Liver Protection
The liver is a metabolic and detoxification center for the human body. Every day, it deals with metabolic products, toxins, or medicines. It converts and breaks them down and prepares them for excretion.
However, the liver is not only burdened by drugs or toxins such as alcohol. It is also affected by poor nutrition or a lack of exercise. Sometimes, toxic metabolic products are incompletely excreted due to liver dysfunction. They can then damage brain metabolism and its signalling substances.
Symptoms noticed by sufferers include:
- lack of drive
- fatigue
- feeling irritable
- lengthened reaction time
- concentration/memory disorders
Where is the liver and how is it built?
After the skin, the liver is the second largest organ in our body. It weighs around 3 pounds and is located in the right upper abdomen, directly below the diaphragm.
The liver consists of four parts or lobes, a larger right and a smaller left lobe as well as a caudate and a quadrate lobe. A capsule of connective tissue surrounds the organ.
A healthy liver has a soft, uniform structure and is a dark reddish-brown colour.
As the largest digestive gland in the body, it produces bile. Bile digests fats in food and is stored in the gallbladder. At mealtimes, it is secreted into the duodenum.
As a metabolic centre, the liver controls the metabolism of sugars, fats and proteins. It produces and stores the storage substance glycogen. Glycogen is made from the simple sugar glucose. When energy is needed, the liver breaks it back down to glucose.
The liver regulates the blood glucose level using the hormones insulin and glucagon. It also stores fats, some vitamins, and blood.
As a detoxification centre, the liver primarily uses enzymes from the group of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes. These enzymes help to degrade old blood cells, metabolic end-products and other toxins in preparation for excretion.
Many products of metabolism are toxic, such as ammonia. The liver converts it to soluble urea which can then be excreted safely by the kidneys.
Fatty liver disease
is a common liver problem. It means that liver cells store too much fat in the liver. Over time, this can affect the function of the liver or even cause liver injury.
There are different categories:
Alcoholic fatty liver - This condition can be quickly caused by alcohol abuse.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) - NAFL is also called simple fatty liver and seems to be linked to obesity. It often happens without causing liver damage or any liver disease symptoms.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) - NASH is less common but more serious since it causes inflammation and cell damage. If left untreated, it can lead to scarring or hardening of the liver also liver cancer or liver failure.
Risk factors for fatty liver include:
- Overweight
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- High blood fat levels
However, medicines, toxins or poisons, pregnancy, and protein deficiency can also cause a fatty liver.
Hepatitis
describes inflammation of the liver. One of the most common causes is viral infection. However, the inflammation can also be caused by autoimmune hepatitis, alcohol, medicines, or chemicals.
Hepatitis can be acute or chronic. Chronic means that it has not healed after 6 months.
Signs of this liver disease include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite/nausea/vomiting
- Weight loss
- Dark urine / pale feces
- Yellowing of eyes and skin
Liver cirrhosis
develops over years to decades and is the final stage of chronic liver disease. The most common causes are alcohol abuse and chronic hepatitis. Scar tissue forms that is permanent and impairs liver function.
If you notice any symptoms of liver disease, consult your healthcare practitioner! Liver disorders need an evaluation by a specialist and often require treatment.
Only the liver can do this, as it is the control centre of all detoxification processes in our body. If it fails to fulfil this task, the liver cells are damaged and die. This becomes noticeable in elevated liver function tests.
However, a healthy lifestyle can improve liver health and help reduce the risk of liver disease. We can also support our liver through liver cleanses or liver detox.
Liver function tests are enzymes that can be measured in the blood. They provide information on the state of health of the liver. If liver cells are damaged, these enzymes are released into the blood in increased numbers. This leads to elevated liver function tests.
The causes can be a variety of diseases but also a way of life. The enzyme that is elevated provides information on what kind of damage there could be. Usually, the values of four liver enzymes are measured in a blood test:
- got = GOT = glutamate oxalacetate transaminase
- gpt = GPT = glutamate pyruvate transaminase
- ggt = Gamma-GT = gamma-glutamyl Transferase
- AP = alkaline phosphatase
Gamma-GT is the most sensitive marker for damage to liver cells. This means that it is often the first value that increases. But GOT and GPT are also important markers.
You can do a lot to improve your liver function tests. The liver has an enormous capacity for regeneration. Dead cells and areas can renew themselves, provided that the cause for damage is removed.
Here are some tips:
- Avoid alcohol and other harmful substances.
- Avoid huge meals or excesses of animal fats.
- Eat your main meal as early as possible, preferably before 5 pm.
- Prefer foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids such as herring and grape seed or linseed oil.
- Seek advice from your healthcare practitioner on therapeutic fasting, acid-base balance and gut health.
- Take plenty of exercises – gentle endurance training in the fresh air is the best.
- Reduce stress and learn to practise relaxation techniques.
Support your liver with silymarin in milk thistle or herbal bitters.