Diet and Your Liver

The liver is a complex organ that works 24 hours a day and performs hundreds of specific functions in the body. More tha 500 body functions have been identified with the liver, including system cleansing and detox, the breakdown and metabolism of dietary fat and sugars, production of certain plasma proteins and cholesterol, storage of iron, removal of poisons, drugs and bacteria from the blood, the regulation of blood clotting and the maintenance of a healthy immune system. Liver Because the liver is responsible for metabolizing nutrients, hormones and by-products, it’s exposed to everything we eat, drink and breathe. Liver health is essential for optimal enzyme production and youthful energy. Not checking your liver health regularly can lead to missing opportunities to consider treatment if your liver health is deteriorating. Liver cancer is the sixth most diagnosed cancer in the world and is much more common in people who have chronic viral infections of the liver such as Hepatitis B or C. Millions of Americans have liver disease and don’t even know it. In fact, liver disease is one of the top ten causes of death in the United States, even though many forms of liver disease are preventable and many more, if detected early, can be treated effectively. Healthy Liver Protect and nourish your liver by eating a healthy diet, avoiding harmful chemicals, and giving it the best nutritional support possible. Learn about what your liver does for you as well as what you can do for your liver in the form of healthy eating, keeping fit, energy conservation as well as maintaining a positive attitude. However, a combination approach, that includes nutritional remedies with specific herbs, can contribute to the restoration of a healthy balance within the body. Diet The typical American diet does not provide the extraordinarily important B-Vitamins which are crucial to daily functioning. Health practitioners recommend a diet centered on whole foods, with fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains being emphasized. Maintain a healthy diet by cutting back on alcohol consumption, exercise regularly to maintain healthy weight, supplement your diets with herbs & vitamins for a comprehensive herbal liver detox. It is believed that diets containing 30-35% non-vegetable fats promote both liver and heart health. The combined fibers of rice, alfalfa, barley and high pectin apple fiber combine to gently "sweep" the lining of the intestinal tract, helping to eliminate both dietary toxins and carcinogens. Although fats are a good energy source, they are difficult for the liver to process, and the total fat in your diet should be moderate. Cleansing Antioxidants not only help the liver carry out its cleansing processes, but they also serve to protect the liver from excessive free radical damage. Additionally, supplements recommended in the liver cleansing treatment, such as milk thistle can help to support your liver functions. Although carrots are not a green vegetable, vitamins and minerals found in carrots are a very important in the cleansing factor. You should also look into cleansing the colon, lungs, and cardiovascular system every so often to get a full body cleanse. Conclusion A healthy liver is very important to a person overall wellness and optimum health. Physical exercise and diaphragmatic deep breathing are critical to lymph cleansing and to healthy immune response. An unhealthy liver can lead to weight gain, fatigue, poor complexion, and can complicate other health conce s. In promoting liver care, a healthy, balanced diet is always first and foremost.