Yellow skin or eyes
A yellow tinge known as jaundice to the skin or eyes could be an early sign of liver problems. Jaundice is not an illness in its own right, but is a symptom that the liver is not functioning well.
It is caused by deposits of bilirubin - a yellow pigment - which is produced when haemoglobin - old or damaged red blood cells - are broken down in the spleen (the organ in the left upper abdomen - the part of the body that contains the stomach, intestines).
This pigment is usually flushed out by the liver and discharged as bile. If the liver is not working well, this bile can build up in the body and cause damage to the liver.
There are 100 liver diseases, some genetic such as Wilson's disease, which can lead to liver failure when excessive amounts of copper accumulate in the liver; others infectious such as hepatitis A-E. Other signs of liver disease to watch out for is vomiting, pain in the upper liver area and/or blood clotting.
Up to 90 per cent of babies become jaundiced in the first few days of life which is probably due to the immaturity of the liver. However, jaundice which lasts for longer than 14 days should be checked out by a GP. Your doctor will perform a standard liver function test to see if the enzymes - that help the liver function properly - are raised.
Dry scalp
If you suffer from an itchy, flaky scalp, the chances are you are eating too few essential fatty acids.
Skin should be composed of around 15 per cent essential fatty acids to ensure the cell membranes are healthy. The cell membranes make sure the right amount of water, nutrients and oxygen are feeding the skin cells.
If the skin cells do not receive enough of any of these substances, the cells become dehydrated and dry up.
Foods that contain essential fatty acids include Omega 3 oils contained in fish such as sardines, mackeral and pilchards.
You can also find essential fatty acids in the Omega 6 fats, which come exlusively from seeds and their oils. The best source of seed oils are hemp, pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, walnut and primrose oils.
Omega 6 and Omega 3 essential fatty acids form part of the linoleic acid family. Linoleic acid is converted by the body into prostaglandins - the hormones which keep the blood thin, maintain water balance in the skin and decrease inflammation.
Vitamin C is also needed to make collagen - the deep structure of the skin which forms the foundation of the scalp. If this bed of structure is lacking in vitamin C, the health of the skin further up will suffer. Nutritionist Natalie Savona recommends eating plenty of vitamin C. Citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, strawberries and cranberries are an excellent source of vitamin C. Green vegetables (cabbage, broccoli and beans) and potatoes all contain high levels.
Natalie also recommends eating one tablespoon of ground seeds everyday for adequate supplies of essential fatty acids, or a dessert spoon of sesame, sunflower, pumpkin or star flower oil. Alternatively, eat fish such as sardines, mackeral and pilchards three times a week.
Brittle nails
Brittle nails usually means you are not absorbing minerals very well - notably magnesium - which is essential for creating the optimum water balance in your nails.
Difficulty in absorbing minerals indicates low production of stomach acid in the digestive tract - which helps unbind the minerals contained in the food you eat.
The low production of stomach acid is often due to stress. If stress levels are high, the body diverts its energy into essential functions such as brain power and energy levels. Digesting food goes on the back burner and the process of producing stomach acid is decreased because the body is busy dealing with more essential functions.
Natalie Savona recommends eating plenty of magnesium to boost your mineral levels. This mineral can be found in all green leafy vegetables, seeds - such as pumpkins, sunflowers, sesames, corn and walnuts - wholegrains and pulses.( dailymail.co.uk )
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