You and your liver

The liver plays a critical role in detoxification, digestion, and overall health.

Discover how to support this essential organ through diet, supplements, and lifestyle choices, while learning about common liver disorders and the importance of detoxification.

Put your hand under your ribs, on the right-hand side of your body, and you’ll just about be touching the lower edge of the liver – the largest solid organ in the body.

WHAT IS THE LIVER’S FUNCTION?

Besides eliminating waste products produced in the body, the liver detoxifies drugs and poisons from the bloodstream. It acts as a filter for the blood passing through it, a critical function as the blood from the intestines is loaded with bacteria and various other toxic substances. The liver also aids digestion, stores certain vitamins, and produces plasma proteins that regulate blood clotting. The liver synthesises and secretes bile, which carries toxic substances out of the body. In the intestines, bile binds to fibre and is excreted. Hence, a diet high in fibre is essential for proper toxin elimination. Bile also emulsifies fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the intestines, improving their absorption.

WHAT CAN GO WRONG?

With such a complex organ, many disorders are possible. Common issues include hepatitis (fatty liver), cirrhosis, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), a symptom of severe liver disease. Although the liver can regenerate, excessive toxins, alcohol, and poor diet can hinder its function. Our polluted environment is a major contributor to liver disease, so it’s important to reduce toxin intake. Dr Frank Lipman, founder of Eleven Eleven Wellness Centre in New York City and author of Total Renewal, advises eating organic foods to avoid pesticides, herbicides, hormones, steroids, and antibiotics, and recommends water filtration. Always add trace minerals back into filtered water.

An injured liver ceases to manufacture important proteins like those that prevent excessive bleeding. It also fails to metabolise bilirubin, causing a buildup that leads to jaundice. Over time, liver cells stop regenerating and are replaced by fibrous tissue and fat deposits, leading to cirrhosis – an end-stage liver disease. Cirrhosis is not necessarily fatal, but as it progresses, the liver is deprived of blood, leading to liver failure and possibly liver cancer. Worldwide, hepatitis B is the leading cause of cirrhosis, while hepatitis C does the most damage. Hepatitis can also be caused by drugs and toxic chemicals, but it is most often viral.

WHAT FOODS SUPPORT LIVER FUNCTION?

Blueberries, beetroot, cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, watercress, oranges, tangerines, peppers, spinach, chard, tomatoes, caraway and dill seeds, walnuts, almonds, ginger, rosemary, and garlic. Herbal tonics include dandelion, green tea, and chicory.

IS DETOXIFICATION NECESSARY?

Proper liver detoxification is crucial for cancer prevention. Michael Murray, author of The Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine, notes that up to 90% of cancers may be due to environmental carcinogens, combined with nutrient deficiencies that impair detoxification and immune function.¹

INHIBITORS OF DETOXIFICATION

If you are taking drugs or exposed to high toxin levels, avoid grapefruit, which inhibits drug elimination by decreasing cytochrome P450 enzyme activity by up to 30%.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS SUPPORTING LIVER FUNCTION

• Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids help the liver process fats and reduce triglyceride production.
• Milk thistle enhances liver function and detoxification, with studies showing improved quality of life and life expectancy for cirrhosis patients, particularly from alcohol-related liver damage.^2-4 Silymarin, an antioxidant complex in milk thistle, prevents glutathione depletion and promotes liver health. Dosage: 140 to 210 mg of 70 to 80% silymarin extract, or 420 to 600 mg daily for significant liver damage.
• Silymarin phytosome is a more absorbable form of silymarin, offering better clinical results.^5-7
• Artichoke boosts bile production, aiding digestion and liver detoxification. A study found artichoke supplements increased bile production by up to 151% within an hour.⁸ Dosage: 300 to 640 mg three times daily.
• Dandelion is rich in vitamins and minerals, supporting liver detoxification. Replace lettuce with dandelion leaves in salads or take 5 to 10 ml of tincture daily.
• Glutathione helps eliminate fat-soluble toxins, including heavy metals.⁹ Found in asparagus, avocado, walnuts, and cabbage, glutathione can also be supported with 500 mg of vitamin C daily.
• Alpha-lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant that binds and removes heavy metals and increases intracellular glutathione.
• Licorice root helps treat chronic liver problems but should be used cautiously as it can deplete potassium, potentially leading to serious heart issues. Increase potassium-rich foods when using licorice root.
• Lipotropic agents like choline and methionine promote bile flow and improve liver function and fat metabolism.
• Multivitamins and trace minerals (without iron) are recommended, as low zinc levels are associated with cirrhosis, and trace minerals help eliminate heavy metals.

DETOXIFICATION

Methods like saunas, massages, body brushing, colonic irrigation, and fasting help initiate detoxification. A detox diet should avoid alcohol, saturated fats, and refined sugar, while increasing high-sulphur foods like garlic and eggs, water-soluble fibres, and liver-supportive vegetables like artichokes and beets. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water daily helps maintain bile fluidity.

Editor's note: Read Prof Ali's article You are what you don’t excrete and these helpful articles on 10 Ways to lower your toxic exposure and Our Toxic Environment. Other liver articles you may find interesting: How to Take Care of your Liver, The Liver through the eyes of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Liver Cleansing Herbs.

References

1. Murray M, Pizzorno J. Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine. UK: Little, Brown and Company; 1988. p. 108.
2. Lee SO, Lim CS, Lee ST, Kim DG, Ahn DS. A case of spontaneous regression and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Korean J Gastroenterol. 1999;33:580-586.
3. Ferenci P, Dragosics B, Dittrich H, et al. Randomized controlled trial of silymarin treatment in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. J Hepatol. 1989;9:105-113.
4. Feher J, Deak G, Muzes G, et al. Liver-protective action of silymarin therapy in chronic alcoholic liver diseases. Orv Hetil. 1989;130:2723-2727.
5. Orlando R, et al. Silybin kinetics in patients with liver cirrhosis: a comparative study of a silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex and silymarin. Med Sci Res. 1990;18:861-863.
6. Marcelli R, et al. Randomized controlled study of the efficacy and tolerability of a short course of IdB 1016 in the treatment of chronic persistent hepatitis. Eur Bull Drug Res. 1992;1:131-135.
7. Buzzelli G, et al. A pilot study on the liver protective effect of silybin-phosphatidylcholine complex (IdB1016) in chronic active hepatitis. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol. 1993;31:456-460.
8. Rodriguez T, Saenz Gimenez D, Garcia de la Puerta Vazquez R. Choleretic activity and biliary elimination of lipids and bile acids induced by an artichoke leaf extract in rats. Phytomedicine. 2002;9:272-276.
9. Murray M, Pizzorno J. Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine. UK: Little, Brown and Company; 1988. p. 114.