A Healthy Liver Means a Healthy Body
By NaturalGuidance Staff

As major organs go, the liver is highly underappreciated. With the heart and the brain always stealing the spotlight, it's no wonder. In fact, most Americans would probably have a hard time locating the liver on a diagram (it's on the right side of your abdomen, toward the bottom of the rib cage). So, you might be surprised to learn that the liver is actually the largest organ in the human body (roughly the size of a football) and has literally hundreds of critical functions that keep you alive.

In a nutshell, the liver is your body's internal filter. Every substance that you eat, drink, breathe or otherwise absorb eventually finds its way to your liver. Once at the liver, a process called metabolism begins, whereby the nutrients from the foods you have eaten are converted into usable forms and sent into the bloodstream to be delivered to the rest of your body. Meanwhile, the liver strips away the toxins you may have consumed, such as air pollutants, food preservatives, tobacco, or alcohol. The liver stores sugars that are released as the body needs energy. It also creates bile, a green fluid that helps to remove fats and waste from the digestive system. As a result, the liver plays a major role in the regulation of blood cholesterol and heart problems.

The liver is fairly strong and resilient. It has the ability to regenerate after being affected by disease - even after large portions are removed in surgical procedures. Perhaps this explains why it is so often neglected. Unfortunately, even the mighty liver has limits. The most common cause of liver failure is due to alcohol abuse, which can result in severe liver problems such as alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis - a serious and irreversible condition that causes the liver to shrink significantly in size. Fortunately, there are many natural preventative steps that can be taken to deter liver damage, which we will review below.



Top Supplements for a Healthy Liver

Herbal Remedies for Liver Health

Due to the accumulation of toxins in all of our bodies, natural health enthusiasts have begun to encourage annual detoxification regimens, intended to cleanse the body of built-up waste. The following herbs serve as the foundation of most detoxification programs. We recommend that you consult a health professional before beginning.

1.) Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum)
      - Has been used as a homeopathic treatment for liver diseases for         hundreds of years.
      - Silymarin is the active substance found in milk thistle.It has been         shown to protect the liver from damage caused by toxins and other         harmful substances.
      - We recommend about 15g of dried milk thistle per day for adults, 5g         per day for children. Silymarin supplements are also available, and         the recommended preventative dosage is 100-200mg per day.

2.) Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
      - A bright yellow-orange spice, indigenous to parts of Asia, that comes         from the root of the Curcuma longa plant.
      - A powerful anti-inflammatory that encourages bile production and         improves fat metabolism.
      - Stimulates liver detoxification by increasing production of two         detoxifying enzymes.

3.) Bupleurum (Bupleurum falcatum)
      - An herb, very similar to dill or fennel, that has been used in Chinese         medicine for thousands of years.
      - Contains constituents known as saikosaponins that have been shown         to have a positive effect on hepatits and liver cirrhosis.
      - We recommend between 750-1,500 mg of bupleurum 2-3 times daily.

4.) Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
      - A common herb with a bright yellow flower, indigenous to Eurasia.
      - Removes toxins from the liver and gallbladder by increasing production         of bile in the liver and assiting the removal of bile from the gallbladder.



Lifestyle Strategies to Promote a Healthy Liver

1.) Avoid Excessive Alcohol Consumption
      - Alcohol is the leading cause of cirrhosis (by an overwhelming margin).         Last year, cirrhosis was the #7 cause of death in the U.S.
      - How much is too much? More than one drink per day for women and         more than two drinks per day for men can lead to cirrhosis.
      - Cirrhosis is very difficult - if not impossible - to cure.

2.) Avoid Stimulants and Depressants
      - Limit intake of caffeinated coffee, tea, and cigarette smoke.
      - Drink at least 8 glasses of water each day.

3.) Avoid Foods That Cause Allergies/Intolerance
      - If you suffer from a food intolerance, avoid consuming the risky foods.
      - These foods can produce toxins that will damage the liver.

4.) Eat Vitamin- and Antioxidant-Rich Foods
      - Antioxidants boost the immune system and prevent tissue damage by         fighting free radicals.
      - Among the most critical are: Selenium, Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium, Folic         Acid, and the antioxidant Vitamins A, C, and E.
      - For a list of foods rich in antioxidants, see our Antioxidant Rich Foods         chart.