Why We Need
EXTRA
Liver Protection
Good
health is dependent upon proper liver function, and can be improved
by following an alcohol reduction plan and adding Milk Thistle
(silymarin) and vital nutrients to your diet.
By: Beverly Rayfield
Administrator,
Sinclair Method
This
information is a compilation of research
materials reviewed by the author and is presented for educational
purposes only. This information does not constitute medical advice,
nor should it be relied upon as such. Please consult a professional
health care physician before pursuing any course of treatment.
Why we need
extra liver protection
Even
if you haven't been diagnosed as suffering from any form of the
many types of liver disease, if you drink or drank -- alcohol,
you still may need the therapeutic effects of extracts from a plant
called "milk thistle".
Milk Thistle
is well known to herbalists or at health food stores as a remarkable
herb that is rich in bioflavonoids. It has been used as an antioxidant,
and is said to be a liver, kidney and stomach protectant. There are
other special nutrients available as well that help to restore and
repair damaged body tissues.
Most of
us have heard at some point that very heavy drinkers, over a long period
of time, often develop cirrhosis of the liver. Few of us know medically
what that is - we just know we don't want it.
Before
we discuss the beneficial effects of milk thistle and friends, let's
review some basic reasons why you need to be concerned about a body
part that gets little publicity. We'll start with anatomy lessons about
the inner-workings of the liver that you probably learned in the tenth
grade.
Your
liver lets you live
YOUR liver
weighs about three to four pounds and is roughly the size of a football
and the shape of a triangle. It is positioned behind the lower ribs
on the right side of your abdomen and generally rests beside the gallbladder
on top of the large and small intestines.
The liver
is the largest organ in the body and is absolutely essential in keeping
the body functioning properly. Everything that enters the body through
our lungs, the mouth, absorbed through the skin or injected into muscle
or fat enters the liver through the portal vein and must be purified
and neutralized.
What this
means is that as the blood passes through the liver it removes and
excretes substances from the blood that otherwise would be poisonous,
produces immune agents to control infections, and removes germs and
bacteria.
The liver
makes proteins that regulate blood clotting and produces bile to help
absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
The liver
performs many complex functions and helps you by:
· Producing
quick energy when it is needed
· Manufacturing
new body proteins
· Storing
certain vitamins, minerals and sugars
· Regulating
transport of fat stores
· Regulating
blood clotting
· Aiding
in the digestive process by producing bile
· Controlling
the production and excretion of cholesterol
· Neutralizing
and destroying poisonous substances
· Monitoring
and maintaining the proper level of many chemicals and drugs in the
blood
· Cleansing
the blood and discharging waste products into the bile
· Maintaining
hormone balance
· Serving
as the main organ of blood formation before birth
· Helping
the body resist infection by reducing immune factors and by removing
bacteria from the bloodstream
· Storing
iron
· And,
METABOLIZING ALCOHOL.
The liver
is really a pretty marvelous organ because it is only one of two body
parts (counting your "skin" as an organ) that has the ability to regenerate
its own damaged tissue. This means that it will regrow up to 25% of
a missing part that has been removed. Removed such
as transplanting part of one's liver to a blood-related child or sibling
who is a matching type, and then both people having healthy livers
that will regrow to its original size and shape. Pretty neat trick.
Too bad fingers and arms and legs aren't that clever.
Of course,
the regrowing function only works when you have a healthy liver.
LIVER
DISEASES
There are
many diseases that affect good liver functioning including viral hepatitis,
gallstones, cancer, cirrhosis, and alcohol related liver disorders.
If you
are like most people, that last statement has taken you by surprise. I
thought, you just said to yourself, that cirrhosis was alcohol related! Yes,
it can be. To many people, cirrhosis of the liver is synonymous with
chronic alcoholism.
If
you are a heavy drinker, cirrhosis is only one of THREE liver diseases
that may eventually kill you, or will require that you get a liver
transplant (or if you are uncommonly lucky).
ALCOHOL-RELATED
LIVER DISORDERS
There are
three distinct liver disorders related to abuse of alcohol: fatty liver,
alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis.
FATTY
LIVER the most common alcohol-related liver disorder, causes
enlargement of the liver and right upper abdominal discomfort. The
swollen liver is often tender or painful. Severe fatty liver may
cause temporary jaundice and abnormalities of liver function.
Abstinence
from alcohol can cause a complete reversal and cure without leaving
any residual scaring. (Remember, the liver can heal itself by regenerating
damaged tissue.) Medical treatment is primarily supportive and preventive.
ALCOHOLIC
HEPATITIS is an acute illness often characterized by nausea,
vomiting, right upper and middle abdominal pain, fever, jaundice,
enlarged and tender liver, and an elevation of the white blood cell
count. It is sometimes difficult to diagnose because alcoholic hepatitis
may be present without these symptoms. There is no real medical treatment
for alcoholic hepatitis beyond that which is supportive and preventive.
Any disease,
which is brought on by alcohol abuse and misuse, cannot be reversed
until the alcohol intake is stopped. Once alcoholic hepatitis develops,
the steady progression to cirrhosis may occur if alcohol drinking continues.
ALCOHOLIC
CIRRHOSIS is a degenerative disease where liver cells are damaged
and replaced by scar formation. As scar tissue progressively accumulates
the liver "hardens", blood flow through the liver is diminished,
causing more liver cells to die. Loss of liver function causes gastrointestinal
disturbances, emaciation, enlargement of the liver and spleen, jaundice,
accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and other tissues in the body.
Obstruction of the venous circulation often causes massive vomiting
of blood.
Each year
over 25 million Americans are afflicted with liver disease and more
than 27,000 Americans die from cirrhosis, the seventh leading cause
of death in the United States, and another 43,000 die of liver disease.
There are no current statistics as to how many of these deaths were
alcohol related, but probably a lot.
We know
that alcoholic cirrhosis occurs in 10% to 15% of people who consume
large amounts of alcohol over a prolonged period of time.
If you
are feeling somewhat comfortable and even safe with that last statement
(of people who consume large amounts of alcohol over a prolonged
period of time) because you are thinking to yourself, "I don't drink
LARGE amounts of alcohol, or I haven't been drinking as much as I
do right now for A PROLONGED period of time", consider the following:
According
to the American Liver Association and the American Liver Foundation,
liver damage occurs when you consume:
· 2
drinks (2 ounces) a day on a daily basis
· 5
to 7 drinks a day on a weekend binge
· alcohol
and many popular over-the-counter and prescription medications
Your liver
can't and won't tell you when it is in trouble until it if often
too late. Your life often depends on how you treat it and your body.
Even one drink is too much for some people and could scar your liver
for life.
SYMPTOMS
OF LIVER DAMAGE
Many people
with liver damage have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
However, as scar tissue replaces healthy cells, liver function starts
to fail ad a person may experience the following symptoms:
· Exhaustion
· Fatigue
· Loss
of appetite
· Nausea
· Weakness
· Weight
Loss
As the
disease progresses, complications may develop. In some people, these
may be the first sign of the disease.
This is
the critical time to make a decision to prevent further liver damage.
Loss of
liver function causes many problems, including:
· Edema
(water gain) in the leg and abdomen (ascites)
· Bruising
and bleeding
· Jaundice
· Itching
· Gallstones
· Toxins
in the blood or brain
· Sensitivity
to medication
· Portal
hypertension (high blood pressure in/near the liver)
· Enlarged
blood vessels (varices) in stomach and esophagus
· Death
Perhaps
one of the most recognized symptoms of liver damage in alcoholics is
the one that we recognize from Hollywood and television. It is when
a damaged liver cannot remove toxins from the blood, causing them to
accumulate in the blood and eventually the brain. At that stage, toxins
can dull mental functioning and cause personality changes, coma and
death. Signs of the buildup of toxins in the brain include neglect
of personal appearance, unresponsiveness, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating,
or changes in sleep habits.
TREATMENT
OF LIVER DISEASE
Liver damage
from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop or delay
further progression and reduce complications. Treatment for liver damage
depends upon the severity, the cause of the damage or cirrhosis and
any complications a person is experiencing.
Should
blood tests reveal a slightly elevated "liver profile" and damage is
the result of alcohol abuse, treatment will consist of suggesting the
reduction or elimination of alcohol consumption, and possibly the addition
of a daily dose of Milk Thistle.
Heavy drinkers
who are diagnosed with hepatitis or severe cirrhosis will be encouraged
to enter a detox program and start a life of abstinence from alcohol.
Treatment for other complications will also be encouraged such as a
low sodium diet or the use of diuretics for high blood pressure and
edema; antibiotics for infections; various medications for itching;
and special low protein diets to decease the buildup of toxins in the
blood.
In all
cases, regardless of the cause of liver disease, following a healthy
diet and avoiding alcohol are essential because the body needs all
of the nutrients it can get. And, as we all know, more alcohol will
only lead to more liver damage.
THE ANTIOXIDENT
ACTION OF SILYMARIN MILK THISTLE
AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION
As we learned,
certain substances -- especially alcohol -- can damage the liver. Compounds
known as antioxidants, which help minimize the damaging effects of
chemical structures called "free radicals" are available -- if you
know about them and they are used properly. One of these protectant
substances is an herb called Milk Thistle and it has some extraordinary
protective properties.
The seeds
of Milk Thistle contain a complex compound of three flavanolignans which
are collectively referred to as silymarin. These compounds are silibin,
silychristin, and silydianin.
The flavonoids
contained in Milk Thistle have a strong liver protective action and
have been used throughout Europe as pharmaceutical pills and tonics
for liver disorders.
Recent
clinical trials have shown what centuries ago the Roman's recognized
and European folk herbalists prescribed. Milk
Thistle silymarin -- can protect the liver by counteracting a number
of toxic substances including alcohol, acetaminopen overdose (Tylenol pain/fever
reducer), carbon tetrachloride (cleaning fluid, aerosol propellant)
and the Amanita mushroom poison.
Apparently,
silymarin prevents toxins from passing through the cell. It inhibits
the release or the synthesis of certain enzymes which are toxic to
liver tissue.
As an added
bonus, silymarin stimulates cellular growth by boosting protein synthesis.
It has shown to have significant antioxidant capabilities and helps
reduced inflammation by inhibiting certain enzymes. Given that the
liver will naturally try to heal itself of damaged tissue, when you
add the positive effects of silymarin you can get a tremendous and
relatively rapid improvement in symptoms of liver disease caused
by alcohol abuse.
In addition
to the flavonoid-like components of silymarin, Milk Thistle seeds also
contain betaine, which is also a liver protectant; and have essential
fatty oils which help control chronic inflammation.
THE ACTION OF SILYMARIN
ON THE LIVER
Silymarin
has been known in the United States since the mid-1950s, however, it
wasn't until the 1960s that scientists discovered the real uniqueness
of silymarin. Silymarin was considered an entirely new class of chemical
compound.
Because
the liver plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system,
Milk Thistle can contribute to increased disease resistance. Milk
Thistle has been found to protect not only the liver and stomach, but
also the kidneys, brain and other vital organs from toxin damage, treats
allergic reactions, reduces inflammation and promotes healing. It helps
to emulsify fats and enhance bile flow, making it a good remedy for
indigestion.
When Milk
Thistle is given in therapeutic dosages, it provides protection to
a liver is stressed by too much alcohol, protein, medications, or
other chemicals. Silymarin stimulates liver protein synthesis, which
explains why even an injured liver can rapidly regenerate tissue more
rapidly, when Silymarin is present.
The flavonoid-like
compounds, which comprise silymarin, have two specific actions on the
liver:
1. Silymarin
binds hepatocyte (liver cell) membranes, which protects them from the
potential damage of alcohol (and other chemicals and poisons).
2. Silymarin
enters liver cells and promoted their ability to produce certain enzymes,
which are vital to liver health. This action can speed the healing
of liver cells from injury or disease. By enhancing the production
of these enzymes, liver cell regeneration is also stimulated.
Clinical
data confirms that silymarin is effective in relating liver damage
from alcohol abuse or chemical exposure and can reverse the symptoms
of many liver disorders. Therapeutic effect was shown with chronic
hepatitis, cirrhoses, fatty infiltration of the liver, and other non-alcohol
related illnesses.
While the
liver has a great capacity for regeneration, when it is diseased or
damaged by toxins like alcohol, it can cease to produce badly needed
liver cells. Milk Thistle can stimulate this proliferation. The earlier
it is taken on a daily basis, the quicker recovery can happen.
Smoking,
Eating and Drinking: NEED ADDITIONAL Vitamins C, E and Milk Thistle
It is estimated
that 30% of heavy drinkers are also fairly heavy smokers. Statistics
tell us that 60% of us are moderately overweight or considered obese.
Experts recommend that anyone who smokes or drinks or eats a lot of
protein, and especially if you have all these habits,
should be taking vitamin E, C, A, beta-carotene supplements, as well
as Milk Thistle. The hepato-protective properties of silymarin combined
with the supplements make it an invaluable defense against so many free
radicals and toxins which pollute our bodies.
Studies
have proven that silymarin's antioxidant activity is up to ten times
more potent than vitamin E.
The problem
with protein is that the liver has to work harder to detoxify the body
from nitrogen waste which results when protein is metabolized. The
compound called urea has to eventually be eliminated from the body
through the kidneys.
Most of
us overeat the wrong things and pass up the veggie's, oats and low
fat/low sugar foods.
Interestingly,
lack of exercise also contributes to liver damage (buildup of excess toxins).
According
the American Liver Foundation, liver disease's are the fourth leading
cause of death up to age 65 in this country. It is not commonly known
that a significant incidence of liver disease exists in this country.
In the past, liver disease was only associated with chronic alcoholics.
Now, however, liver disease strikes obese people, social drinkers and
people who eat poorly.
Seven Ways
to Love Your Liver
1. Don't
drown me in beer, liquor or wine!
2. Watch
those drugs that don't mix and match (over-the-counter and prescription).
3. Be
careful with aerosol sprays, everything you breathe ends up in me
(bug sprays,
mildew
remover, paint sprays, cleaning products)
4. Watch
what gets on your skin, insecticides and other poisons are absorbed
by the
skin
and destroy my cells
5. A
hug is better than a kiss or other intimate contact, some hepatitis
are contagious
6. Don't
eat too many fatty foods, I make the cholesterol your body needs and you
don't want too much.
7. Take
my advice:
· Check
me out with your doctor
· Blood
screening tests (liver profile) can detect some problems
· If
I'm soft and smooth, that's good; hard and bumpy means trouble
· If
your doctor suspects trouble, UltraSound and CAT scans can look into
it
FOR
MORE INFORMATION CONTACT SINCLAIR METHOD AT 941-321-4104 OR
American
Liver Foundation
75 Maiden
Lane, Suite 603
New York,
NY 10038
Tel: (800)
GO-LIVER (465-4837)
Info@liverfoundation.org
www.liverfoundatin.org/
National
Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information
Way
Bethesda,
Maryland 20892
E-mail:
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
