Liver Fat

The liver and kidneys are remarkable pieces of organic engineering, working to eliminate undesirable substances. When the body is not firing on all cylinders, it tends to store toxins instead of eliminating them.

Your liver is like a chemical processing plant, converting everything you eat, breathe and absorb through your skin into life-sustaining substances. It plays a vital role in the digestive process as it is responsible for producing bile, a substance stored in the gallbladder that aids the breakdown of fats. Your liver also processes digested food and disperses it throughout your body.

The liver also acts as an excretory organ, filtering toxins from your blood and converting them into waste, which is excreted into the bile produced for this purpose or blood and expelled in the form of feces or urine. A diet high in fats, sugars and alcohol, along with environmental toxins such as pesticides and nitrates, can seriously affect your health by interfering with the liver’s functions. Fortunately, your liver has amazing powers of regeneration and a liver detox can work wonders for your whole body.

The liver is the largest organ inside your body and has an enormous amount of blood flowing through it every minute. It consists of two main lobes that appear flat and smooth, but which are actually made up of many thousands of microscopic cells.

These liver cells are separated by spaces that act like a filter or sieve through which the unfiltered blood flows. Liver cells play an essential role in ridding the blood of unwanted substances. They ingest and break down toxic matter such as dead cells, micro-organisms, and chemicals, such as nitrates or preservatives, drugs and other debris from the blood stream.

To prevent your liver from becoming overworked, it is important to limit your intake of toxins such as:

Alcohol: Excess alcohol causes the liver to metabolize fat less efficiently, so that it is stored in the liver and other organs instead. As a result, the liver becomes fatty and inflamed and functions less efficiently. Avoiding alcohol is the best way to prevent liver damage, but drinking responsibly can also help.

Medication: Many prescription drugs and over-the-counter remedies can damage your liver. Ask yourself if a medication is really necessary and, if not, try an alternative remedy.

Environmental: It is impossible to completely avoid toxins such as pesticides and food additives, but you can limit your intake

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The liver is involved in thousands of biochemical mechanisms making it second only to the brain in importance and complexity. Natural health practitioners are also acutely aware of the detrimental effects on the liver of modern living, with its chemicals, excessive fat intake, pesticides, hormones, and stress. This suggests that we as a culture are in need of liver support. You should consider liver support supplementation if you:

Have a history of a Fatty Liver
Consume Alcohol
Consume Tobacco Products
Have been taking Medications/Drugs
Are exposed to Environmental Toxins or Chemicals or Second Hand Smoke
Have a history of Liver or Gall Bladder Problems

Dandelion
Dandelion root enhances bile flow, thus improving conditions such as liver congestion, bile duct inflammation, hepatitis, gallstones, and jaundice. Dandelion increases bile flow by affecting the liver directly to cause an increase in bile production and flow to the gallbladder, and exerting a direct effect on the gallbladder by causing a contraction and release of stored bile. Dandelion’s hepatic tonic effect may be attributable to the high choline content.

Milk Thistle
Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) has been used since Greco-Roman times as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver problems. Several scientific studies suggest that active substances in milk thistle (particularly silymarin) protect the liver from damage caused by viruses, toxins, alcohol, and certain drugs such as acetaminophen (a common over the counter medication used for headaches and pain; acetaminophen, also called paracetamol, can cause liver damage if taken in large quantities or by people who drink alcohol regularly.)

Many professional herbalists recommend milk thistle extract for the prevention and/or treatment of various liver disorders including viral hepatitis, fatty liver associated with long term alcohol use, and liver damage from drugs and industrial toxins such as carbon tetrachloride.

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