Understanding Fatty Liver Disease.

Introduction: Fatty liver is a term used to define a condition in which too much fat is stored in the liver. Some fat in the liver is normal but if it makes up more than 5%-10% of the organ's weight, it may lead to a condition known as fatty liver disease.

Fatty liver disease is increasingly common around the world, especially in Western nations. In the United States, it is the most common form of chronic liver disease, affecting an estimated 80 to 100 million people.

The liver is the second largest organ in the body. The liver’s function is to process everything we eat or drink and filter any harmful substances from the blood. This process is interrupted if too much fat is in the liver.

In people who drink little or no alcohol, the condition is sometimes known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease  can occur in any age group but is mostly seen in people ages 40's and 50's and in those who are at high risk of heart disease because of underlying risk factors like obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Causes: It's not clear what causes fatty liver disease but it may run in families.

It's also more likely to happen to those who are middle-aged and overweight or obese. People like that often have high cholesterol and diabetes as well.

Other causes are:

• Medications (steroids, tamoxifen, methotrexate)
• Viral hepatitis
• Autoimmune or inherited liver disease
• Fast weight loss
• Malnutrition

Some studies show that too much bacteria in the small intestine and other changes in the intestine may be linked to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Risk Factors : A wide range of diseases and conditions can increase the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, including:

• High cholesterol
• High levels of triglycerides in the blood
• Metabolic syndrome
• Obesity, particularly when fat is concentrated in the abdomen
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Sleep apnea
• Type 2 diabetes
• Under active thyroid (hypothyroidism)
• Under active pituitary gland (hypopituitarism)

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Basic Concepts Regarding Tahaarah (Purification) In The Light Of Holy Quran And Saheeh Hadeeth (Sayings Of Prophet Muhammed pbuh) ... Part 3

Continued.....

What to Say When Going To the Toilet: 

Narrated Anas (r): Whenever the Prophet (pbuh) went to answer the call of nature, he used to say, 

".“[Bismillah]1Allaah-umma innee a‟oodhu bika minal Khubuthi wal khaaba‟ith.” ([In the Name of Allaah] O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from devils – males and females (or all offensive and wicked things, evil deeds, etc.)

 [Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 4, Hadeeth Number 142]

Important Points: 
1. It is commendable to supplicate with these words when one intends to go to the toilet, to be safe from the devils.
2. One of the harms of the devils is that they cause impurities to befall the people, so as to invalidate the person‟s Salaat. Hence, one must seek refuge from them to be protected from their harm.
3. The obligation of avoiding all impurities, and taking the necessary measures to protect oneself from such impurities. It has been authentically reported that one of the causes of punishment in the grave is the neglect of protecting oneself from urine when using the toilet.

It was narrated that ibn „Abbaas (r) said: The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) passed by two graves, and he (pbuh) said, “They are being punished, but they are not being punished for anything grave (i.e., it was not difficult to avoid). One of them used to walk around spreading malicious gossip, and the other did not protect himself from his urine.” He (pbuh) called for a palm branch, split it in two, and then planted one piece on one grave and the other on the other grave. Then he (pbuh) said, “Perhaps it (the punishment) will be reduced for them so long as this does not dry out.” [Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadeeth Number 677]

While Urinating Or defecating never face the Qiblah except when you are screened by a wall or building or something similar: 

Narrated Abu Ayyoob Al-Ansaaree (r): The Prophet (pbuh) said, “While defacting, neither face nor turn your back to the Qiblah (Ka‟bah at Makkah) but face either east or west.” Aboo Ayyoob (r) added, “When we arrived in Ash-Shaam we came across some lavatories facing the Qiblah; therefore we turned ourselves while using them and asked for Allaah‟s forgiveness.” [Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 8, Hadeeth Number 394, ; Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 2, Hadeeth Number 609]

Important Points: 

Basic Concepts Regarding Tahaarah (Purification) In The Light Of Holy Quran And Saheeh Hadeeth (Sayings Of Prophet Muhammed pbuh) ... Part 2

Continued ....

For Part 1 go to the link below:
http://onlineibrahim.blogspot.com/2016/11/basic-concepts-regarding-tahaarah.html

Regarding Urinating in Stagnant Water: 

It was narrated from Aboo Hurayrah (r) that the Prophet (pbuh) said, “You should not pass urine in stagnant water which is not flowing then (you may need to) wash in it.”[ Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 4, Hadeeth Number 239].

 In a version in, Saheeh Muslim, it says,

“None of you should perform Ghusl in standing water when he is Junub (in a state of sexual impurity).” [Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 2, Hadeeth Number 658].

Important points: 
1. The prohibition of urinating in stagnant water and that it is Haraam.(prohibited).
2. The prohibition of taking a bath in still water by immersing one’s body in that water, especially the person who is in a state of major ritual impurity – even if he/she did not urinate in it.
3. The permissibility of the above in flowing water, even though it is better to avoid such.
4. The prohibition of everything harmful or transgression upon others.

If a dog drinks from the utensil it should be washed 7 times:

Narrated Aboo Hurayrah (r): Allaah’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “If a dog drinks from the utensil of anyone of you, it is essential to wash it seven times.” [Saheeh Bukhaari, Volume 1, Book 4, Hadeeth Number 172]

In a version, in Saheeh Muslim, it says, “…the first time with mud.” [Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 2, Hadeeth Number 652]

It was narrated that Ibn Al-Mughaffal (r) said: The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) said, “…If a dog licks the vessel of one of you, let him wash it seven times and rub it with mud the eight time.” [Saheeh Muslim, Volume 1, Book 2, Hadeeth Number 653]

Important Points: 
 1. The severity of the un-cleanliness of the dog, due to its filthiness.
2. The licking of a dog in a utensil – and likewise its eating from a utensil – makes the utensil unclean, as well as its contents.
3. The obligation of washing, whatever the dog has licked in, 7 times.
4. The obligation of using turaab once and it is best that it be with the first washing, so that the water may follow.
5. Whatever is used in the place of turaab takes the same ruling as it, since the intention is cleaning. This is the madh-hab of Ahmad, and one of the sayings of ash-Shaafi’ee. But the more famous saying of ash-Shaafi’ee is that you must use turaab. Ibn Daqeeq al-Eid supported this position saying that it has been mentioned in the text of the hadeeth, and that it is one of the two major sources of purification. Additionally, if an extracted meaning goes back to contradict the literal text [which it is derived from], then that extracted meaning is rejected. Imam an-Nawawee said that soap or similar substances do not take the place of turaab according to the most correct opinion. I [the author] say: New scientific research has shown that the elimination of these impurities which is achieved through the use of turaab is not achieved by other substances.
6. It is important to mention here that the modern medicine came along with its scientific discoveries and microscopes confirming the existence of microbes and contagious diseases in the saliva of the dog, which cannot be eliminated by water alone.Allah and His Prophet (pbuh) had guided us about this already many years ago.

How to Perform Ablution (Wudhoo):
It is mentioned in the Holy Quran:

Basic Concepts Regarding Tahaarah (Purification) In The Light Of Holy Quran And Saheeh Hadeeth (Sayings Of Prophet Muhammed pbuh) ... Part 1.

Linguistically at-Tahaarah means: purification.
Islamically it means: Lifting the impurity and removing the filth. This is the physical aspect of purification. It also covers the non physical aspect, and that is: The purity of the creed, actions and moral character.
Allah mentions in the  Holy Quran:

“Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower. ” (Soorah at-Tawbah 9:103)

In contrast, Allah  says in Soorah at-Tawbah:

“Verily, the Mushrikoon (idolaters) are Najas (impure)” (Soorah at-Tawbah 9:28)

And in Soorah al-Anbiyya:

“And we saved him from the town (folk) who practiced Al-Khabâ'ith (evil, wicked and filthy deeds, etc.)” (Soorah al-Anbiyya 21:74)

Also for this aspect we read in Soorah al-Ma‟idah:

“al-khamr (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), al-maysir (gambling), al-ansaab (idols), and al-azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are rijzun (abomination) from the works of Shaytaan. (Soorah al-Ma‟idah 5:90)

It is the case, with the compilers and the authors regarding the subjects of Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and ahadeeth concerned with rulings, to begin their books with a chapter on Tahaarah (purification), because it is the key to Salaah (prayer). And because no Salaah is established without purification.

There is also another aspect to this (which may not have been intended by the scholars in particular) and that is; reminding the one seeking the knowledge that when he begins this journey to learn, he should purify his heart and have sincere intention to Allah in this task of seeking the knowledge.

The main reference for writing this article is from the book “Tayseer al-„Allaam Sharh Umdatul-Ahkaam” by Shaykh Abdullah ibn Abdur – Rahmaan Aal Bassaam, who is presently teaching in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam. He is one of the leading scholars in Saudi Arabia today and has written this book as a means to deliver the Fiqh of Islaam to the Muslims in a simple way by examining the hadeeths of the Prophet (pbuh) and then checking what rulings are correctly derived from them.

Basic Concepts:

Understanding The Food Labels.

This article briefly describes and helps you understand:

• The main sections of a food label and state what they mean
• Apply the principles of the 'use by' and 'best before' dates
• Determine foods that are appropriate for you in terms of nutritional value and compare similar foods
• Select appropriate food using the traffic light symbols
• Explain the problems associated with additives and preservatives.

What's the difference between natural and processed Foods? 

Natural foods: include Meat, fish, dairy products, bread, vegetables and fruit.

Processed foods;  Jars of sauce, convenience meals, crisps, cola type drinks and snacks are examples of processed foods. With processed foods you have no idea what you're getting unless you read the label.

A food label for instance on tinned food shows:

1; The name of the product .

2. The product company.

3. The ingredients.

4.  The customer service address and phone number

5. Any instruction for using the product. 

6. Dietary information/ allergy advice / suitable for gluten free and vegetarians etc. 

Dates on food products:
Some food products bought from the market have 'use by' or 'best before' dates on it. This is because the processed food goes off or spoils with time.
Some times Using the spoiled food can cause food poisoning a medical emergency.

There are two types of dates on food:
Use by date -  which ,means don't eat food after this date
Best before date - you can use this product after this date but it will start to get worse after this date.

Foods which spoil quickly such as protein based foods like meat, fish and dairy products have a use by date and could not be used after that date.  These food are usually kept in the fridge. 

Foods that you generally don't keep in the fridge like packet food, tinned food and jars of sauces. have a best before date. 

Nutritional information

A Balanced Diet And Healthy Eating Tips.

We are always being told that we should eat a balanced diet, but what does this actually mean and how can we achieve it?

A balanced diet is one that gives your body the nutrients it needs to function correctly.

This article will help you understand 

• The three main parts of a healthy diet (protein, carbohydrates and fats) and where to find them
• Identify the differences between simple and complex carbohydrates
• State the important reasons for having vitamins and minerals in the diet and identify some of the main sources.

The easiest way of understanding a balanced diet is to split up the food into four parts. 

1. Proteins: Protein is what which builds and repairs our bodies. Foods such as meat, fish, dairy products, beans and pulses, seeds and nuts are all excellent sources of protein

2. Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are found in a number of foods and give us food calories which we turn into energy
Foods such as pasta, rice, potatoes and bread are all excellent sources of carbohydrates and have very little fat.

There are two types of carbohydrates: 

• simple carbohydrates (they contain no nutrients) 
• complex carbohydrates. (slowly release energy plus a source of certain vitamins and minerals) 

3. Fats: Foods such as meat, dairy products, olive oil and  sunflower oil are all sources of fat.

There are good and bad fats:

• Good fats are unsaturated, for example, olive oil, sunflower oil and other vegetable oils
• Bad fats are saturated and are found in food which comes from animals, like meat and dairy products.

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 165

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 164

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 162

Home Made Turmeric Face Mask- Get Rid of Acne, Dark circles And Eczema

Benefits of Turmeric Face Mask: Face masks are applied to a cleaned and dried skin and left for a few minutes until it completely dries and then it is rinsed off. Getting face masks at beauty salons is expensive and time consuming.

Every one of us wants a fresh glowing skin, free form acne, dark circles and eczema. 

Turmeric is an all-natural skincare ingredient that can be applied topically for glowing and a health  skin. Surprisingly, this excellent spice that we use for cooking curries can be used as a skin-brightening face mask.

Not only does this spice have amazing healing properties but it’s also a great beauty product. Turns out.  Indian brides have long used turmeric as a head-to-toe body scrub and face mask to brighten skin before their weddings.

Turmeric contains a photochemical called curcumin, which can benefit the body, both inside and out.

Turmeric mask works for acne and eczema. It reduces inflammation and redness, and promotes skin healing. Due to turmeric’s antioxidant properties, it has been used for skin rejuvenation. It helps softening lines and wrinkles, giving the face a more youthful appearance. It is also effective with rosacea – a chronic skin condition that is characterized by redness and pimples. It eases the redness and treats this disease.

The turmeric basic face mask is easy to make and acts as a moisturizer, exfoliator and reduces redness. It brightens the skin and makes it look fresh and clean.

You can also make your own face masks using ingredients found at home. Home facial masks are often better for you know exactly what ingredients go into them.

Common ingredients that work well for home facial masks are turmeric, honey, avocado, eggs, yoghurt and milk.The advantage of home facial masks is that you can try various combinations of ingredients before settling on one that suits your skin the best. This can be done without wasting a lot of money on commercial masks.

Preparation before applying the turmeric mask: Wash your face with running water and remove all makeup. If your hair is long, tie it up at the back. Wear a T-shirt you are not too attached to, in case it gets stained.

Different Ways Your Spouse Can Affect Your Health

Is your significant other keeping you health or making you sick? depends on the relationship and the personality of each partner.
The marriage vows says that the spouses will be together for each other in sickness and in health but some research now shows that marriage itself sometimes may determine whether you get ill or stay healthy. It is well own fact that a good marriage is better for your health but there are different ways your health may be affected by your spouse.
Some recent studies have shown that married couples are more likely to survive cancer and less likely to develop dementia or be hospitalized with pneumonia compared with unmarried adults.
Here are some of the ways your relationship with your spouse may affect your health and well being.

1. If you are married for decades: Couples married for long duration and living together without any conflicts begin to have striking similarities in their physiology. Even some say that they begin to resemble and look alike but regarding the health, longtime couples have almost similar kidney functions, cholesterol levels and general strength. A study conducted by the University of Michigan showed that more than 1500 older married couples had similar blood work results.
With time couples learn to live depending on each other emotionally and physically. They eat a similar diet, have almost same physical and sleep routines which may be the answer to these similarities.

2. If one of you is depressed: Your spouse's depression could raise your own risk of developing chronic pain and even getting depressed yourself. A study at University of Edinburgh showed that while chronic pain  is caused partly by a person's age and genetics it is also affected by partner's mental health. Caring for a depressed spouse can contribute to one's own chronic pain and fatigue.

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Management Of A Few Medical Emergencies

Here are given simple methods to recognize and manage a few medical emergencies.

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How To Survive Your First Heart Attack

Every 34 seconds , someone in US has a heart attack, and every 60 seconds , someone dies from it. What a person does or does not in the critical first moments can make a difference between life and death. Shortening the time between arrival at ER and treatment contributes to decrease in deaths from coronary artery disease.

When your heart is in danger, every second counts. Take these steps to identify the symptoms and make it to the hospital in time.

Step 1; Recognize the symptoms (more important the less typical symptoms) :
People with a type of arterial disease called atherosclerosis in which there is build up of fat and cholesterol in the arteries in the form of plaques, can get a heart attack if a piece of this plaque breaks off and forms a clot which in turn blocks the blood flow to the heart muscle.
The classic signs of a heart attack are:

• Chest pain
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms
• Pain in the back or shoulders,
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea and vomiting

Studies have shown that as many as one third of heart attack patients have no chest pain. These patients are more likely to be older, females or diabetic. In fact the older you are it is more likely you will not have the typical symptoms of heart attack. The atypical symptoms include:

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 60

Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 59

Adverse Effects Of Smoking On Your Health - In Pictures

Basic Information On Zika Virus

Zika Virus: 6 Facts:
1. Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes.
2. The current out break originated in Brazil and has since spread to 20 countries in the America.
3. There is no treatment or vaccine available.
4. Symptoms can include a mild fever, skin rash, joint pain and conjunctivitis, normally lasting 2- 7 days.
5. Pregnant woman are mostly at risk as the virus may cause brain defects in the unborn baby.
6. Prevent transmission by avoiding contact with mosquitoes all together. Use insect repellent and cover skin with long sleeves.

Epidemiology:

• Only about 1 in 5 people infected will fall ill.
• 22 areas in Latin America and the Caribbean have active Zika virus transmission. 
• There is also presence of an outbreak of the virus in Thailand and Indonesia. 

Mode of Transmission: Zika virus is transmitted by Aedes mosquito which also transmits dengue. 

Clinical Symptoms include:

In News -- October 15th 2016 -- Three Kansas men calling themselves ‘Crusaders’ charged in terror plot targeting Muslim immigrants

Three Kansas men calling themselves ‘Crusaders’ charged in terror plot targeting Muslim immigrants.

Three Kansas men have been accused of plotting attacks targeting an apartment complex home, a mosque and many Muslim immigrants from Somalia, authorities said Friday.

Curtis Allen, Gavin Wright and Patrick Eugene Stein face federal charges of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, the Justice Department announced.

Curtis Allen (Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

“These charges are based on eight months of investigation by the FBI that is alleged to have taken the investigators deep into a hidden culture of hatred and violence,” acting U.S. attorney Tom Beall said in a statement. “Many Kansans may find it as startling as I do that such things could happen here.”

According to the FBI complaint made public Friday, the investigation was prompted by a paid confidential informant who had attended meetings with a group of individuals calling themselves “the Crusaders” and had heard plans discussed for attacks on Muslims, whom the men called “cockroaches.”

5 Reasons You Are Having Back Pain And SImple Ways To Fix Them

Most of us suffer from low back pain at some point in our life. At times we may know the reason that triggered it like after lifting a heavy box improperly or just sleeping in an abnormal posture.
But generally speaking low back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor visits, disability and loss from work.
Read these 5 surprising reasons that might be causing you the back pain and simple tips to fix the problems.

1. You Are Feeling Down: Being upset, feeling down or more serious mood disorders like depression can show up as pain in different parts of the body most commonly affecting the lower back. A research at University of Sydney found that people who had symptoms of depression had 60% greater incidence of back pain compared to those who were not depressed.
Although the link between back pain and depression is not clearly understood , one theory is that people who are depressed or feeling down are less likely to exercise and more likely to have disturbed sleep , both of which can contribute to low back pain.

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Surah Al-Anam Chapter 6 Verse 13

3 Red Fruits That Can Make Your Heart Stronger.

We all know the famous quote " An Apple a day keep the doctor away" Here we can add tomatoes and cranberries which are healthy fruits to keep the doctor away too.
New research shows incorporating these three red , round fruits into your daily diet can reduce your risk of heart disease as much as 40 % .
Indeed, diet can have a tremendous impact on heart health and should be the first line of defense when treating high cholesterol or high blood pressure , two of the biggest risk factors for heart disease. In many patients there can be an improvement in cholesterol levels from diet alone.
Fortunately , the antioxidant rich fruits features here are as tasty as they are healthy.

Tomatoes: A recent new study showed that eating lycopene rich foods such as tomatoes more than five times a week oven an 11 year period reduced coronary disease risk by 26%.
Its best to eat tomatoes cooked, because the heating process allows lycopene to be better absorbed.

Apples: An apple daily can reduce LDL (the bad cholesterol) by as much as 40%. A study was done on post menopausal woman and it was found to have a link between eating apple and a lowered risk of dying from heart disease. Be sure to eat the fruit as a whole rather than drinking juice because the peel has most of the anti oxidants.