Foods to keep the liver functioning properly

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Foods to keep the liver functioning properly

Foods to keep the liver functioning properly,

broccoli, kale, bok choyDr. Weil, one of the world's leading authorities on integrative medicine, recommends the following foods to keep the liver functioning properly, either by repairing it or detoxing it. There aren't any magical foods that instantly purge your body of toxins, but certain foods help you optimize your ability to target unwanted compounds and escort them out of the body.

Bok Choy

,Cruciferous VegetablesCruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, bok choy, radish, and brussels sprouts) help the liver break down hormones that are harmful to the body and can cause certain hormone-dependent cancers such as breast and prostate.

,Citrus FruitsIn addition to having many beneficial nutrients and Vitamin C (an important antioxidant), citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges contain a crystalline substance in the seeds called limonoids. Researchers found that when exposed to limonoids, human liver cells in petri dishes produced less of a compound associated with higher cholesterol levels. Citrus limonoids have also been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach, and colon.

Limonene is another compound found in the rind. When citrus fruits are juiced, the oil is pressed out of the rind. Studies have shown that limonene has anti-cancer effects and increases the levels of liver enzymes involved in detoxifying carcinogens.

mJapanese Seaweed SaladYou'll often find seaweed salad on the menu at sushi restaurants. Seaweed contains an acid that helps escort toxic metals from the liver and intestines, some studies have found. Accompany Japanese seaweed salad with a cup of green tea, and you have a powerful duo for flushing toxins from the body. Japanese restaurants also incorporate ginger into many of their dishes, which is a spice known to aid in liver repair.

High Fructose Corn Syrup and Your Liver

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As many as 30 percent of adult Americans have Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) also called Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), possibly as a result of consuming too many foods and beverages containing high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Whatever you call it, this disorder can cause scarring and hardening of the liver, which can lead to cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. Because of rising rates of obesity, NAFLD has become increasingly common. The newly-identified link to HFCS comes from a study at Duke University Medical Center. Researchers looked at dietary questionnaires completed by 427 adults with NAFLD. Only 19 percent of these patients reported no consumption of fructose containing beverages; 52 percent consumed between one and six drinks per week; and 29 percent consumed beverages that contained HFCS daily. There's no treatment for NAFLD - all you can do is lose weight and lower your triglycerides if they're

elevated. The Duke study's findings may suggest another strategy - "healthier diets that are more holistic," said study leader Manal Abdelmalek, M.D., MPH - and less HFCS.My take? ( Dr. Weil )

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High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is definitely bad for you. I believe that it is a major driver of the obesity epidemic, and there's an environmental impact to consider. Journalist and agriculture industry critic Pollen notes that growing all the corn needed for HFCS depletes soil nutrients, which increases the need for pesticides and fertilizer. Giving up products containing HFCS will benefit your health, help control your weight, and if enough people get the message, protect the planet as well.

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http://Hepatitis Cnewdrugs.blogspot.com/2010/05/foods-to-keep-liver-functioning.html