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The
liver is the most
hard-working organ in the human body. It performs many functions that are
vital to life. It plays an important role in
digestion (breaking nutrients down) and assimilation (building up body
tissues). It is the storage site for many essential
vitamins and
minerals, such as iron,
copper,
B12, vitamins
A,
D,
E and
K. Red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen around the
body, are also produced in the liver and Kupffer cells help to devour
harmful micro-organisms in the blood so helping to fight infection.
Among its many functions, the most important role of the liver is that of
detoxification. The liver detoxifies harmful substances by a complex series
of chemical reactions. The role of these various enzyme activities in the
liver is to convert fat soluble toxins into water soluble substances that
can be excreted in the urine or the bile depending on the particular
characteristics of the end product.
Every day our bodies are bombarded with toxins from both outside (exotoxins)
– the polluted environment, medications, alcohol, cigarette smoke, car
exhaust emissions and toxins from within the body (endotoxins) – the
by-products of nutrient breakdown, hormones and bacterial waste products
from the intestines. All produce harmful substances. It is the role of the
liver to render these potentially harmful products into less harmful
compounds.
The effects of exposure to toxins varies from individual to individual. Some
people are highly sensitive to different endo and exo toxins. Others,
because their bodies are more resilient and their livers can detoxify more
efficiently, are not so sensitive.
When optimum nutrition is provided the liver operates efficiently. A great
many people however, do not eat the right kinds of foods to provide the
liver with everything it needs for the elimination of the extra toxins our
bodies are exposed to on a daily basis. If nutrition is compromised through
poor dietary and lifestyle habits, this will have implications on
detoxification processes, and other organ functions will suffer as the body
retains the toxins it cannot eliminate.
The rate at which the liver can eliminate toxins can determine an
individual’s susceptibility to toxic overload, which in turn can lead to
symptoms of ill-health. When the liver becomes so overloaded with harmful
toxins that the enzymes that break them down can no longer cope, the toxins
build up and this then manifests itself in a specific disease state which,
without the intervention of correct nutrition, can become a vicious circle
of chronic toxic overload. This can be explained by the diagram above which
vividly shows how toxic overload can manifest in chronic health problems.
Many inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, cardiovascular problems,
headaches, chronic fatigue and premature ageing can all be related to a
build up of toxins that the liver is unable to cope with, as shown in Figure
1 (below).
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There are two stages of liver detoxification: Phase
I and Phase II |
Phase I is carried out by the
cytochrome P 450 enzyme system and consists of oxidation and reduction
reactions. Various nutrients are required in order for the Phase I
detoxification system to be carried out efficiently. Cytochrome P450
reactions generate free radicals and this can cause secondary damage to
cells. An adequate supply of key antioxidants and free radical quenches is
therefore essential to prevent tissue damage.
Reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase and additional nutrients such as
beta carotene, vitamin E, selenium and N-acetylcysteine will act as
antioxidants.
Other nutrient cofactors required for cytochrome P450 reactions include
riboflavin, niacin, magnesium, iron and certain phytonutrients such as
indoles from cruciferous vegetables and quercetin have been shown to support
Phase I detoxification.
The metabolites from this detoxification process are often potentially more
harmful than their original toxic compounds and it is important for health
that they are not allowed to build up. This is where Phase II detoxification
comes in.
In Phase II glutathione conjugation is the primary pathway for these
intermediate metabolites. Increased exposure to toxins as well as a poor
dietary supply of glutathione can soon lead to glutathione depletion and
increased damage from these highly reactive intermediates. Oral
supplementation with reduced glutathione or N-acetylcysteine may help to
increase glutathione levels in vivo.
Glucuronidation pathways in Phase II can be reversed by Beta glucuronidase
enzymes produced by pathological bacteria and cause toxins to be reabsorbed
increasing toxicity. Studies have shown that calcium d-glucurate, a natural
ingredient found in certain vegetables and fruits can inhibit beta
glucuronidase activity resulting in increased elimination of toxins.
Supplements of calcium d-glucurate may also be taken to enhance the
glucuronidation pathway.
Other nutrients which play vital roles in the Phase II pathway include amino
acids glycine, cysteine, glutamine, methionine, taurine, glutamic acid and
aspartic acid. Glutamine plays a chief role in ammonia detoxification as
well as helping to maintain mucosal integrity of the gastrointestinal tract.
In some people the detoxification pathways (Phases I and II) are out of
balance. For example, if Phase I is more active than Phase II, a build up of
reactive intermediate metabolites can occur which in turn can lead to tissue
damage and disease. These people are referred to as Pathological
Detoxifiers.
Pathological detoxifiers can be identified as those individuals who are
highly sensitive to fumes e.g. paints and perfumes, react adversely to
various pharmaceutical drugs and may have a reaction to drinking caffeine.
Alternatively a liver detoxification test can pinpoint exactly how
efficiently your liver is carrying out the detoxification process and if you
are a pathological detoxifier.
There is now an extensive body of evidence indicating that diet plays a
crucial role in modifying the body’s detoxification pathways. Even in
allopathic medicine grapefruit juice is utilised for transplant patients as
grapefruit contains naringenin which slows down Phase I enzyme activity.
This enables such drugs as cyclosporin – which is given to prevent organ
rejection – to stay in the system for longer prior to the drug being
detoxified. Pathological detoxifiers may also find it useful to include
grapefruit juice in their diet.
Vitamins and minerals – particularly the B vitamins – play a major role,
acting as cofactors for many enzyme systems including those of liver
detoxification, therefore ensuring a plentiful supply of the B complex group
of vitamins is of prime importance for optimum detoxification. Therefore,
including plenty of whole grains which contain B vitamins in the diet as
well as taking a good B complex supplement will aid the liver in this
crucial role.
Depletion of vitamin C may also impair the detoxification process; vitamin C
also prevents free radical formation. Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits
and green leafy vegetables. However, in order to obtain optimum amounts
supplementation is required. At least 1000mg a day is recommended.
Vitamin E and selenium are cofactors for glutathione peroxidase activity as
well as being powerful antioxidants. (Vitamin E also works synergistically
with vitamin C.) Today, our diets are very low in selenium due to the
depletion of the soil of this vital mineral. Supplementation is therefore
imperative.
Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and
cabbage in the diet have been shown to enhance Phase I activities. It is
thought that the indoles which are the active ingredients in these foods are
the major contributors to this activity.
Zinc is another essential nutrient and acts as a cofactor for many
enzyme systems. Zinc deficiency can cause a whole range of consequences. One
important role that zinc plays is in the functioning of an enzyme alcohol
dehydrogenase involved in the conversion of alcohols to aldehydes in Phase I
detoxification. Therefore anyone who drinks alcohol should ensure they have
optimum amounts of zinc in their diet.
The following supplements
are indicated for liver detoxification:
The following reflexes will often be active when
detoxification is indicated:
These reflexes should be tested and treated with the
proper supplementation. You should take this
preliminary free
test or be examined by a
competent CRA®
practitioner for testing. A liver/gallbladder flush and intestinal
detoxification program may also be recommended.
The diet should include plenty of
organic, unrefined, unprocessed foods, as fresh as possible and in their
natural state. Fresh vegetables, fruits, whole grains and unrefined
carbohydrates should make up the majority of the diet. Red meats, animal
fats, sugars and refined foods should be avoided as should caffeine, other
stimulants and alcohol.
Drink plenty of bottled water or diluted juice, at least two litres per day.
A minimum of one daily serving of cruciferous vegetables and at least five
servings of fresh fruit should be included in the daily diet. Protein
sources can be obtained from lentils, soya, beans, nuts, seeds and fish and
organic chicken.
In summary, therefore, it can be said that an efficient liver detoxification
system is vital to health and in order to support this process it is
essential that many key nutrients are included in the diet.
Many people choose to follow a detoxification program, which may take many
forms. However, it should be noted that any such program should be
supervised by a qualified nutritionist because when toxins are released too
quickly this can be extremely uncomfortable and may cause headaches,
fatigue, diarrhoea, irritability and lightheadedness. However, removal of
toxins gives many positive health benefits, giving increased energy, clear
skin, vitality and a general feeling of well-being.
Chiropractic can aid in the detoxification process.
Go here for information
regarding chiropractic treatment.
Take this preliminary
to see if you could benefit from a detoxification program.
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