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Your liver is your body’s detox center. Think of it as the systems dry cleaner. It isn’t a particularly glamorous job and the liver is not often acknowledged along with organs like the lungs or brain for the valuable work it does. The simple fact however, is that without your liver’s cleaning action, countless poisons, such as environmental contaminants, chemical food additives, impurities in the water, fungi, bacteria, smoke , parasites and viruses will spill into your bloodstream and be free to travel via the body to attack the heart, lungs and brain .
As well as defending us from the onslaught of toxins from external sources, the liver protects us from poisons that we manufacture. Toxins can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, which are becoming increasingly – and truly – inexcusably more common, because of lousy eating routines and some of our conventional farming practices that are resulting in nutritionally deficient foods. Unfortunately, your body has an excellent storehouse for toxins. We can store toxins in our fat, literally for years and then, in times of stress, or fasting, or dieting or even from what really should be healthy exercise, we finally use those fats and launch the toxins back into our bloodstream. The sudden rush puts much work on our livers.
It’s also Not possible to mention the liver and not also talk about Cirrhosis, – end stage liver disease where a prolonged period of chronic inflammation, normally (but not always) caused by one particular toxin – alcohol- have created such an substantial build up of scar tissue that there basically isn’t enough of the functioning liver left to do its job. The result is death (unless you get a transplant). Liver Disease is the 4th leading cause of death among 30-50 year olds.
Antioxidants are important to the health and functioning of the liver in two key ways- to take away toxins from our body and to protect it.
Antioxidants assist the liver filter toxins from the blood. In other words antioxidants help the detoxification function itself. During the second phase of detoxification, the liver produces large amounts of enzymes and antioxidants , including glutathione into the body to neutralize the toxins that have not currently been changed by the liver directly in the first stage. You see, the liver can only do so much and it (along with the rest of the body) depends on antioxidants to filter poisons and free radicals before they can build up.
After the amount of glutathione falls, usually because of a sustained intake of poisons, the liver can no longer do itswork properly. It can grow to be damaged by free radicals, quickly attaining a state of oxidative stress that, can cause inflammation. Left untreated , in an attempt to protect itself, the liver produces scar tissue and the Cirrhosis cycle begins.
Sadly, chronic alcohol abuse is not the only supply of poisons that can harm the liver. Let’s face it, our lives are crammed with toxins and stressors, so taking steps to protect the health of our liver is vital.
When you increase your level of antioxidants and increase your glutathione glutathione you’re helping your liver remove toxins from your blood and you’re ensuring that it can support your other organs by releasing key antioxidants like glutathione throughout your body to prevent systemic damage from oxidative stress. You’re also ensuring the liver has enough glutathione to protect itself from the damage that can be caused by free radicals and the heavy load of toxins we deal with. A stressed, inflamed liver affects the health of every organ in your body.
Eat a healthy diet, rich in raw fruits and vegetables. Cut down on stimulants like caffeine and on depressants like alcohol and nicotine. Drink at least 2 quarts of water a day and in addition to ensuring that your body has a rich supply of antioxidants, you might also consider digestive enzyme supplements like Protease, Lipase or Amylase to aid in your digestion of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. When your digestive system works effectively it reduces the toxins that your liver needs to manage.