You don’t often hear of liver cysts because they are not very common. However, they can be a source of needless anxiety for those who are diagnosed with them. Once understood they are typically harmless and don’t pose any major threat. Liver cysts occur in about 1-2.5% of the population. They are thin-walled sacs filled with air, fluids or semi-solid matter. They are not cancerous but a small percentage can grow large enough to cause discomfort or pain. Diagnosis is made via ultrasound or CT (computerized tomography) scans. Treatment is either drainage or surgical removal. While a small proportion may grow into multiple cysts they mostly appear singularly. If there are any symptoms at all they will manifest as upper abdominal fullness, discomfort or pain in the liver area. Simple cysts are not inherited and unrelated to polycystic liver disease (PLD) in which many more cysts are present. It is speculated they grow due to either a malformation at birth, a predisposition to liver cells or that a small area of liver cells die or degenerate. They can be filled with fat in those with fatty liver. The ageing process along with poor diet and lifestyle choices are thought to be part of the picture too. In general, the average liver cyst is innocuous. It is only when they are caused by PLD or Echinococcus granulose (a parasitic infection) that they pose a more serious threat.  However, these are both rare with PLD occurring in 0.6 percent of the population and E. granulose extremely uncommon especially where there is good hygiene. Your liver is one of your most vital organs so it makes sense to look after it. While prevention is the best cure, if you find yourself with any kind of liver malformation there are some simple treatment protocols you can follow. Firstly, start with your diet and lifestyle. A dairy and sugar free diet is essential to help shrink liver cysts as well as enhance your overall health and well-being. Many people know that sugar is bad for their health but they feel unable to quit eating it. Sugar addiction is an extremely common condition that prevents a lot of people from ever achieving optimum health. High carbohydrate foods like bread, pasta, breakfast cereals and any food made of flour can have the same detrimental effects in the body because they are rapidly broken down into sugar. The eating plan in my book Fatty Liver You Can Reverse It helps to reduce carbohydrate and sugar cravings because it is higher in protein and healthy fats. Glicemic Balance capsules are excellent for keeping blood sugar stable throughout the day. If your blood sugar becomes too low, your brain will cry out for sugar and you may be compelled to grab unhealthy foods. While diet is the foundation for all liver treatments, it is essential to supplement your diet with a high potency and nutritional formula specific for a healthy liver and improved digestive function. One of the liver’s main roles is detoxification. So unless the liver is in optimal health, it will not be able to detoxify the bloodstream efficiently. A good liver tonic can stimulate the repair of damaged liver cells and facilitate the fat burning and detoxification abilities of the liver. Livatone Plus supplies all the important ingredients to ensure your liver has the best support. This product is a powerful natural liver tonic supporting liver function when liver problems are significant. It helps repair the liver repair and its regeneration, combining St Mary’s Thistle with n-acetyl cysteine and selenium, all the B vitamins and the amino acid taurine plus Vitamins C and E. It contains the clinically proven dose of silymarin (a daily dose of 420mg silymarin) and supports detoxification phases one and two pathways in the liver. No liver treatment is complete without a potent antioxidant. Selenomune is the perfect partner for Livatone Plus. A trace element required in small amounts, it is essential for many body processes. In chronic liver disease it specifically boasts several functions that make it a valuable component to any liver wellness program. Studies show selenium is an important liver ally for several reasons. Firstly, its antioxidant capabilities which help preserve liver tissue against oxidation; secondly, to strengthen immunity by helping in the production of disease-fighting antibodies; thirdly, potential cancer prevention by protecting against cancer forming cells and lastly, it helps with tissue elasticity for hepatic circulation in liver tissue and local blood vessels.   The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. References: Benign Tumours and Cystic Disease; What are Cysts and Tumours? http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/liver-information/liver-conditions/benign-tumours-and-cystic-disease/ Selenium Boosts Liver Protection Regimens; http://www.liversupport.com/selenium-boosts-liver-protection-regimens/ Selenium, glutathione and glutathione peroxidases in blood of patients with chronic liver diseases, Czuczejko, J, et al, Retrieved October 29, 2010, Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2003.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14740001. Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Selenium, National Institutes of Health, 2010, Retrieved July 20, 2016. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium Selenium supplementation increases liver MnSOD expression: molecular mechanism for hepato-protection, Shilo, S, et al, Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, January 2008.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed.