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YOUR LIVER: YOUR LIFELINE TO HEALTH
The word LIVER comes from the old English word “life”. The length and quality of your life basically depends on how well your Liver functions
. The Liver is an amazing organ! The Liver is located in the upper right quadrant of the Thorax. It is the second largest organ of the body, after the skin; it weighs about 4 pounds (1.8 Kg) and has more than 500 different functions. Tucked into the Liver is the Gallbladder, which stores the bile produced by the Liver, which is released when food enters the Duodenum. The Liver works hand in hand with the Gallbladder. The Liver holds about 13 percent of the body’s blood supply at any given moment. It produces about half of the body’s total cholesterol, of which 80% is used to make bile. The Liver manufactures 13,000 different chemicals. It maintains 2,000 internal enzyme systems. It filters 100 gallons of blood daily.
In a few words, if your Liver doesn’t function to its optimum (which it rarely does), then in all likelihood it will be associated to an infinite number of symptoms and diseases.
LIVER FUNCTIONS:
The Liver has more than 500 different known functions of which some are extremely vital for normal well being:
• Produces the bile for emulsifying the fats that enters the small intestine during digestion.
• Produces certain proteins for blood plasma
• Produces cholesterol to help carry fats through the body.
• Converts excess glucose into glycogen for storage (glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy).
• Manufactures and regulates amino acids which form the building blocks of proteins.
• Processes hemoglobin with the use of iron (the liver stores iron).
• Filters all food, nutrients, drugs, medication, alcohol or any toxic substances from the blood.
• Stores vitamins and minerals.
• Converts poisonous ammonia to urea, then excreted through urines.
• Regulates blood clotting.
• Contains part of the immune system that alerts the body of the presence of microbes.
LIVER DISEASE:
Over many years of poor quality food intake, alcohol or drug abuse, medications, and toxin overload, the Liver becomes less and less efficient, and several types of very serious Liver diseases can occur:
• A fatty Liver is an excessive accumulation of fat inside the Liver cells, which sometimes shows on a Liver scan on the outside of the Liver. Most common causes of fatty Liver are alcoholism, drug abuse, obesity, diabetes, medications such as tetracycline, corticosteroids or NSAIDs (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and high triglycerides levels.
• Hepatitis is caused by an infectious viral disease. The infection can cause Liver inflammation and eventually develop into cirrhosis and Liver cancer depending on which kind of hepatitis (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) the person is affected by, as well as lifestyle and diet.
• Cirrhosis of the Liver is characterized by replacement of Liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue, leading progressively to loss of Liver function. Cirrhosis is usually caused by alcoholism and hepatitis C.
These are Liver diseases that are extremely serious and can be identified through blood test and scans. However, in Natural Medicine, we often talk about a “sluggish” Liver or a Liver “dysfunction” without referring to these specific Liver diseases. On the other hand, we recognize a Liver dysfunction through common symptoms such as fatigue, allergies, constipation, chronic headaches, weight gain, or elevated cholesterol. As stated earlier, the Liver has more than 500 different functions, so we can easily imagine that it is involved in many other malaises other than cirrhosis or hepatitis.
THE NATUROPATHIC APPROACH:
In Natural Medicine the Liver is an enormous part of someone’s well being. Many symptoms will indicate a slower Liver function and will be part of the whole picture of Natural Medicine. There is rarely a condition where the Liver would not be involved in one way or another.
1. Digestion:
The first obvious area where your Liver’s health is extremely important is the digestive function. The Liver secretes about one quart of bile per day, which is stored in the Gallbladder, then released into the Duodenum when you eat. It helps emulsify the fats, so they can be broken down and then utilized by the body properly. The bile also lubricates the intestines and gives the stools their characteristic brown color. When the stools are light colored it is a sign of insufficient bile. The bile also assists in the absorption of fat soluble vitamins and the assimilation of calcium. It converts Beta-carotene into Vitamin A and promotes peristalsis helping the food residue to move through the intestines and preventing constipation. The bile helps carry toxic substances out of the body where they are absorbed by dietary fibers and excreted. If the flow of bile is reduced, this then
will be a significant contributor to Liver impairment because toxins accumulate and decrease liver function. Sometimes bile ducts become blocked by gallstones. Gallstones form because of an imbalance of bile salts and minerals, dehydration, and toxin accumulation.
2. Cholesterol:
About 50% of our total cholesterol is produced by the Liver, and most of it is used to make bile. This means that if our cholesterol levels are too low, then we are unable to digest fats properly. This is one of the reasons why I don’t recommend a low fat diet, as it slowly but surely impairs the ability for a person to digest properly. We absolutely need good quality fats to emulsify the fats we ingest and help the body to cleanse. One natural and efficient way of helping a person to lower his / her cholesterol is to support their Liver, instead of giving them statin medications, which will create even more Liver dysfunction.
3. Hormones:
To properly metabolize hormones, you need a healthy liver. Poor liver function results in hormonal imbalances in both men and women. It includes a lack of menstruation, painful periods, breast tenderness, irregular periods, heavy bleeding, PMS, insomnia, hot flashes, night sweats, migraines headaches and mood swings for women. It can be impotency, weight gain, lack of sperms, or erectile dysfunction for men. Liver imbalances are also associated in both genders for a variety of emotional disorders such as irritability, anger, frustration and depression.
4. Joints and Muscles:
According to Chinese Medicine, the Liver energy nourishes the tendons of the whole body to maintain their normal physiological activities. Every joint and muscle are linked by tendons or ligaments. A poor Liver function can be related to stiffness, painful joints, numbness; muscle cramps, tremors, and reduced strength in the limbs. Toxins accumulate very easily into the joints, so the better the Liver functions, the better the joints function.
5. Eyes:
In order to be nourished properly, the eyes require a good blood circulation, which depends on good Liver function. Properly nourished eyes get the amount of antioxidants they need to fight blurred vision, myopia, floaters, dryness, soreness and itchiness.
6. Blood Sugar Regulation:
The Liver works with the Pancreas to regulate blood sugar. If too much sugar comes too quickly into the blood, the Liver rapidly converts part of the sugar into triglycerides (fats), some of which is stored and some released into the blood to be reconverted into glucose. This is an extremely important process as it is the primary manner that in which dietary sugar can be released slowly into the blood. Too high sugar level will cause overproduction of insulin, which greatly contribute to fat storage and increase production of cholesterol by the Liver. In addition, the Liver stores sugars not required for immediate energy production. When stored, these sugars are known as glycogen. The Liver can then reconvert glycogen into glucose which is fuel for the cells, when needed for energy.
7. The Detoxification Process:
A major function of the Liver is to filter blood to remove or neutralize toxins and other harmful substances. There are two kinds of toxins: toxins that enter the body from the environment, called exotoxins; toxins that are created inside the body called endotoxins, which originate from undigested foods, or a by-product of overgrowth of certain bacteria or fungi. Poisons from the intestines, including heavy metals are typically deactivated in the Liver. Approximately two quarts of blood pass through the Liver every minute for detoxification. Once the Liver filters the toxins, then they are eliminated through the colon and the kidneys.
As long as our filter, meaning the Liver, stays clean, it can quickly break down toxins such as coffee, alcohol, drugs, medications, pesticides, and food additives. A properly functioning Liver is able to clear 99% of toxins from the blood before they enter the general circulation.
The Liver is a strong and durable organ which is frequently overworked due to the enormous amount of toxicity we are exposed in today’s world. Many people today have a Liver that is functioning at only 25-30% of capacity, which may result in symptoms of poor health. Liver function tends to reduce as we age. The symptoms may be hard to recognize as Liver problems, and they may include as stated before: headaches, digestive disorders, light colored stools, loss of energy, fatigue, insomnia, chronic pain, weak muscles and tendons, chemical sensitivities, poor eyesight, constipation or diarrhea, blood sugar imbalances, emotional upsets, allergies, PMS, painful and irregular periods, loss of appetite, skin issues, Gallbladder symptoms, metallic taste in the mouth… and many more.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR LIVER?
1. Diet:
The first thing that is going to improve your Liver capacity is your diet. You may feel that I repeat myself, but I can never emphasis too much the importance of a good diet. Eliminate refined sugar, caffeine, sodas, alcohol, table salt, preservatives, artificial colors, refined carbohydrates, pesticides on food, fast food, prepared TV diners, trans-fats and hydrogenated oils, processed meat, and unnecessary medication.
Instead, use Stevia as a natural sweetener (I recommend the brand Erba Dolce as it has no bitter after taste and a very little goes a long way); drink plenty of clean water and herbal teas; drink fresh vegetable juices; use only sea salt; use fresh herbs and condiments such as onion, garlic, and shallots; cook from scratch; buy only organic whole grains, meat and dairy without hormones or antibiotics, as well as cold processed and unrefined oils.
Eat three main meals a day, plus snacks in between meals if needed; do not skip meals; be sure to include proteins in every meal to balance out your blood sugar; and try to sit when you eat instead of running somewhere else. Be sure to have enough fibers; eat plenty of vegetables, the greener the better, including spinach, broccoli, green beans, peas, kale, collard greens and cabbages, as well as colored vegetables, such as bell peppers, zucchinis, squashes, carrots, and eggplants. Consume a moderate amount of fruits and always balance their intake out with some type of proteins.
2. Herbs and Supplements:
There are many herbs that can be useful for the Liver. They include: Dandelion Root, Milk Thistle, Globe Artichoke, Burdock, Red Clover, Golden Seal, Oregon Grape, Rosemary, Greater Celandine, Fringe Tree, Turmeric, Yellow Doc, and Schisandra. They can be taken in the form of herbal teas, tinctures, capsules or tablets, as long as they are issued from high quality sources and in a dosage that is sufficient.
3. Liver Detoxification Program:
There are many ways of doing Liver cleanse and detoxification, but first of all we have to be sure that the intestines are working properly. For this reason, I often recommend a Colon cleanse prior to the Liver cleanse, and if possible, I integrate both together at the same time. A good Liver flush should last about 3 weeks, so enough time is allowed for toxins to come out of the tissues and organs and then be flushed out of the body through the Colon and the Kidneys. A Liver cleanse and detoxification can be repeated two to four times a year.
When doing a Liver cleanse, all diet recommendations mentioned above must apply. There is no point of cleansing on the one hand, and continuing to ingest toxic foods on the other hand. Then, it is highly recommended to juice fresh vegetables at least once a day, and to drink some of the herbal teas mentioned above. Exercise is also very important as the Liver is an organ that benefits greatly from moving the blood. Skin brushing increases circulation as well, as well as sauna therapy. I highly recommend sauna therapy whenever possible as it is the best way to remove heavy metals. Drinking copious amount of water will help Kidneys and Colon to flush out toxins excreted by the Liver. I also encourage you to eat organic Liver…if that’s something that you can manage. I personally love it, cooked with butter and shallots. Liver is a food that contains more Vitamin A than any
other food, as well as B vitamins, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Potassium.
As far as Supplements are concerned, there are many that can be used. I personally like to use the high quality organ based supplement from Standard Process, called Livaplex because it contains Liver extract. I recommend 2 capsules 3 times a day. I also add Gallbladder support with AF Betafood from Standard Process: 3 tablets 3 times a day. To increase general cleansing, I add SP Cleanse from Standard Process: 2 capsules 3 times a day, as well as
Gastro-Fiber for the Colon (with psyllium) from Standard Process: 2 capsules 3 times a day, or Paleo Fiber (without psyllium) from Designs For Health: 1 tablespoon once or twice a day. If a person is extremely toxic, I add Livton: 2 tablets 3 times a day from MediHerb, a very reputable herbal company form Australia.
The combination of these high quality supplements with a clean diet, clean water, exercise, skin brushing and sauna therapy is extremely efficient to give your Liver a nice and gentle cleanse. You will feel the benefits after 2 or 3 days, which include: increase of energy, weight loss, clearer skin, improved eyesight, better sleep quality, better digestion, better mood, lift of depression, less fogginess, better concentration, less or no headaches, less PMS, easier periods, less or no sugar cravings, and an overall feeling of health and happiness.
Why wait? Spring is the perfect season to do a Liver Cleanse. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Liver is related to the Element “Wood” which corresponds to the spring season. The Chinese New Year is celebrated in February each year, and is a symbol of renewal of Life. I do not know anybody that would not benefit from a Liver Cleanse, as I do not know anybody that is not exposed to either exotoxins or endotoxins. By cleansing your Liver function, your certainly improve your health and prolong your life.
References:
1. Online Vikipedia: Hepatitis.
2. Renew your life Brenda Watson, ND, CT Chapter 5 The Liver.
3. Vitamin Research News October 2007: The Liver: Detoxifying This Vital Organ Nourishes Overall Health and Vitality.
4. The Liver Files: Wise Traditions Spring 2005 Sherill Sellman, ND.
APPOINTMENTS WITH BEATRICE LEVINSON
For our readers of HEALTH AWARENESS who would like to make a Consultation appointment with Béatrice Levinson, Naturopath to discuss their Health concerns, we offer two types of appointments: In - Office Consultation and Telephone Consultation. Béatrice maintains a patient Consultation schedule for both In - Office Consultations and Telephone Consultations in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia. You need only to telephone our office in Monterey, California at 1-831-642-0202 or email to john@mbaynaturo.com to arrange an appointment. Again, simply telephone 1-831-642-0202 or, send an email to john@mbaynaturo.com. IN CLOSING, I would like to wish you ALL a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY. Valentines Day is good day to reflect on our wonderful Affairs of the Heart , as well as the Health of the Heart. Both take a great deal of thought and nurturing to maintaining and to insure longevity.
Yours in Health,
The entire contents of HEALTH AWARENESS are based upon the opinions of Beatrice Levinson, Naturopath, unless otherwise indicated. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as an offering and sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Beatrice Levinson, Naturopath within the U.S. and Europe. Beatrice Levinson, Naturopath encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
©Copyright 2007 Beatrice F. Levinson, Naturopath. All Rights Reserved. This content may be copied in full, with copyright, contact, creation and information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit format. If any other use is desired, permission in writing from Beatrice Levinson is required.
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