Natural Regimen for a healthy Liver are Milk Thistle, Alpha Lipoic acid and Selenium

Dr. HingHau Tsang's Crusade on Nutrition

Newsletter #59 --- Natural approach to a healthy Liver

Excluding the skin, the liver is the largest organ in the body. It metabolizes carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It processes vitamins, regulates blood clotting, and detoxifies the blood by filtering drugs, hormones, alcohol, microbes and other toxins.

You probably know that alcohol damages the liver. But even if you never touch a drop of alcohol, your liver undergoes subtle trauma every day in this toxic world we live in. According to EPA estimates, almost 6 trillion pounds of chemicals are released into the environment each year. Some of these inevitably make their way into our bodies via the air we breathe, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Every day, you're exposed to toxins from building materials in your home and workplace, personal care products, household cleaners, and more. As your body's primary organ for detoxification, this organ processes every poison you eat, drink, or inhale. Your liver is the only internal organ that can regenerate itself after injury, but with daily exposure to poisons like these, even its restorative powers can be overwhelmed.

What affects the liver health? Alcoholic Liver Disease and Hepatitis.

Alcoholic Liver Disease

Chronic, heavy alcohol use is the leading cause of illness and death from liver disease in the United States. Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to Fatty liver, Alcohol hepatitis, Cirrhosis and Death. The most effective preventive measure is to avoid alcohol altogether. However, if you do drink, keep your alcohol intake "moderate" (less than 1-2 drink per day).

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver from any cause. Viral hepatitis include hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and other virus such as mononucleosis. Non-viral hepatitis can result from a reaction to alcohol or drugs. Hepatitis A is usually a benign disease, and only in a few cases does it result in death from liver failure. Hepatitis B can produce acute or chronic hepatitis, and progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Hepatitis B is less likely than hepatitis C to progress to a chronic infection. More than 85% of hepatitis C-infected persons will develop chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Hepatitis D and E are less common. Hepatitis D can be either acute or chronic. Hepatitis E is similar to hepatitis A and does not cause chronic hepatitis.

Conventional treatment for hepatitis

Interferon is the conventional medical treatment most doctors have to offer for Hepatitis C, but it's not terrific. The percentage of favorable responses to it is low, and the side effects (flu like symptoms and fatigue) are significant. A new hepatitis C "cocktail" treatment called Rebetron (Interferon plus Ribavirin) has helped some patients by slowing progression of the disease and by reducing blood levels of the hepatitis C virus, but the results are not outstanding. A recent survey by the American Liver Foundation showed that hepatitis patients were more satisfied with alternative treatments than with conventional medication.

Natural Regimen for a healthy Liver

Drink 10 to 12 glasses of pure water every day.

Avoid alcohol or keep your alcohol intake under 1-2 drink per day.

Eat a diet centered around antioxidant-containing plant foods (cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts are especially protective). T

aking a high-potency multivitamin/mineral supplement like Basic Preventive 5 Plus extra vitamin D

Take 1,500 mg of Vitamin C per day. Vitamin C boost levels of glutathione, your body's premier antioxidant in neutralizing free radicals - particularly in the liver. Take Vitamin E 800 IU per day.

Take the following Liver enhancing nutritional supplements

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) - There is no drug on the market today, including interferon, that can protect the liver as well as milk thistle. Milk Thistle seeds contain a bioflavonoid complex known as silymarin, responsible for the health benefits of the plant. Milk Thistle extract with a standardized extract containing 80% silymarin protect liver cells by blocking the entrance of toxins, help to remove toxins from liver cells and regenerate liver cells. Over 150 scientific studies have shown that silymarin is an exceptionally effective enhancer of liver function. A potent antioxidant in its own right, silymarin is particularly remarkable for its beneficial effects on glutathione. Researchers have found that silymarin increases levels of glutathione by up to 35 percent and actually stimulates the production of new liver cells.

Alpha Lipoic Acid protects the liver in numerous ways. First and foremost, this powerful antioxidant is soluble in both water and fat, so it can enter virtually all portions of cells to disarm free radicals. Alpha Lipoic acid also boosts levels of glutathione. When levels of glutathione are low, liver detoxification grinds to a halt, allowing toxins free rein. Lipoic acid restores flagging energy to the liver by helping usher glucose into the cells. Simply ensuring that the liver has adequate energy helps to restore normal function in this overworked organ.

Selenium 400 mcgm per day.

Coenzyme q-10 120 mg per day

Green tea extract 600 to 900 mg per day

GINGER ROOT (Zingiber officinale) root: Chinese medical texts from the fourth century B.C. suggest that ginger is effective in treating liver toxicity.

Dandelion root: Worldwide, Dandelion root is regarded as a "liver tonic," a substance believed to benefit the liver. Dandelion can help "detoxify" or clean out the liver and gallbladder. In Germany, dandelion root is used to brew a tea for the treatment of liver disorders.

Burdock (Arctium lappa) root: Called gobo in Japan, burdock root is said to provides deep strengthening to the immune system.

Phosphatidyl Choline, one gram three times daily, seems to benefit those with Hepatitis B

Black Radish Root (Raphanus sativus niger)

Parsley Root (Petroselinum sativum)

Maitake (Grifola frondosa) - This Japanese mushroom has immune enhancing properties.

Olive leaf extract - supports the immune system.

Maintain your liver health by supplementing with Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg, Milk Thistle 350 mg, Selenium 200 mcgm per day. These supplements are extremely safe and can be taken year-round especially if you are frequently exposed to toxic chemicals.

"Triple Antioxidant" therapy: A protocol developed and used by Dr. Berkson for Hepatitis C, which includes Alpha Lipoic Acid 600 mg per day, Selenium 400 mcgm per day, and Silymarin (Milk Thistle) 900 mg per day, taken in 2 or 3 divided doses. In his studies, this has been shown to help decrease the liver inflammation and promote healing. Some individuals are able to reverse hepatitis C. This therapy can apply to other chronic hepatits as well.

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Disclaimer

Dr. Tsang wishes to share his knowledge & Opinion with the public regarding the importance of " Nutritional Supplements ". This is for your information only. This is not a medical advice. Drugs have powerful effects on the body, so please don't abruptly stop taking any prescription medication. Always consult your physician or health care provider before you use any nutritional supplement or switch from drugs to natural health products.

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