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Liver

The Liver – What is it?

The liver is one of the body’s most vital organs and plays a key role in most metabolic processes.

All aspects of health rely on a properly functioning liver, since it is the body’s major facility for processing nutrients, metabolites, pollutants and excess hormones. The liver cleans the body’s blood supply of dangerous toxic substances by chemically processing them so they can be excreted, and is vital for fat, carbohydrate and protein metabolism. It makes the blood lipoproteins – LDL and HDL – which regulate cholesterol, as well as making clotting factors and other substances crucial for the blood’s functions.

While the liver is able to regenerate after damage, the broad spectrum of toxins it faces including alcohol, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, viruses and other toxic agents, can threaten the integrity of the liver as a functional unit. The body’s defenses are overwhelmed and these toxins build up within the body tissues, usually in fat. The body is able to process some of these toxins naturally through bile. The liver creates bile for its natural laxative effect. Bile aids in containing toxins and excreting them more effectively, promoting a cleaner, healthier liver.

While changing to a healthier lifestyle can improve liver health, factors such as exposure to viruses, pharmaceuticals and toxins are often beyond our control.

Signs of Liver stress:

Digestive upset (ie. unable to cope with fatty meals)
Difficulty metabolising alcohol
Bowel upset (ie. diaorherra, constipation, flatulence)
Jaundice (a yellowing, sickly tone to the skin)
Increased sensitivity to allergens, itching skin
Increased cholesterol levels
General feeling of unwell, lethargy

What can be done?

Liver Detox Diets

Most nutritionists do not advocate total fasts (cutting out all food) – in fact these can be dangerous for people with certain health conditions.

Juice or liquid fasts are suitable for some people, but are not recommended for more than a few days at a time. For most mild cases of liver ‘fatigue’, sensible eating for a few weeks will help get you back on track.

Here are a few nutritional do’s and don’ts.¹

Cut down on alcohol. Alcohol is a direct liver toxin, and having a break could be the best thing you do for your liver.
Reduce consumption of caffeine, sugary foods, saturated fats and products made from processed white flour.
Include lots of fresh vegetables in your diet, particularly cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cabbage, which are good for the liver. “Green foods” such as seaweed, spinach, spirulina and wheatgrass are also liver-friendly.
Vitamin C-rich foods boost antioxidant levels, to protect the liver and help the body’s healing processes. These foods include citrus fruit, strawberries, red capsicum, dark green vegetables and kiwi fruit.
Reduce saturated fats – they’re harder for the liver to process.
Fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines), provide an excellent source of Omega 3 which helps combat inflammation, a side effect of some liver conditions.
Snack on nuts and seeds. Brazil nuts are a good source of selenium, a powerful antioxidant. Almonds, sunflower or pumpkin seeds are another nutritious choice.

Liver Friendly Herbs

Herbal supplements can greatly aid and speed up the detoxification process.

Milk Thistle
More than 300 clinical and laboratory studies have shown that Milk Thistle can produce both a protective and curative effect on liver damage resulting from highly toxic compounds.

Research has uncovered a host of antihepatotoxic (liver protectant) compounds in Milk Thistle. The active ingredient of Milk Thistle is silymarin, the principal component of which is silybin.

Silymarin and silybin help protect liver cells by producing a powerful antioxidant called glutathione, which is 10 times more potent than vitamin E.² Studies have shown silymarin can raise glutathione levels in the liver by up to 50%. ^3,4

Silymarin also offers protection against toxins such as drugs and alcohol. Studies suggest it does this not only by preventing the action of toxic substances ^5-7, but also stimulating protein synthesis to regenerate liver cells.^8-10

Other helpful liver herbs & nutrients:

Globe Artichoke
The medicinal use of Globe Artichoke dates back to at least the 4th century BC. It is primarily used as a liver remedy and also for the reduction of blood lipid levels. Globe Artichoke stimulates the secretion of bile, which assists in the clearing of fats, cholesterol and toxins.

Turmeric
Contains the yellow pigment curcumin, which increases the production and flow of liver bile. It has potent antioxidant properties to aid in protecting the liver from free radicals. Studies conducted using Tumeric have also shown it has significant anti-inflammatory effects along with some cancer-protective effects.

Dandelion
Has a cleansing effect on the liver due to its diuretic properties. It also enhances the production of bile, improving conditions such as liver congestion.

Lecithin
Choline, the main constituent in lecithin, is essential for normal liver function in humans. Lecithin has been shown to normalise bile secretion and contains essential fatty acids which help keep membranes around the liver cells healthy.

Additional measures for Liver Health

Quit smoking – it adds more toxic chemicals for the liver to process – and stay out of smoky enclosed areas.
Avoid drugs and medications except where prescribed – try herbal remedies to reduce the load on the liver.
Reduce exposure to chemicals in the home and workplace as much as possible – try natural cleaning product alternatives, such as eucalyptus oil and bicarb soda.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, to flush out the liver. Adding a squeeze of lemon juice also helps.
Breathe deeply to assist the liver in detoxifying, as the liver is dependent on the amount of oxygen coming in through the lungs. Aerobic exercise (even walking) helps for the same reason.

References

Available on request.

This material is for information purposes only and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment. If symptoms persist, please contact your healthcare professional.