Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/231831
Putting It All Together A rational approach to aiding the body's detoxification involves (1) decreasing exposure to toxins; (2) eating a diet that focuses on fresh organic fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds; (3) adopting a healthy lifestyle, including avoiding alcohol and exercising regularly; (4) taking a food-derived multiple vitamin; (5) using special nutritional and herbal supplements to protect the liver and enhance liver function; and (6) going on a 3-to-7 day nutritional cleanse at the change of each season. Diet and Liver Function The first step in supporting proper liver function is following a diet that will provide a wide range of essential nutrients the liver needs to carry out its important functions. If you want to have a healthy liver, there are three things you definitely want to stay away from: saturated fats, refined sugar, and alcohol. A diet high in saturated fat increases the risk of developing fatty infiltration and/or cholestasis. In contrast, a diet rich in dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, promotes increased bile secretion. Special foods rich in factors that help protect the liver from damage and improve liver function include high-sulfur foods such as garlic, legumes, onions, and eggs; good sources of soluble fiber, such as pears, oat bran, apples, and legumes; vegetables in the brassica family, especially broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage; artichokes, beets, carrots, and dandelion; and many herbs and spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, and licorice. Drink alcohol in moderation (no more than two glasses of wine or beer or 2 fl oz hard liquor per day for men, half that for women), and avoid alcohol altogether if you suffer from impaired liver function. Alcohol overloads detoxification processes and can lead to liver damage and immune suppression. Follow the Recommendations for Nutritional Supplementation A multiple vitamin is a must in trying to deal with all the toxic chemicals we are constantly exposed to. Antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C, carotenes, and natural vitamin E are obviously quite important in protecting the liver from damage as well as helping in detoxification mechanisms, but even simple nutrients such as B vitamins, and trace minerals are critical in the elimination of toxic compounds from the body. Special Nutritional Factors Choline, betaine, methionine, vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 are important. These nutrients are lipotropic agents, compounds that promote the flow of fat and bile to and from the liver. In essence, they have a decongesting effect on the liver and promote improved liver function and fat metabolism. Lipotropic formulas appear to increase the levels of two important liver substances, SAM-e and glutathione. Formulas containing lipotropic agents are very useful in enhancing detoxification reactions and other liver functions. Nutrition-oriented physicians recommend lipotropic formulas for a wide variety of conditions, including a number of liver disorders such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and chemical-induced liver disease. %%())*+,%-"#"./0$%1%?"0:";*%@%A$);:";*%&BCD%'%!"#$%&C