Liver Detoxification

• Introduction
• The Function of the Liver
• The Detox Process of the Liver
• Signs of an Overworked Liver
• Detox Superfoods
• Detoxification Diets and Systemic Purification Cleanses
• Therapeutic Herbs For the Liver

Introduction

The liver is the main organ of detoxification. Although the focus of detox is on the liver, every other system in the body is compromised if your liver is not functioning properly. That’s because many of the toxins to which we are exposed are fat soluble, meaning they cannot be directly excreted in the water-based urine, but instead are attracted to fatty cell membranes in our bodies. This attraction allows them to be easily transported inside of the cells where they can sequester and exert their toxic effects. These toxins become permanent residents of our systems, challenging our entire body function, including liver, kidney, heart, brain, colon, lungs, skin, and hormonal systems. Toxic overload is the major contributor to a hyperactive or hypoactive immune system.

It should be obvious that with fewer toxins to contend with, you will experience more energy, more vitality and be in better health.

The challenge then is to find a detoxification program designed to change these fat-soluble toxins into a water-soluble form so they can then be easily flushed from the system through the kidneys or colon.

The Function of the Liver

The primary function of the liver is blood filtration. In fact, two quarts of blood are filtered through the liver every minute. Just as the oil filter in a car needs to be changed regularly to maintain optimal function, the blood filter (liver) needs to be cleansed periodically to keep your body functioning optimally. Some other functions of the liver:

• It breaks down hormones for excretion.
  • Example 1: Estrogen needs to be cleansed from a woman's blood every month after menstruation. If the liver is not functioning properly, high-estrogen syndromes develop, like PMS or menopause symptoms.
  • Example 2: The liver clears stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine from the blood. If this isn’t occurring adequately, emotional imbalances like depression or anger as well as stress related illnesses could result. The latest research has shown that a high level of blood cortisol is linked to persistent weight gain, especially around the abdomen and buttocks. Therefore, detoxifying your liver will assist with weight loss.
  • Example 3: The liver converts thyroid hormone, T4, into the active form, T3. If this conversion is not occurring, hypothyroid symptoms develop even if the thyroid appears to be functioning properly!
• It transforms carbohydrates, protein and fat to energy. If your liver is functionally optimally, your metabolism naturally increases which encourages weight loss.
• The liver builds enzymes from good quality protein, reducing digestive symptoms like heartburn, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea.
• It regulates blood sugar. The liver sends the messages to the pancreas hormones (insulin and glucagon) to maintain ideal blood sugar levels.
  • Excess sugar is converted to cholesterol and fat
  • With low blood sugar, the liver converts protein and fat into sugar

The Detox Process of the Liver

The liver collects and removes foreign particles and chemicals from the blood and detoxifies these poisons through three systems: (1) the Kupffer cells (2) Phase I and Phase II systems involving more than 75 enzymes and (3) the production of bile. The goal of all the liver’s detoxification system is to convert toxins into a water-soluble form for easy elimination from the body via the stool or urine.

• The major players in this filtering process are the Kupffer cells, a type of stationary white blood cell that engulfs foreign matter in the blood before it passes through the rest of the liver. When the liver is damaged, toxic, congested or sluggish, the Kupffer cells become overburdened and the filtration system slows down, allowing increased levels of antigens, foreign proteins, bowel microorganisms, and dietary waste products to pass through the liver and enter the general circulatory system. Inflammatory agents called cytokines are also released, contributing to the development of inflammatory allergic conditions.
• The most complex of the liver’s detoxification mechanisms are referred to as Phase I and Phase II biotransformation systems. When a toxic chemical enters the liver, these reactions begin to break these chemicals down into harmless substances:
  1. PHASE I is the oxidation phase during which enzymes "burn" or oxidize toxins into intermediate substances called free radicals. The problem is that free radicals are actually MORE TOXIC than the original toxin. Thousands of scientific studies have documented the link between free radical damage and diseases such as cancer, heart disease, or allergies.
  2. PHASE II enzymes act to combine the free radical with neutralizing molecules, called antioxidants, to make the toxin water-soluble and easier for the body to excrete. This critical phase is often sluggish because of the deficiency of antioxidants in the diet, especially the typical American diet. (See below for a list of foods high in antioxidant activity).
• Bile is produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and pumped into the small intestine to digest dietary fats and acts to make intestinal contents less. Bile also prevents putrefaction of intestinal contents and speeds up stool transit time.
  1. iBile is the major route of eliminating cholesterol.
  2. It carries many of the toxins broken down by the liver.
  3. Bile binds to fiber, toxins included, to be carried through the intestinal tract. With constipation, the stool remains in the colon too long so that toxins and cholesterol get reabsorbed into the body. Therefore, FIBER IS A CRITICAL DIETARY NUTRIENT TO ENSURE PROPER ELIMINATION OF TOXINS.

Signs of an Overworked, Toxic Liver

Detox Superfoods

One of the key ways to detox is to keep the body in an alkaline state. The body’s acid-alkaline balance adjusts throughout the day depending on the types of food we eat.

• Grains and proteins leave an acidic residue when metabolized; fruit and vegetables leave an alkaline residue.
• Protein and grains are essential for our overall health and well-being, but if you balance their intake with large amounts of fruit and vegetables our body is more likely to remain alkaline.
• Choose organic food and eat fruit and vegetables raw whenever possible to make sure you obtain the maximum amount of nutrients.

Consume the following detox "superfoods" as often as you can:

The purpose of a detoxification supplements and protein is to provide essential nutrients necessary for the detoxification process. It is also critical to eliminate food and chemical irritants while detoxifying to reduce the burden on the liver and other body systems.

Detoxification Diets and Systemic Purification Cleanses

My personal favorite detox program:

1. Standard Process^® 3 week Organic Detoxification Cleanse

• Standard Process^® products are available only through health care professionals. Although these products can be researched on-line at www.standardprocess.com, they can only be ordered through health care professionals. Products can be ordered through Andrews Chiropractic via phone or email.
• Standard Process^®, in business since 1929, uses only supplements and protein organically grown on company-owned, organic farmland in Wisconsin using organic seeds, irrigated from an artesian well tapping glacial waters, and with no herbicides nor pesticides.
• All plants are cold processed to preserve nutrient activity.
• Plant batches are tested 4 times during processing to assure nutrient activity.
• The four Standard Process^® products in this 3-week cleanse:
  1. SP Cleanse^® - Made from 20 herbs aiding the detox process. Acts as a diuretic and urinary antiseptic; mobilizes fat; fiber source; antiflatulant; thins the bile; antimicrobial, antifungal/parasitic properties; supports bile production; increases thermogenisis (heat producing). Click here for more details on this product.
  2. SP Complete^® Protein - Made from highly bio-available whey and brown rice protein as well as many of the detoxifying herbs found in the Cleanse^®. Provides ample amino acids with high antioxidant activity critical in the detox process. Click here for more details on this product.
  3. iii. Gastro-fiber^® - Fiber source including forms that bind with heavy metals and cholesterol; balanced with natural antiflatulant; increases the strength of colon contraction. Click here for more details on this product.
  4. iv. Green Food^® - This high chlorophyll supplement is a rich source of vitamins and minerals as well as amino acids involved in detoxification. Click here for more details on this product.

2. Metagenics^® UltraClear and AdvaClear

• Features a variety of nutrients with potent antioxidant properties.
• Delivers high levels of nutrients that provide the energy and cofactors to power both phases of the detox process.
• Provides a blend of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fats) with low-allergy potential and optimal digestibility (contains no dairy, wheat, gluten, yeast, soy, corn protein, animal or dairy products, or artificial colors, sweeteners, or flavors).
• Added amino acids (lysine and threonine).
• Fiber in the form of rice bran and beet fiber to enhance GI elimination of toxins.
• Magnesium serves as an essential cofactor for detoxification enzymes.
• Glutamine and Glycine support phase II conjugation and glutamine has also been shown to raise glutathione levels, an important substance used in both phases as an antioxidant and a conjugating nutrient.

Take the Toxicity Self-Test Questionnaire to determine which UltraClear product to take:

To view all products and order on-line via the Nutrition Dynamics web site:

• Go to the Liver Detoxification section of the product list

Therapeutic Herbs For the Liver

The bioflavinoids in Silymarin (milk thistle) has been used for centuries by European herbalists for restoring liver function. Bioflavinoids are plant pigments with beneficial properties: They protect against damage from destructive free radicals in the body and enhance the activity of vitamin C. Silymarin accelerates the process of regenerating damaged liver tissue, thereby freeing the organ to carry out its key functions. It has been proven effective against certain types of mushroom and petrochemical solvent poisoning.

To view all products and order on-line via the Nutrition Dynamics web site:

• Go to the Liver Detoxification section of the product list

Other phytonutrients ("phyto" meaning plant) have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity on the liver through various mechanisms. Catechins (a bioflavonoid) are used by European naturopaths and medical doctors to treat chemical hepatitis, cirrhosis, and other environmental and viral forms of liver disease. Catechins can be taken as a nutritional supplement. Green tea is a good source of catechins. Certain botanicals act as Kupffer-cell stimulants, including burdock root, goldenseal, baptisia, similax, Oregon grape root and Echinacea.

To view all products and order on-line via the Nutrition Dynamics web site:

• Go to the Liver Detoxification section of the product list
• Or search "catechins," or any of the named botanicals