Improve Your Energy, Memory and More

This writing about our liver is one of the best and concise articles I have seen on this subject. I was reminded of how important our liver is to our health. Please read and study this article. Your fitness and health could quickly improve.

People generally give little thought to liver health… and that’s a mistake. Poor liver function can lead to a wide range of physical and mental health problems—from allergies and bad breath to bloating and chronic fatigue, food sensitivities, memory problems and migraines, to name just a few.

In naturopathic circles, we have a saying, “If you aren’t sure what a patient needs, treat the liver.” This approach is in step with the great healing practices of old, including Ayurvedic and traditional Chinese medicine, which emphasize the importance of a healthy liver for optimal wellness. Here are steps you can take to protect, detoxify and heal your liver—and the dangerous “treatments” some misguided people try that actually do more harm than good.

WHAT DOES YOUR LIVER DO?

Roughly one-quarter of the blood in the body flows through the liver every minute. Oxygen-rich blood is delivered directly from the heart… and nutrient-rich blood travels nonstop from the intestines. Liver cells called hepatocytes handle more tasks than any other cells in the body. They also contain high concentrations of mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of the cells. The liver affects numerous bodily functions…

Digestion. Before the small intestine can absorb fats—including fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K—the fats must be emulsified (suspended in fluid). To do that, the liver produces up to 27 ounces a day of the digestive fluid bile. Some bile goes directly to the small intestine to meet immediate needs, and the rest is stored in the gall bladder.

The liver metabolizes food, turning it into fuel called glucose… and converts glucose into glycogen and stores it as a fuel reserve for times when blood glucose runs low. The liver also transforms vitamins and minerals into forms the body can use… stores reserves of numerous nutrients… and breaks down various substances into waste products, which the body then excretes.

Detoxification. Toxic substances, such as alcohol, and prescription and nonprescription medications (which some people cannot properly metabolize for genetic reasons), meet their ultimate end in the liver. How: First the liver filters toxins from the blood… then changes the toxins’ chemical structures to make them more water-soluble so that they can be excreted through urine and stool. The various enzymatic processes through which the liver accomplishes these tasks are called detoxification pathways.

Circulation. The liver produces components that allow blood to clot, plus proteins to dissolve clots that are no longer needed… breaks down old red blood cells, freeing the iron they contain so that it can be reused… and produces albumin, a blood protein that transports certain minerals and medications throughout the body.

Hormone activity. The liver synthesizes cholesterol, which is necessary for the production of hormones… and produces carrier proteins that transport hormones via the blood.

Immune function. The liver produces immune cells that help remove bacteria from the blood.

IF THE LIVER IS UNHEALTHY

When the liver operates suboptimally, it is called “sluggish,” meaning it cannot detoxify substances rapidly or thoroughly enough for them to be efficiently excreted. Consequently, lingering toxins exit the liver and migrate to other areas of the body, producing free radicals—unstable molecules that can damage body tissues. Eventually, the body tucks the toxins into fat tissue and cells of the brain and central nervous system. These toxins may be slowly released into the blood and contribute to many chronic health problems, including arthritis, chronic fatigue and poor memory. A sluggish liver also may affect blood flow—one possible reason why liver problems are linked to cold hands and feet, migraine and nearsightedness.

Sluggish liver is not recognized in the world of conventional medicine, so it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. One reason: Blood tests intended to detect the elevated liver enzymes that signal poor liver function generally do not show marked abnormalities until liver impairment is severe.

Many conventional doctors dismiss mildly elevated liver enzyme levels as unimportant and therefore do not recommend follow-up testing or treatment. However, small elevations can indeed indicate liver damage. Evidence: In a study in the British Medical Journal, researchers followed up on abnormal liver enzyme test results in 873 patients. They found that physicians ordered further testing and/or treatment for 531 patients who had known liver disease. Among the remaining 342 patients, doctors’ notes suggested that 157 merited further investigation—but 91 of those patients were not sent for follow-up testing. When the researchers ordered additional tests on all 157 patients, 62% of them had an identifiable diagnosis—including contagious viral hepatitis or other chronic liver diseases that required hospitalization.

My approach: When initial tests show elevated liver enzyme levels, I work with the patient to address possible contributing factors, including diet, pharmaceutical use and toxin exposure… and I prescribe natural supplements that enhance liver function. After four to six weeks of this protocol, I retest to see whether the problem has been corrected.

DETOXIFICATION: WHAT HURTS, WHAT HELPS

The following protocol promotes liver health and generally is beneficial for everyone. Unless noted, supplements are sold at health-food stores, are safe and have no side effects (as a general precaution, do not use if you are pregnant or breast-feeding).

DO NOT try “liver flushes.” Currently popular is a one-to-three-day fast during which the person consumes only a mixture of water, lime juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper (or a similar concoction). I strongly advise against this. First, flushes don’t work. It takes more than a few days to clear out toxins, reestablish normal bile flow and heal liver cells. Second, flushes can be dangerous, especially for people with nutritional deficiencies, gallstones or severe chemical toxicities. Risks include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fatigue and muscle aches.

DO follow a detox diet. Most plant foods contain phytochemicals that aid in detoxification. Aim for two or three servings per day of foods rich in the following phytochemicals…

• Allium—from garlic, onions, chives.

• Chlorophyll—from spinach, chard, turnip greens.

• Ellagic acid—from red grapes, raspberries, blackberries.

• Gallic acid—from mangoes, rhubarb, soy foods, green and black teas.

• Glucosinolates and indoles—from cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts.

• Isothiocyanates—from horseradish and cruciferous vegetables.

• Limonene—from citrus fruits and peels.

• Sulforaphane—from broccoli sprouts and cruciferous vegetables.

Also helpful: Curcumin, found in the spice turmeric. To incorporate it into your diet, add turmeric liberally while cooking.

Important: Avoid—or use sparingly—foods that stress the liver, including alcohol, caffeine, sugar, artificial sweeteners, saturated fats (found in meats and nonskim dairy foods) and trans fats (such as hydrogenated vegetable oils and shortening).

DO hydrate. Each day, drink 80 ounces of water that has been purified through a faucet-mounted or pitcher-style charcoal filter or a reverse-osmosis filter (installed on your home’s main waterline).

DO steer clear of toxins. When possible, avoid secondhand smoke… pesticides… automobile exhaust… fumes from paints, glues, fire retardants and cleansers… arsenic (in unpurified water, contaminated shellfish and nonorganic chicken)… lead (in old pipes, paints, crystal and dishware)… and mercury (in some vaccines, amalgam dental fillings and some seafoods, such as swordfish and tuna).

DO use healing roots and herbs. Beetroot, dandelion root, Oregon grape root, wild yam, wormwood and milk thistle stimulate production of bile and its flow from the liver. Convenient: A formula that combines liver-supporting herbs, such as Gaia Herbs Liver Health (888-917-8269, www.GaiaHerbs.com) or Solaray Liver Blend (800-669-8877, www.Nutraceutical.com). Follow dosage instructions on labels—typically one capsule before each meal. For a general liver tune-up, I advise all adults to take an herbal liver formula for one month per year. If your liver enzyme levels are elevated, take it for six weeks or until enzymes normalize. If you have chronic hepatitis, continue indefinitely.

DO take supplements that support detoxification pathways. I advise everyone to take a multivitamin/mineral daily, continuing indefinitely. In addition, I recommend the following supplements. Take them for one month per year (the same month in which you use the liver support formula, described above)… or indefinitely if you have chronic liver disease or frequent exposure to any of the toxins described above.

• N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an amino acid derivative, at 250 mg twice daily.

• Vitamin C at 500 mg twice daily (in addition to the vitamin C in your multivitamin).

• Chlorella, a green algae, taken as directed on the label. Good brand to try: Sun Chlorella (800-829-2828, www.SunChlorellaUsa.com).

DO limit medication. Avoid unnecessary prescription and nonprescription drugs—and never use higher-than-recommended doses. Certain drugs can harm the liver by creating the following problems…

• Liver inflammation—from more than 100 products that contain the painkiller and fever reducer acetaminophen (Tylenol).

• Bile flow impairment—from birth control pills, the antibiotic erythromycin, the psychiatric drug chlorpromazine (Thorazine) and anabolic steroids.

• Elevated liver enzyme levels and possible liver failure—from cholesterol-lowering statins.

• Drug-induced hepatitis—from statin drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve).

• Liver toxicity—from the arrhythmia drug amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) or the rheumatoid arthritis and cancer drug methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall).

DO reduce stress. Every day, practice a relaxation technique, such as meditation or deep breathing. Regular exercise also alleviates stress.

When your liver is once again operating optimally, you will be amazed at how much better you feel.

The more symptoms you have, the more important it is for you to adhere to the recommendations in this article and to seek help from a holistic doctor. In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, a poorly functioning liver could contribute to numerous ailments, including blood sugar regulation problems (hypoglycemia, prediabetes, diabetes)… body odor that is very strong… cold hands and feet… depression… frequent diarrhea… fibrocystic breasts… gassiness… joint and/or muscle pain… irregular menstrual periods… nasal congestion… prostate enlargement or prostate cancer… skin rashes… and weight gain.

It is alarming in the United States and in most of the western world, that degenerative diseased have replaced infectious diseases as the number one killer. What does this mean? Lifestyle and diet are the biggest ultimate causes of the degenerative diseases that are killing millions of people each year.

The medical profession’s primary method over the last 60 years to combat the devastating effects of the fast-food diet and life-style has been surgery and medication. Has this been effective in curbing and bringing to a halt most of these diseases? Not even hardly.

Practically every medical treatment plan prescribed for the chronic disease patient these days tries only to manage symptoms. There aren’t any cures.

The prevailing medical treatments not only include risks, but also symbolize a Band-Aid method of approach. They are able to offer relief from symptoms – however they are not able to cure, considering they don’t deal with the root cause of the disease.

Under “modern-day” medicine, the occurrence of nearly all debilitating diseases has accelerated and the vast majority of individuals are still dying from what are preventable, diet and life-style induced illnesses.

So what does fasting have to do with conquering a disease that is giving me lots of problems? Many times fasting arrives on the scene only when all other avenues of “healing” have been exhausted. People don’t think of it, because it is just too “simple” and how could something so “simple” really work?

Fasting gives your body a much needed rest. It supplies your body with the ideal environment to accomplish it’s work of healing. Amazing things happen during a fast. Your blood pressure will drop. The metabolic wastes in your body will start decreasing and your blood vessels will start softening and actually rid themselves of harmful plaque.

In just a short time span, most of your organs and muscles, including your heart and brain, start receiving a bigger blood supply and oxygenation. And one of the most exciting things that a fast accomplishes is all the tissues throughout the different systems in your body begin to purify themselves. All of this just from a cessation of eating while drinking a lot of purified water.

A word of caution. Please consult with your physician before you embark on any fast. Your doctor may not be a fan of fasting – or they may just not know much about the benefits. If this is your doctor, find another one who is open to different methods and ideas such as fasting.  You can also reference a number of good books about fasting that are written by doctors. One of my favorites is “Fasting and Eating For Health – A Medical Doctor’s Program for Conquering Disease” by Joel Fuhrman, M.D.

If you are open to this interesting approach to health, I encourage you to start with fasting one day a week. Maybe this seems easy to do, yet it will be hard to start with, because you will be bucking the tradition of years of habit. But think about giving your whole body – especially your internal organs – a much needed rest once each week. I sometimes wonder if this is what was meant by the old testament Biblical mandate of a day of rest each week.

One of the most incredible things fasting does is reduce inflammation in your body. This is a fascinating subject on it’s own that I will be covering in an upcoming post.

Related Blogs

• Root cause of all evil: Money: Ayn Rand | Subramoney
• stress chronic illness | Stress Management
• Top 10 Diet Tips for Ultimate Health and Weight! | Blogging away
• Healthy diet weight loss – proper food intake
• Alkaline Diet Food – How It Works

I was at Little League baseball practice with my son, and on a Sunday afternoon, it was a great time to be with the boys and also with their fathers. I was in the outfield with another father named John, trying to be helpful shagging balls.

John is a retired psychologist, who specialized in ADHD. One thing he said about sugar just stopped me in my tracks. We were talking about ADHD and he said that ADHD medication has been saving thousands of people’s lives because they are no longer self-medicating themselves with sugar. Wow! I’ve never before thought about that connection. How many people who don’t know they have ADHD are still medicating themselves with soda, candy bars, ice cream and doughnuts? People are trying to cope any way they can, but little do they know what kind of a price they are paying for their addiction to sugar.How many other people are using sugar to mask the pain of failure and guilt? They use alcohol and drugs too. But sugar addiction is so rampant and so universal, that no one even thinks there is a problem. Even the medical community keeps quiet.

My conversation with John, out on the baseball field, produced in me a desire to take another look at a subject that I have been very passionate about. And that is learning how pervasive the addiction to sugar has become in the United States and the increasing threat that this addiction is to the overall health of our population.

This website is not about the masses, but it is all about your health and mine. So my focus in Part 2 will be:

A. How sugar addiction is literally killing us and taking years off of our lives.
B. How our addiction to sweets is negatively impacting the daily quality of life. You’ll learn how sugar robs you of the currency of life – your energy.

In Part 3 we’ll take a look at the Mega Sugar Industry, and how they have hunkered down and are ready to fight anyone who dares to say that sugar is bad for you. The sugar industry is all-pervasive in their reach, impacting not only our whole food industry but our work and leisure activities as well.

In Part 4 we’ll learn what some of us want to find out – a sure-fire and “easy” (well, no, I can’t say it will be easy method to break our addiction to sugar. We will also learn some great tips to replace the sugar with healthy and nourishing foods. Some experts have said that kicking the sugar addiction can be harder than quitting smoking. A real neat thing to think about is that the longer sugar is out of your system the easier it becomes.

Look for Sugar Addiction – Part 2 – The Sweet and Deadly Killer – coming to this blog soon.