Liver Lift Liver disease is definitely determined by lifestyle and environment. Think of Cirrhosis and Hepatitis Don't let yours go down the tubes. Liver ailments are becoming more and more commonplace. Although the liver is one of the few organs that regenerates, breakdown of its cleansing properties can cause serious illness and even death. I recently read about a case where a mother donated a portion of her liver to her seriously ill child. The operation was a success and the little girl got a new lease on life. 25% of the liver may be removed and will grow back to its original size and shape. In fact, scientists are studying these properties to see if other organs can be prodded to do the same thing. We can live with just one kidney, but often both become diseased at the same time. The average liver ailments, however, are not very pronounced until it affects other organs in the body. Then, a doctor's visit is imminent. I know someone who overcame Hepatits C simply with diet and lifestyle changes. The bad part is that the liver is like the dishwasher of the body and is the first in line to clean the blood and remove toxins and unwanted substances from the body. We don't realize that heavy metals, which everyone seems to pick up from food and air lodge in the liver and stay there. If there's no cleansing action, the liver becomes overworked and cannot regenerate either itself or the blood coursing through every second of the day. Candida, which seems to be of epidemic proportions what with junk food, sugar, fats, and poor digestion, adversely affects the liver. Liver impairment through Candida causes multiple allergies and chemical sensitivities which is the thrust of Environmental Medicine today. Environmental doctors know immediately that the liver is not functioning when patients arrive with breathing problems in large cities and new food allergies. I have a friend who suddenly became allergic to perfume but hasn't shown signs of other allergies. The suddenness is suspicious and should be checked out, but most people pooh pooh such treatment, especially considering that there are very few environmental MDs in North America and allopathic MDs would simply call for allergy tests and possibly allergy shots, treating only the symptoms rather than the root cause. Detoxification of the liver is the first line of action to boost function. Even Chronic Fatigue can be improved and even eliminated by doing an extensive detox and fast. Many studies on animals have proven without a doubt that immune function is depleted by toxicity of the liver due to chemicals and introduction of Candida Albicans. The Candida then spreads throughout the body, damaging other organs. Some good reasons for doing a detox progam is weight gain of 20 pounds or more, onset of Diabetes, Gallstones, viral Hepatitis, overuse of alcohol, Psoriasis, steroid use, exposure to toxins like cleaning agents and even drugs such as diuretics or NSAIDs. My husband who is a Type II Diabetic was told at the time of his diagnosis that he could manage his condition with diet and exercise alone but was not up to changing his lifestyle in such a dramatic manner. He has a fatty liver as well as allover impairment. Mild drugs take care of his disease, but a healthy eating plan makes much more sense. A good detox program is not as difficult as it may seem. Fresh organic fruits and vegetables along with grains, legumes, nuts and seeds is a good start. Elimination of all junk, processed foods, sugar and alcohol goes along with that as well as a daily exercise program. Smoking, as we know, is very debilitating to all organs including the liver. Effective, bioavailable vitamins and supplements are important, especially at this time. Fasting for three days a couple of times a year would be very beneficial. A juice fast is easiest for people not used to eliminating food for that length of time which means drinking pure, freshly squeezed juice whenever hunger comes along. Some of the best aids to the liver are lipotropic factors and Silymarin which is much stronger than Milk Thistle, often the first recommended herbal supplement. Speaking of lipotropic formulas, they cleanse the liver and regenerate it and includes choline, celandine, methionine and cysteine as well as SAMe and glutathione. Vitamin B12 is added to the formula to rebuild cells. Dosage should be determined for each person individually. CoEnzymeQ10, lecithin granules, liver extract or dessicated liver, and strong enzymes support liver function a great deal as well as Vitamin C, E, selenium and Zinc. Foods that aid liver function, in addition to the ones mentioned above would be almonds, bananas, blackstrap molasses, dulse, kelp, prunes, raisins, brown rice and wheat bran - all high in postassium. Don't forget alfalfa sprouts, and green, leafy vegetables. Carrot and beet juice are always good for the liver, but more important than that is dandelion (one of the best liver boosts) and green powders mixed into a tasty smoothie. Constipation is a sign of poor liver function as well as making the liver struggle to process blood. Fibre is very important to overall health. Good elimination allows the liver to do its job properly and move toxins out of the body in an efficient manner. Poor digestion is an important consideration in liver function, stemming back to poor eating habits causing lack of energy and fermentation in the digestive tract helping bacteria to survive in the body. The cave-man diet seems to be the best way of revitalizing the liver and health in general. We've progressed so far in this world that we will slowly eliminate the human race if we're not careful! --------------------- Since I am not a medical practitioner, it is important to consult with a professional naturopath or MD when trying new treatments and therapies. These articles are a result of research and personal experience. Back to the Writing Index