If your skin and or white of the eyes is turning yellowish, then you have jaundice which is indicated by the increase in bilirubin level in the blood. Jaundice is a symptom of some underlying disease of the liver. Therefore the treatment must begin only after the underlying cause is established.
Jaundice caused by anemia is treated by elevating the iron levels and jaundice induced by hepatitis is treated with antiviral medications. In the other causes of jaundice even surgery is involved.
But most of the time jaundice is eliminated with food remedies at home. It is simply a matter of what foods to eat and what to avoid. A proper dietary discipline followed under medical supervision can bring the color of skin back to normal from the yellowish discoloration of jaundice.
Some Immediate Measures to Control Jaundice
1. Stop Alcohol Consumption
Whatever may be the underlying cause of jaundice, you will have to give up alcohol completely until you are fully recovered. Alcohol puts extra pressure on lever where underlying disease is growing.
If your jaundice is because of anemia or alcoholism, then you will have to give up alcohol even after you get back to normal conditions.
Alcohol not only impacts lever functioning, but also it causes dehydration which further complicates jaundice.
2. Avoid Fats and Drink Lots of Liquids
Drink lots of water to remain hydrated. Dehydration reduces your immunity and power to recover fast. Liquid diet is also easy on digestion. Take plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit juices to expedite the healing process.
Make sure that you don't eat any fats. This will help better liver functioning and fast recovery from jaundice.
3. Take Medication for Viral Hepatitis
If your jaundice is due to viral infection of Hepatitis A or B then you have to take antiviral medicine and take rest as well. Jaundice is a symptom by viral infection is the medical condition that requires proper treatment.
In addition to taking medicine all the above other aspects of getting rid of jaundice fast must be followed, i.e, avoid alcohol, drink liquids and taking rest.
Recover Fast from Jaundice by Using Diet Control Remedies
Diet plays a very important role in fast recovering from jaundice. It is more about what not to eat than what to eat. Certain food items that are heavy on the lever must be avoided as a general rule.
Red meats and all fried food items should be avoided. Eat boiled or steamed food. Eat carbohydrates to provide required calories as fat and protein is being avoided. Calcium and iron rich foods such as skimmed milk and leafy vegetables should be added to the diet.
Following remedies have been shown to work on a fast recovery from jaundice, although there is no scientific studies have been conducted.
1. Sugar Cane Juice With lemon
Sugarcane juice is a very popular remedy for jaundice in India. It appears that the sugar cane juice aids in elimination of bilirubin through urination. Adding lemon juice to sugarcane juice helps in fast excretion.
- Take a glass of freshly crushed sugar cane juice.
- Add a teaspoon of lemon juice to it and stir it well.
- Drink the juice slowly.
- Do it 2 -3 times a day for 5 days.
Sugar cane juice provides energy and since you are eating boiled and steamed food items, the overall sugar level doesn't increase.
2. Barley Water
Barley water increases urine frequency and excretion. Cook a cup of barley grains in 2-3 liter of water. Let it simmer for 30 minutes and strain the water and store in a glass pot. Add more water to the strained barley and simmer again for 30 minutes. Strain again and add the strained water to the previous water.
Repeat boiling and simmering one more time. You can drink this water throughout the day. Keep it in an airtight sealed jar in the refrigerator. We don't want the barley water to ferment.
Do it for 5-7 days until the bilirubin levels fall down significantly.
There are many other food items that will help you to reduce your bilirubin levels within the first week or so. If your jaundice is more severe than it might take a couple of weeks or more to see significant change in bilirubin levels.
Once the bilirubin levels are down you can begin to change the food from boiled or steamed to normal. It is still not advisable to fry them. You can eat raw fruits and vegetables. Add carrot juice to your diet.
This will help in bringing the bilirubin levels to normal. Your skin will begin to look normal again. You can get back to normal healthy food habits.
With proper medical guidance, diet control and rest you should generally recover from jaundice within the next 3 weeks.