 2 egg whites
* 1 tsp vanilla extract
* 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce or prune puree
* 1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
* 1/4 cup fat-free milk

PREPARATION:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with nonfat cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl, lightly beat egg if using, or place egg whites in bowl. Add vanilla, applesauce, sour cream and milk. Whisk until well blended. Add dry ingredients and mix until just moist.

Empty batter into pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. The center should still be slightly soft. Cool in pan for a few minutes and continue to cool on a wire rack.

Makes 16 brownies.

Per Serving: Calories 111, Calories from Fat 13, Total Fat 1.5g (sat 0.7g), Cholesterol 14mg, Sodium 66mg, Carbohydrate 22.1g, Fiber 1.9g, Protein 2.3g

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis). In this disorder, fat accumulates in the liver, leading to inflammation and occasionally to scar tissue. Although the exact cause isn't known, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease seems to be associated with diabetes, obesity and elevated levels of fat in the blood.


If a patient has elevations in serum aminotransferase activities for longer than six months, he/she should have a liver biopsy to make the diagnosis the fatty liver or steatohepatitis.

Steatohepatitis can progress to cirrhosis. Treatment (diet and exercise) may stop this progression. Steatosis and steatohepatitis will often improve with weight loss, preferably to near the patient's ideal body weight. Avoidance of alcohol and potentially hepatotoxic drugs may also be beneficial.

Cirrhosis of the Liver


http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddise...ubs/cirrhosis/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cir...373/DSECTION=1

[Virgil]

Thanks Kathy. I read all the web sites. I've considered a second opinion. But I'm going to make some lifestyle changes and in six months have another blood test. This isn't something that is immanent. If nothing changes then, I'm going to go to a liver specialist.