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Liver & Gallbladder Health
How to improve your liver function
DIET:
The Liver Cleansing Diet is an excellent and proven way to improve your liver function and enhance fat burning. It also detoxifies the body increasing the breakdown and removal of toxic chemicals from the liver and fat tissue. The Liver Cleansing diet is an 8 week eating plan designed to provide your liver with the correct balance of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. It is easy to follow and most enjoyable as the menus and recipes are delicious.Remember to Stay away from the following danger foods–
Sugar – use Nature Sweet instead Candies and chocolate which are high in sugar; some cheap chocolates contain hydrogenated vegetable oils which are most unhealthy. If you do indulge in a little chocolate the best types are the expensive dark chocolates! Foods containing refined flour “Diet foods” that claim to be slimming – they are usually low in fat and high in sugar or aspartame, eg. diet-yogurts, diet jams, diet-ice-cream, diet-sodas, etc; these diet foods are not slimming they are fattening if they contain sugar or aspartame! Read the labels. Fried snacks – such as potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, etc. Meat jerky and preserved meats Pizza Fatty take away foods like fried fish and chips, lasagna and fried chicken Deep fried hot potato chips Biscuits – both sweet and savoury varieties, as they contain refined flour, hydrogenated vegetable oils, lard, shortening and if sweet, will be high in sugar Breads containing refined flour, crumpets, muffins, bagels and donuts, as they tend to be fattening for those with a fatty liver. Obviously we all like to eat unhealthy or junk foods on special occasions and this is fine if it’s a birthday, family celebration, Christmas or a one off special event. It’s when these things become a regular part of your diet and lifestyle that you will find your liver suffers.RAW JUICES CAN SAVE YOUR LIVER
Ideally raw juices should be consumed immediately after juicing because that is when their nutritional content is most active. If you are super busy, you can juice enough for 1 to 2 days at one time. To keep the juice fresh and active, you must store the juice in an air-tight container with a tight lid, or in a thermos in the refrigerator. Add the juice of a lemon to stop the stored juice from oxidizing. If the juices are too strong and/or upset your stomach, or taste unpleasant, you should dilute them with plenty of water, extra apple or reduce the amounts of the ingredients which upset you. You can vary the ingredients and their amounts to give you more enjoyment and variety. Most of these recipes will produce 1-2 cups of juice.Daily citrus cleanse
½ lemon or ½ lime – freshly squeezed (you can use a whole lemon/lime if desired) with 500ml warm waterLiver Cleansing Juice
½ lemon or lime, with some peel 2 apples 2 dandelion or 2 rocket leaves or 2 cabbage leaves ½ cup broccoli florets, chopped 1 clove garlic or ¼ red onion (can use less if desired) ½ cup parsley This is a strong mixture and may be diluted with 1 cup water, extra apple or dandelion root tea. Make sure you read our following newsletters for more liver friendly juices and recipes!NATURAL LIVER TONICS – How to choose one
There are many different liver tonics available today, as medicine is finally starting to realize that common diseases such as obesity, diabetes, chronic fatigue and digestive complaints can be traced back to poor liver function. For someone with liver dysfunction it can be difficult to decide what type of liver tonic will be most effective. This is especially true as liver dysfunction may vary from very mild to severe degrees. Generally speaking liver tonics are safe and non toxic but please check with your own doctor or naturopath if you are taking any drugs before starting any supplements. I personally do not think it is good to take liver tonics in the form of herbal tinctures containing alcohol, especially every day, and on a long-term basis, as their alcohol content is not good for the liver. I prefer to use liver tonics that are in powder or capsule form, as their contents are better absorbed than from a solid tablet. This is because tablets must be compressed and held together with binders and fillers. In those with a dysfunctional liver or pancreas there may be difficulty breaking down and absorbing the tablet. The capsules may contain combinations of various liver herbs with synergistic nutrients which are in powdered form. The powder is contained by a vegetarian capsule (not an animal gelatin capsule), or alternatively the powder can be stirred into fresh juices.The best liver tonics should contain as many of the following nutrients as possible:
- Taurine is essential for the healthy production of bile, and the liver uses it to excrete toxins and drugs from the body through the bile.
- Psyllium is an excellent source of soluble fibre, and has been shown to lower cholesterol levels by 14 to 20% after only 8 weeks.
- Dandelion also known as Taraxacum Officinale, has been used in traditional western herbal medicine to support liver and gall bladder function. It is able to stimulate digestion and the flow of bile. Dandelion has laxative and diuretic actions.
- Globe Artichoke also known as Cynara scolymus is a bitter liver tonic with liver-protective actions.
- Lecithin helps the liver metabolise fats and balances cholesterol levels. It contains phosphatidylcholine, which is beneficial for the cell membranes in the liver.
- Carrot, Beetroot, Alfalfa and Barley leaf in powdered form can be a component of liver tonics to provide a boost of chlorophyll, antioxidants, carotenoids and fibre.
Liver tonics which support a more powerful detoxification can be very helpful –
They should contain:
- Milk thistle also known as Silybum marianum, has been used for more than 2000 years is a safe non toxic herb. The active constituent, silymarin, in Milk Thistle protects the membranes of the liver cells with its powerful antioxidant properties and stimulates the production of new healthy liver cells. It also supports the liver filter which removes dangerous toxins. The clinically effective dose of the herb St Mary’s Thistle, is the dose that has been proven to help the liver in hundreds of clinical trials. At least 420mg of pure silymarin is required daily.
- All the B-group vitamins are essential for healthy liver function and detoxification
- Sulphur-bearing amino acids, Glutamine, Glycine Taurine & Cysteine are needed for efficient liver detoxification
- An effective dose of the most important antioxidant vitamins namely vitamin C, E and natural beta-carotene.
- The anti-oxidant mineral, selenium, has been shown in numerous studies to support the immune system
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Most people who have had their Gallbladder removed also have some liver congestion, so rather than Livatone we recommend you begin taking Livatone Plus - 2 capsules twice daily and NAC - 2 capsules twice daily, well away from food with a large glass of water to avoid temporary stomach irritation.
As you no longer have your Gallbladder we encourage you to begin taking Ox Bile - 1 to 2 capsules with each meal, to promote the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and good dietary fats.
Although Gilbert's Disease is an inherited concern, it responds well to a liver friendly program as is found with Dr Cabot's 15 Day Cleanse and Maintenance Plan and liver function improves considerably.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Greetings and thanks for helping others with guided information for Liver health management.
I tested (Qualitative Test) Positive for hepatitis B almost a year ago. My Consultant Doctor here advised me to go for Hepatitis B Quantitative Test and it came out negative few months ago. However, I did Liver Function test and I got 2 highs as shared below
Bilirubin Conjugated 11.1 (Range 0-8 umol/L) High
Bilirubin Total 24 (Range 2-20 umol/L) High
I am taking LIVOLIN Capsule presently (1 capsule per day).
So, whats your good advice for me as per managing the 2 highs shared above to come within range.
And what can be the side effect of this 2 highs. I have discovered now that I do feel body pains like 30 days interval and it reliefs after taking pain relief tablet like paracetamol and Diclofenac.
Pls your candid advice to manage my health will be appreciated. I am having issue in getting good management advice from my consultant here as he is quite busy and also ask me to go for HB DNA Test before he can start consultation on medications.
Thanks.
-
Gabriel
High bilirubin may indicate that you have Gilbert’s Syndrome or that your liver detoxification systems are not in sync.
Having Phase 1 and Phase 2 not in balance can lead to increased inflammation, which can lead to increased discomfort and pain.
We have no experience of Livolin and recommend Dr Cabot’s Livatone Plus – 2capsules twice daily to balance liver detoxification processes. Many people are able to clear HBV without medications, although it is advisable to ensure you take selenium each day and 2 capsules of Livatone Plus twice daily will supply a daily dose of selenium.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Your bilirubin is twice the normal upper end of range and this may indicate Gilbert’s Syndrome.
Although this is an inherited condition it responds very well to dietary and lifestyle changes.
High bilirubin circulation indicates that your liver’s phases 1 and 2 are not functioning well together.
Processed foods and carbohydrate rich foods are often responsible so remove these from your diet and consider a liver friendly, anti-inflammatory diet and lifestyle as is found in Dr Cabot’s 15 Day Cleanse and Maintenance Program.
Livatone Plus and NAC may hasten the detox changes needed to reduce your bilirubin blood levels.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
To follow the Liver Cleansing Diet effectively, it is important to ensure that you keep any ‘tweaks’ to a minimum so you do not jeopardize the integrity of the dietary requirements.
We look forward to your updates.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD
Unfortunately the picture of liver disease is changing considerably and diet related liver disease is becoming increasingly common.
It is called NASH, and may take a while to correct but with diet and lifestyle adjustments you can restore your liver to best possible function and we recommend Dr Cabot’s 15 Day Cleanse and Maintenance Program.
Kind regards
Victoria
Naturopath for Dr Sandra Cabot MD