Rejuvenate your
Fatigued Liver
In the course of my online reading, I came across a very interesting article on the liver. And I want to share it with my readers. The major part of the article may seem not-doable but I have included it for you to gain a deeper insight into the functions of the liver and nutrition required to keep it going. So here we go ....
Do you suffer from any of these?
Do you often feel tired and sluggish?
Is your memory and vision not as sharp as they used to be?
Is it impossible to lose weight no matter how hard you try?
Then here’s something
you need to know:
The most overlooked cause of your problems likely is a
fatigued liver! And it could be the hidden reason your body Is falling apart. Fatigued Liver can cause everything
from fatigue to memory problems to age spots - yet doctors rarely check for it.
So how will you rejuvenate your liver and rebuild your body to
get rid of your health problems. But before that let’s see what your liver does
in the body.
The liver is the
hardest working organ in your body. Every day, it has to perform over 500
essential functions like, to name a few:
Producing more than 13,000 crucial chemicals... and
regulating over 50,000 vital enzymes
Balancing sex hormones
Filtering nearly 100 gallons of blood that pass through it
every day
Producing a full quart of bile daily to break down fat and
help with food digestion
Maintaining healthy cholesterol, blood sugar, and amino
acids levels
Converting glucose into energy which your body can use
Storing essential nutrients like vitamins A, B, D, and K
Detoxifying waste products and pollutants, so your body can
get rid of them
Now, when you are young, your liver can carry out all these
functions efficiently. But as you get older, your liver becomes less efficient.
Add to that, decades of exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, chemicals, and
air pollution – all this also cause your liver to age faster. It can't keep up with
its heavy workload. It cannot heal itself and starts to deteriorate and shrink.
Even worse, it starts to develop shorter telomeres at a
faster rate. Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA. When your
telomeres get shorter, you age at an escalating rate. As a result, you may feel
tired all the time, as your liver cannot convert glucose to energy quickly. You
may keep piling on the kilos around the waistline, and get more cellulite, as
your liver is clogged with fat deposits. And you may suffer from sex hormone
imbalances and poor sex drive.
A fatigued liver can
also lead to many other symptoms like:
Age spots
Joint and back pain
High cholesterol
Increased BP
Poor immunity
Skin discolouration
Memory problems
Vision problems
Muscle loss
Indigestion and constipation
Here’s how you can
rejuvenate your liver to feel healthier and younger:
Milk thistle. Hundreds
of studies have confirmed that it protects the liver from alcohol, drugs, and
toxins. It blocks inflammation and prevents liver damage. And it even helps the
liver repair itself by growing new liver cells.
But that is not enough. As
good as it is, only Milk Thistle is not enough to give your liver the
protection it needs. Why?
-
First, the liver needs a wide variety of
nutrients to perform all its functions. Milk thistle does not have all the
nutrition your liver needs to cope with its heavy workload
-
Second, Milk Thistle benefits mostly your liver.
But your liver does not function in isolation. Its performance depends on the
support it gets from other systems of your body, especially your adrenal
glands. When your adrenal glands are not working properly, your liver
struggles, too. In fact, scientists have found that up to 65% of patients with
weakened livers also have sluggish adrenals. So for your liver to work
optimally, you need to boost your adrenals, too. And one of the best ways to
boost your adrenals is with Licorice Root.
Licorice (Mulethi in Hindi) is rich
in a compound called glycyrrhizin. Glycyrrhizin
slows down the breakdown of adrenal hormones like cortisol, progesterone, and
aldosterone. This takes a lot of stress off your adrenal glands. And licorice
root does not only support your adrenals, it supports your liver too. Studies
show it enhances liver function, defends against liver inflammation and injury and
prevents drug toxicity.
In a study, scientists took a group of patients with clogged
livers and tested their livers for injury. They then gave half the group
licorice root, and the other half a placebo. After two months, the licorice
group saw their liver markers significantly improve. Their livers were
recovering from injuries. In addition, they also reduced their body fat, while
the placebo group had an increase in body fat.
In another study, scientists gave 100 patients with chronic
liver problems glycyrrhizin, the major compound in licorice root. Four weeks
later, the patients saw an amazing 88% improvement in their liver function
tests, plus an 86% decrease in their symptoms!
And in yet another study, patients with inflamed livers were
given glycyrrhizin twice a day. In just 3 months, their livers had no signs of
inflammation. So by taking licorice root, you support both your liver and
adrenal glands. But even that may not be enough. Why? Because performance of your
liver also depends on your immune system.
Safeguard Your Liver
by Boosting Your Immune System
Most people know the liver is responsible for detoxification.
But what many people don't know is, your liver is also part of your immune
system. It's loaded with immune cells, like macrophages, natural killer cells,
T-cells, B-cells, and more. If your immune system is sluggish, your liver
suffers, too. So you also need to strengthen your immune system.
One of the best ways to do that is to take a medicinal mushroom called Royal Agaricus (Agaricus blazei).
Agaricus has the highest known levels of Beta-1,3-glucans of any mushroom.
Beta-glucans help stimulate the immune system. They also help you fight off
viruses, bacteria, and other dangerous pathogens.
But Agaricus does more than boost your immune system.
Studies now show it also protects your liver from toxins. In one study,
scientists injected a group of mice with carbon tetrachloride, one of the most
toxic substances there is to the liver. They then gave the mice Agaricus or a
placebo. Result? The Agaricus group almost completely blocked the toxin!
In another study, scientists pre-treated the rats with Agaricus
or a placebo. They then injected the rats with a deadly poison called DEN.
After the injection, the livers of the control group quickly deteriorated. But
the Agaricus group's livers remained healthy, and functioned like normal!
Other studies also show that Agaricus blocks inflammation in
the liver, protects liver and immune cells from toxicity and even guards the
liver from a chemo drug.
Now be prepared for a third nutrient! This nutrient can unclog
your liver and undo damage caused by alcohol. Your brain uses this nutrient to
produce ‘messenger chemicals’. You need these messenger chemicals to remember. It
is Phosphatidylcholine, or PC for
short. PC is more than just a nutrient for your brain and memory. It is also
vital for liver health. Studies show it helps remove fat deposits in the liver.
Without PC, fat and cholesterol build up in your liver.
In addition, PC also reduces liver damage caused by alcohol,
viruses and toxins. Not only that, it can even help a damaged liver regenerate.
Yes! it can help the liver grow new cells. In a study, scientists took a group
of rats and surgically removed part of their livers. They then injected PC into
the rats. Within 30 hours, their damaged livers began to regenerate. That's
incredible!
A Super Antioxidant
for Your Liver
Scientists have found that Quercetin, a bioflavonoid,
protects your liver from free radical attacks and DNA damage. Even more
amazing, it can delay aging and help prolong life. In laboratory tests,
scientists found it extended the lifespan of cells by up to 60%. Studies show that
Quercetin also guards the liver against inflammatory damage, prevents fat
accumulation in the liver and even reduces abdominal fat. Plus, it improves
your cholesterol. In a study, patients taking Quercetin saw an 18% reduction in
total cholesterol, a 27% reduction in (bad) LDL... and a whopping 33% increase
in (good) HDL cholesterol.
Quercetin is a
pigment found in many plants, fruits, and vegetables. It may have some health
benefits and help prevent a range of conditions. People can get quercetin
through a balanced diet or by taking a supplement. Quercetin is a flavonol,
which is a sub-category of flavonoids. Flavonoids are a particular chemical in
plants, called phytonutrients, and have a wide range of health benefits. Quercetin
is one of the most common and well-researched flavonoids. Humans cannot make
quercetin in their body, but many fruits, vegetables, and drinks contain it. According to research, quercetin can block baby
fat cells from maturing and is more effective at inhibiting the rate of new fat
cell formation than any other flavonoid. Quercetin
is a natural antihistamine (antihistamines stop allergy symptoms).
Fighting free radicals
Quercetin has antioxidant properties.Antioxidants work to
protect the body from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules in
the body that can increase the risk of disease and quicken aging.
Reducing inflammation
Inflammation is the body's natural response to stress and
injuries and usually helps the body heal.
Reducing Risk Of Cancer
Research has shown that a diet high in flavonoids, such as
quercetin, can help prevent cancers. Fruits and vegetables are full of flavonoids,
so increasing intake of these foods might reduce the risk of many types of
cancer.
Preventing infections
Quercetin has antibacterial properties, which are effective
against almost all types of bacteria, particularly those linked to stomach and
intestines, skin, respiratory and urinary
Reducing Risk Of Heart
Disease
Quercetin may improve health of blood vessel cells and blood
flow through arteries in people with heart disease
Lowering high blood
pressure
Foods and drinks that
contain quercetin :
Grapes
Berries
Cherries
Apples
Citrus fruits
Onions
Buckwheat
Broccoli
Kale
Tomatoes
Red wine
Black tea
Boosts Your Body's
"Master Detoxifier"
In addition to Quercetin, there is N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine (NAC) to Advanced Liver Support. NAC is a
precursor to Glutathione, one of the
most powerful antioxidants on earth. Glutathione neutralizes free radicals, and
protects your body from oxidative damage. Glutathione is also your body's Master Detoxifier. Your liver needs it
to detox. Without it, your liver simply cannot function. By taking NAC, you can
increase your glutathione levels, and help your liver get rid of heavy metals
and other harmful toxins. NAC is also a ‘vasodilator’ of the liver - It boosts
blood flow to your liver, delivering vital nutrients to your liver. That's
another reason is critical for a healthy liver.
Alpha-lipoic acid
(ALA) is another antioxidant powerhouse. Not only does it fend off harmful
free radicals but it also helps recharge vitamins C and E. That means ALA
doubles the effectiveness of these vitamins. ALA is both fat and water-soluble.
This allows it to bind with free radicals in a liver that's clogged with fat
deposits. Plus it prevents triglyceride build-ups in the liver, protects the
liver from damage caused by a fatty meal and even helps with weight control.
Selenium is a trace
mineral that is crucial for liver health. First, it helps produce an enzyme
called glutathione peroxidase. This enzyme protects your liver against
oxidative injury. Second, selenium helps preserve your liver tissues and keep
them elastic. This is important, because hardened liver tissues can lead to
severe liver problems. But resilient liver tissues promote healthy blood
circulation in the liver. Besides, selenium also grabs hold of heavy metals
like mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic and prevents them from damaging cells
and tissues inside your body. Studies show it also helps regulate cholesterol, improves
blood sugar and neutralizes harmful free radicals. When you combine milk
thistle, alpha-lipoic acid, and selenium, you can even prevent deadly toxins
from poisoning your liver.
What a Healthy Liver
Means to You
When your liver is healthy, you will have more energy.
That's because your liver can efficiently convert glucose into energy. Plus, it
can digest food better, and convert nutrients into bio-available forms that
your body can absorb.
When your liver is healthy, you will be able to lose weight
and slim your waistline. That's because your liver can efficiently burn fat.
Plus it can prevent fat build-ups in the liver and your waistline.
When your liver is healthy, you will feel stronger,
healthier, and happier. That's because your liver can effectively get rid of
toxins in your body. It can help your body fight off inflammation and
infections. Plus it can strengthen your immune system.
Now for those of you who want to know everything in a nutshell
While your liver can bust natural by-products all day very
easily, other taxing elements (refined sugars, tobacco, alcohol and nicotine)
are hard to remove. For removing these extra harmful elements from the body, it
needs the help of micronutrients like vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. By
incorporating a few super-foods in the diet, you can naturally clean your liver,
regenerate cells and provide it with the required nutrients at the same time.
Green Tea: According to a study in the National institute of health,
(NIH), USA, drinking 5-10 cups of green tea daily can improve your liver health
by improving specific blood markers. Credit for this goes to catechin, a
chemical compound found in green tea. Filled with antioxidants, it assists
liver function.
Cruciferous Vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts,
cabbage and kale are rich in glutathione (antioxidant), which has been linked
with stimulating liver cleaning enzymes.
Apple: An apple a day will help keep the doctor away from your
liver! Packed with pectin (a chemical compound), apples can assist the liver in
cleaning toxins from the digestive tract of the body. This reduces the toxin
load of the liver, giving it time to clean the rest of the body.
Turmeric: Turmeric contains high amount of curcumin (chemical
compound), which helps in removing toxins and repair liver cells. It also
increases the production of bile juice, which assists in removing harmful
metals from the body.
Garlic: Loaded with sulphur and selenium, garlic helps boost
liver enzymes level. This provides the liver with a layer of protection against
oxidative stress and assists in eliminating toxins from the body.
