Diana Hooper
2644 Moonshine Park Road
Logsden, OR 97357
diana@essentialsoflife.net
EssentialsOfLife.net

Liver Health - A Choice of Life or Death: Part 1

By the age of thirty, your liver is probably functioning at 75 percent of its ability.(1)

"The liver is one of the most important organs in the body, playing a major role in detoxifying the body, When the liver is damaged due to excess alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis, or poor diet, an excess of toxins can build up in the blood and tissues that can result in degenerative disease and death, You can't have a toxic liver and have good health. Cleansing the liver should be an everyday process." -D, Gary Young, Founder and President, Young Living Essential Oils

It is up to the liver to protect us-not only from the myriads of environmental pollutants, but also from toxins produced by the body itself. Consider the following:

• Each year over 1.2 billion pounds of pesticides and herbicides are sprayed or added to agricultural crops in the United States.(2)
• About 67 million pounds of pesticides and 3 million tons of fertilizer are dumped onto our lawns.(3)
• Over 3,000 chemicals are intentionally added to our foods, and another 10,000 chemical solvents and preservatives are used in food processing.(4)
• Daily, we corne into contact with solder in tin and aluminum food-cans, cadmium and lead from cigarette smoke, mercury from dental fillings, and aluminum from cosmetics, cooking utensils, and antacids.
• The Centers for Disease Control found an "unexpectedly high level of compounds used in some types of soaps, shampoos, and other products" stored in the body tissues of Americans.(5)

The above statistics do not include the amount of chemicals found in drinking water or industrial pollution found in the air we breathe. Neither do they include the negative ingredients found in over-the-counter and prescription medications.

As our world and lifestyles become more toxic, it is easy to see the overwhelming problem that we face. Proper liver care is literally a choice of life or death.

Physiology

Often perceived as a mere filtering system for the blood, the liver performs more functions than any other organ in the body.(6) Approximately the size of a football, weighing only three or four pounds, the liver carries out over 500 vital body functions.(7) It is located under the diaphragm just above the stomach on the right side of the body The rib cage protects most of the liver-only a small tip extends beyond the lowest rib. A trained hand can actually feel the liver by gently pressing in this area.

The liver is unique in that it is the only organ that receives blood from two direct sources. Most blood enters the liver from the portal vein. Since this blood arrives from the intestines, it is filled with nutrients that must be transformed so the body can use them. This blood is also filled with toxins and bacteria that must be filtered before it is allowed to flow into the circulatory system.

The remainder of the liver's blood supply enters from a different route-the hepatic artery. This source brings oxygen-rich blood from the heart. Extremely efficient when healthy, the liver processes two quarts of blood every minute for detoxification.(8)

Major Liver Functions

Metabolism

It is a relatively familiar fact that the liver emulsifies or breaks down fat. However, a lesser-known reality is that the liver processes everything that we eat or drink. In addition to digesting, the liver converts all nutrients into their active forms so the body cells can use them. The liver assembles over 50,000 enzyme systems that stimulate chemical reactions all over the body.

Being the chief regulator of protein metabolism, the liver has the odd ability to convert the different amino acids into each other, depending on what is needed by the body at the moment.(9) When there is danger of a carbohydrate shortage (the fuel for energy and brain function), the liver converts amino acids from muscle protein into glucose. This is particularly helpful during feats of endurance or athletic performances.

Blood Sugar Balance

It is important for the body to maintain constant levels of sugar in the blood. Either excessively high or low levels of blood sugar cause detrimental changes in the body or in how it functions. High blood sugar triggers excessive insulin release from the pancreas. Over time, elevated insulin and sugar levels are destructive to the body and may cause heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and the loss of nerve function. Up to a point, the liver balances blood sugar levels, and thus lowers insulin production by converting unnecessary blood sugars into glycogen and storing it.

Blood sugar levels that drop too low are also harmful. Extreme hunger, shakiness, clouded thinking, confusion, fatigue, headache, anxiety, and depression are a few of the symptoms of low blood sugar. A healthy liver converts its stored glycogen back into glucose and releases it into the bloodstream to restore and maintain balance.

It is important to note that extended carbohydrate restrictions, such as those proposed by fad weight loss diets, deplete glycogen stores in the liver. In such cases, the liver actually converts stored fat and muscle protein into the much-needed glucose.

Another way the liver helps with blood sugar regulation is by combining niacin and glutamic acid to make a substance called glucose tolerance factor (GTF). This makes insulin function more efficiently at a cellular level, thereby decreasing the amount needed.

Nutrient Storage and Activation

In addition to storing glycogen, the liver reserves important vitamins and minerals for the body to use when you aren't eating them. Vitamins B12, A, and D and iron are all stored there.(10)

The liver alters the B vitamins, changing them into their active form so body cells can use them. It also changes beta-carotene into vitamin A (11), and converts glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine into the critical antioxidant, glutathione, an essential substance needed for the detoxification process.

Hormone Balance

Nearly every hormone is affected by liver activity. The liver produces cholesterol, the basic building block for several hormones (e.g., adrenal, hydrocortisone, sex hormones). It also breaks down hormone excess. When cholesterol production is impaired, hormone production also diminishes. One possible reason for hormone decline associated with old age is that liver activity slows as we grow older.

When the liver's detoxification process is impaired, the body becomes overly saturated with its own hormones. Symptoms of excessive hormones (testosterone, cortisol, estrogen, etc.) may be a sign that the liver is not functioning properly. (12) A few of the many imbalances created by poor liver function are listed below.

Estrogen

Herbal expert Rosemary Gladstar believes the liver plays a key role in women's health. "Our reproductive organs are also dependent on the health of the liver for their vitality and well-being. The liver is directly responsible for manufacturing many of the building blocks necessary for hormonal production. It also helps regulate hormonal activity. When a woman does not respond well to an herbal therapy based on uterine tonics or feminine tonic herbs, the emphasis of the herbal program should be shifted to the liver.”(13)

Estrogen, the female hormone manufactured in the ovaries, is actually a combination of two hormones, estradiol and estrone. Excessive amounts of these compounds are potentially detrimental. The liver converts these estrogenic constituents into estriol, a less harmful substance. If the liver is not working properly, high levels of estradiol and estrone cause problems such as PMS and other reproductive problems.

Thyroid Hormones

Optimal thyroid function is also largely dependent on the health of the liver. The liver enzymes that break down environmental toxins also break down thyroid hormones. When the liver becomes overburdened, it speeds up its enzymatic processes. The increased enzymes may break down thyroid hormones, leaving body cells deficient.

Thyroid health is dependent on good liver health in another way. The thyroid hormone T4 is converted to the more active hormone T3, primarily in the liver. If liver health suffers, thyroid blood tests will report adequate supplies of T4, but T3 remains deficient. Blood tests appear normal, yet low thyroid symptoms (e.g., cold hands and feet, dry skin, weight gain, depression) continue to exist.

If a person has a problem with high blood pressure, the liver may be involved. The adrenal hormone, aldosterone, is produced by the adrenal glands. Aldosterone modulates potassium and sodium balance. The liver breaks down excess aldosterone, thereby preventing water retention and high blood pressure. (14)

Cholesterol

Contrary to popular opinion, cholesterol is essential for life.(15) Body cell walls, cell membranes, and hormones are all made from cholesterol. The liver cells (hepatocytes) produce cholesterol in accordance to the amount needed by the body for cellular repair and hormone production.
Our cells are so dependent on a regular supply of cholesterol that they have sensors that trigger the pulling of cholesterol out of the blood when it is needed. (16) When the liver and the cells of the body are healthy, they work in conjunction with each other. Blood levels of cholesterol are kept stable because the cells use up any excess. When we eat large amounts of processed foods, particularly high-glycemic foods, we interfere with this perfect balance between liver, cholesterol, and body cells. Poor food choices stimulate the release of excessive amounts of insulin. High insulin levels block our cells from pulling the excess cholesterol from the blood.

Another damaging effect of eating excessive amounts of sugar and high-glycemic foods is that they trigger a process called glycosylation. When this develops, the excessive blood sugars attach to proteins and prevent them from functioning in a normal manner. As the blood proteins that carry cholesterol throughout the system become glycosylated, they cannot bind to liver cells that stop cholesterol production. (17) This is another reason sugary foods are detrimental to health.

By eating protein or low-glycemic foods, the other pancreatic hormone glucagon becomes prevalent, and the cells can once again pull cholesterol from the blood;(18) thus, glycosylation is greatly slowed. From this we may conclude that a healthy, low-glycemic diet may be as, or even more, important for lowering excessive cholesterol levels than the normally recommended low-fat diet.

Cholesterol becomes bad when it is oxidized by free radicals. Cholesterol collects in our arteries and veins to repair damaged vascular walls and reduce inflammation. When oxidized by free radicals, however, cholesterol hardens and blocks blood flow. For improving cardiovascular health, we should concentrate on lowering vascular wall damage, inflammation, and on preventing cholesterol oxidation.(19)

Albumin & Clotting Factors

Albumin, synthesized and secreted by the liver, is the most abundant blood protein in the body If serum albumin is reduced due to faulty liver function, swelling and edema may occur. In addition to albumin, the liver produces proteins that assist in blood clotting. An imbalance of the clotting factors can lead to blood clots or excessive bleeding.(20)

Bilirubin

As red blood cells are broken down in the spleen, a yellow pigment is formed. This pigment binds with the blood protein albumin and is called bilirubin. The liver chemically modifies bilirubin to a water-soluble substance that is excreted in the bile. Excessive production of bilirubin, or a build-up caused by faulty liver function, causes a yellow cast to the skin and to the whites of the eyes. This condition is known as jaundice.

Allergies

Sneezing, coughing, and itchy, watery eyes may be related to undiscovered food sensitivities. Thousands of people are unaware that they are vulnerable to various foods-even healthy ones such as whole-wheat bread, peanut butter, or milk. Reactions to foods are often the result of poor digestion and irritation caused by a lack of digestive and systemic enzymes. Food sensitivities, like allergic reactions to pollen, cause a release of histamine.

You may assume that you have no allergies to food - only reactions to pollens in the spring. Your body may be able to handle food sensitivities during most of the year without any noticeable problems. However, the added burden of spring pollens may tax the liver beyond its ability to detoxify the increased amounts of histamine. Excessive histamine triggers allergic reactions that show up as skin problems, hives, allergies, and inflammation. Anytime there is a skin problem or allergies, suspect an overworked liver.

When dealing with allergies holistically, be sure to include a good enzyme product such as Essentialzyme™ or Detoxzyme® along with strong liver support and a good homeopathic remedy.

Fat Loss

The excess weight around your waist is an indication that the liver can no longer handle fat assimilation and stores the excess around your middle. A growing waistline is a good indication of a "fatty liver."(21)

Ann Louise Gittleman, a certified nutrition specialist, states, "When your liver is sluggish, every organ in your body is affected and your weight loss efforts are blocked. Blood vessels enlarge, and blood flow becomes restricted. A toxic liver is unable to break down the adrenal hormone aldosterone, which accumulates to retain sodium (and water) and suppress potassium. This can raise your blood pressure. The liver fails to detoxify the components of estrogen (estrone and estradiol) for excretion so symptoms of estrogen dominance arise. Unable to carry out its activities to control glucose, a toxic liver can lead to hypoglycemia, which can produce sugar cravings, weight gain, and Candida overgrowth. A toxic liver is unable to process toxins, enabling them to escape into your bloodstream and set off an immune response. With repeated assault for escaped toxins, your immune system becomes overworked. Fluid accumulates and you may develop one or more autoimmune diseases such as lupus or arthritis. A liver overloaded with pollutants and toxins cannot efficiently burn body fat and thus will sabotage your weight loss efforts."(22)

Detoxification

While not its only role, blood filtration is a vital liver function. Chemical toxins and metabolic by-products are cleansed from the blood in the liver. These toxins are either discharged through the bowels or are stored in the liver where they cannot harm other tissues in the body.

Filtering, or detoxification of the blood, is accomplished in three major ways: Kupffer cells, hepatocytes, and enzymes. Similar to white blood cells found in the rest of the body, Kupffer cells are large, white macrophages that reside only in the liver. They engulf and destroy the largest bits of toxins. As Kupffer cells surround invading contaminants, they release inflammatory chemicals to aid in digesting them. Unfortunately, this process creates a large number of free radicals. Unless you have an adequate supply of antioxidants, the Kupffers can actually cause liver damage.

Smaller toxins are absorbed by the hepatocytes, the same liver cells that form bile and cholesterol. Hepatocytes produce up to a quart of bile per day. Along with breaking down fat into smaller particles, bile binds with toxins and excess hormones and transports them into the intestines or to the lymph system where they are eliminated or destroyed.

The liver's third system of detoxification is actually divided into two parts called Phase I and Phase II. Phase I detoxification is dominated by an enzyme group referred to as cytochrome P450. Each of these 100 or more enzymes is designed to digest a specific toxin, but there is a large overlap in activity These enzymes break the chemical bounds that hold toxins together and convert them into less harmful water-soluble substances. Each time a toxic molecule is broken down in Phase I, a free radical is created. It takes the liver enzyme glutathione to diffuse these free radicals. Glutathione, also essential to Phase II detoxification, is extremely important for proper liver function and protection.

If unable to break down toxins, Phase I enzymes convert the toxins into a more chemically active form(23) that triggers Phase II detoxification. These activated toxins are even more harmful than they were originally. In the second phase, enzymes attach to and either neutralize these toxins or break them down into a form that can be excreted by the kidneys or carried out of the body in the bile. This attachment process is called conjugation.

The timing of each phase of detoxification is delicate and can easily become imbalanced. Medications (e.g., Prozac®, Valium®, Tagamet, antihistamines), chemicals, and nutritional deficiencies all have drastic effects on the timing of these phases. The greatest danger occurs when Phase I is overly active, producing large amounts of the more active toxins but Phase II is not working to conjugate or deactivate them. Symptoms such as chronic headache, fatigue, or extreme reactions to environmental toxins usually result.(24)

Optimal supplements and nutrition are needed to keep all systems running smoothly. To ensure that Phase I and II are working adequately, eat foods from the brassica family (e.g., broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage). The B vitamins, vitamin C, and high-quality protein is also helpful. (Note: Do not eat grapefruit or its juice while detoxifying as it contains a substance that stops Phase I activity.) NingXia Red™ is particularly helpful for proper liver function* and will be discussed further in Part II in an upcoming issue.

Assessing Liver Health

Unlike other organs in the body, it is extremely difficult to determine the condition of the liver. Up to 75 percent of a liver's cells can be destroyed by disease or surgically removed before it ceases to function. The liver's tenacity to continue working long after it is damaged makes it difficult to identify problems. Blood testing often shows abnormalities that occur only after the liver is already in trouble. The following are possible symptoms of an underactive, sluggish, or burdened liver:

Abdominal bloating
Achy joints and muscles
Allergies
Bad breath
Bitter taste in the mouth
Bruising and bleeding
Cellulite
Constipation
Depression
Digestive problems
Dizziness
Dry, peeling skin
Elevated cholesterol
Eye problems
Fatigue
Forgetfulness, poor concentration
Gallbladder problems
Headaches
High blood pressure
Impatience
Excessive indigestion
Infexible, rigid body
Itching
Menstrual problems
Mood swings
Nausea
Negativity
Resentment
Skin rashes
Slow wound healing
Smell of ammonia on the breath
Stress in the neck or back
Tender or swollen liver
Very dark urine
Yellowish skin and sclera

Many of these symptoms are also used to describe other body weaknesses.

The most accurate method of determining the true health of the liver is to ask for a salivary caffeine and urinary hippurate clearance test,(25) which detects decreases in the liver's capacity to detoxify a specific substance, such as caffeine. You will have to visit a naturopath or a doctor of integrative medicine for this test.

Liver Disorders

There are various degrees of liver disorders that range from mild to deadly The following is a list of some of the more serious diseases that should receive professional attention. However, proper nutrition and supplements are always helpful and supportive to optimal liver health.

Hepatitis

Probably the most well-known liver disease is a viral infection called hepatitis. There are currently six strains of this disease. Each variety is named after a letter of the alphabet, starting with A and ending with G. Types A, B, and C are the most common. Each strain is unique and varies in severity.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Drugs and toxic chemicals may cause it, but in most instances it is the result of a viral infection. Hepatitis A is transmitted through fecal contamination. Unsanitary practices, namely not washing the hands after using the restroom, spread the disease. This is why it is crucial for food handlers to always wash with soap and water after restroom use.

Hepatitis B is mainly transmitted through sexual contact, saliva, semen and vaginal secretions, or through blood transfusions. Accidental needle pricks and transmission from mother to baby can also cause hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C was originally transferred mainly through blood transfusions. New cases of hepatitis C have declined 80 percent since blood banks have begun screening for the disease.(26) Today, most cases of hepatitis C are from intravenous drug use and the sharing of needles. A small percentage is from unknown sources. Over time, hepatitis C generally leads to a serious liver condition such as cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. However, there are those who live fairly normal lives with hepatitis C.

You cannot become infected with hepatitis through sweat or tears of a carrier, from sharing a swimming pool, telephone, or toilet seat, or by donating blood.

Symptoms of acute hepatitis may be a loss of appetite, nausea, dark urine, vomiting, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, and a yellowing of the skin or the sclera of the eyes. If there is any suspicion of hepatitis, immediately seek help from your health professional.

Fatty Liver

Probably the most common liver disorder, fatty liver, is an accumulation of fat in the liver cells. This is usually brought on by damage to the liver caused by alcohol, nutritional deficiencies, low levels of antioxidants, and high fatty diets. Fatty liver interferes with optimal liver function and usually shows up as many of the symptoms listed in the ''Assessing Liver Health" section. Studies show that a fatty liver is one of the most common causes of liver enzyme elevation found in routine blood tests.(27)

A big problem for any fat accumulation is intensified when free radicals oxidize fat, turning it rancid. A brown waste material called lipofuscin is also created. By the time a person turns forty, up to 35 percent of his or her intracellular fluids is lipofuscin. This substance collects in the liver, the heart, and other organs and interferes with their proper function. Oxidized fat in the liver may lead to more serious disorders.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the scarring of liver tissue. The healthy, soft tissue is replaced with thick, fibrous scars that prevent the liver from working properly. Blood flow through the liver may be blocked, bile ducts can become obstructed or swollen, and the veins that bring blood to the liver may become larger. Alcohol, chronic hepatitis B, C, and D, an autoimmune disorder, infection, inflammation, and the prolonged usage of drugs may all be causes of cirrhosis.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose. treat. cure. or prevent any disease.

Notes:
1. "The Amazing Liver." http://www.healingedge.net/store/page187.html
2. Michael Murray, N.D., Joseph Pizzorno. N.D .. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. 2nd ed. Rocklin: Prima Publishing, 1998. 53.
3. "Did You Know?" http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2004/01/02trivia.htm
4. Joseph Mercola. "How to Avoid the Top 10 Most Common Toxins." http://www.mercola.com/2005/feb/19/common_toxins
5. Joseph Mercola, "CDC Report States Exposure To Chemicals Higher Than Expected." http://www.mercola.com/2001/mar/31/chemical
6. Frank Lipman. M.D .. Total Renewal. New York: Penguin Group. 2003. 205.
7. "Your liver: An owner's guide," Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=48C619D7-73FF-4918-84902DF7A68A2C3
8. Joseph Plzzorno, N.D" Totol Wellness. Rocklin: Prima Publishing. 1996. 94.
9. Mark Johnson, "The Liver: Master Organ for Optimal Nutrition." http://village.vossnet.co.uk/c/crina/pag-iiver.html
10. Ralph Golan, M.D.. Optial Wellness. New York: Ballontine Books. 1995. 174.
11. "The Liver: Master Organ for Optimal Nutrition."
12. Michoel Lebowitz, D.C .. Body Mechanics. Harrisville: MMI Press. 1984.63.
13. Rosemary Gladstar, Herbal Healing for Women. New York: Simon & Schuster. 1993. 112.
14. Ibid. 125.
15. Michael R. Eades, M.D .. Mary Dan Eades, M.D., Protein Power. New York: Bantam Books, 1996. 363.
16. Ibid. 365.
17 Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine. 168.
18. Protein Power. 374.
19. "Cholesterol is Not the Cause of Heart Disease." http://www.mercola.com/2005/may/28/cholesterol_heart.htm
20. "The Liver in Health." http://www.hepnet.com/liver/functions.html
21. Ann Louise Gittleman, M.S., C.N.S., The Fat Flush Plan. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2002. 13.
22. Ibid. 14, 15
23. Total Wellness. 97.
24. Total Renewal. 207.
25 Optimal Weilness.177.
26. "Hepatitis C,” Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00097
27. American Liver Foundation. "What is NAFLD/NASH? (Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Non-alcoholic Steatohepatits)." http://www.liverfoundation.org/dbselect/articles/CatNonAlcy/1/1/ascend/Validated
28. "Wolfberry Science Brief." http://www.berryyoungjuice.com/brief.jsp

Reprinted with permission of Young Living, Lehi, UT 84043
Essential Edge magazine

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