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According to the ancient medical philosophy of Chinese doctors, your liver is “the general of your body’s army,” which means that it is its defender.
However, your liver also requires protection against damage, so how can you do that?
Well, you have to understand what can harm your liver. What damages the liver is inflammation caused by free radicals generated in the liver.
These free radicals can damage all of the physical structures of your liver cells, such as the membranes, mitochondria, nucleus, genetic material (DNA), and connective tissues that give the liver structure.
What causes this excess inflammation?
- Too much alcohol.
- A diet that is too high in carbohydrates and processed foods, especially sugar and trans fatty acids.
- Overweight.
- Unhealthy bacteria cause a leaky gut in your gut.
- Excess iron in the liver.
- Drugs in excess, especially anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen or paracetamol, drugs for chemotherapy, etc.
- Parasites such as liver flukes or worms (hydatid cysts).
- Viruses such as hepatitis A. B, and C.
- Autoimmune diseases are often associated with gluten intolerance.
- Contamination by heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, etc. The oceans are so full of plastic that it is impossible to clean them. We have a toxic environment that is unprecedented in human history.
What can you do to protect your liver?
The following are recommendations to protect your liver:
- Follow a healthy diet and lifestyle.
- Keep your weight in the healthy range.
- If you have excessive iron levels in your blood, become a regular blood donor, and you will see the levels drop.
- Take a vitamin C supplement to reduce the free radicals that attack your liver. A daily dose of 1000 mg of vitamin C is protective.
- Take the herb Milk Thistle, which has been shown to reduce liver damage in hundreds of clinical trials. You need a daily dose that provides 420 mg of silymarin daily.
- Take a selenium supplement that contains three types of selenium, such as Selenomune – Selenium can help the liver in many ways and is a powerful liver protector.
- Selenium is a mineral that can enhance the repair of DNA damage in the nucleus of liver cells. It also reduces the ability of viruses to replicate (increase in numbers) in your cells.
- Take an N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) supplement, an amino acid derivative (small protein) with over 40 years of scientific research to back it up.
The powerful health benefits of NAC stem from its ability to restore intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels. Have you heard of glutathione? If not, you should know because it is the most potent internal antioxidant produced naturally in the body.
Glutathione helps the liver protect against toxicity and is most needed for those with liver inflammation.
Chronic liver inflammation stress depletes glutathione, which is why supplementing with its primary precursor NAC helps those with liver inflammation protect against ongoing liver damage.
NAC is a modified form of the amino acid cysteine that contains sulfur. NAC replenishes intracellular levels of glutathione (GSH), which restores your cells’ ability to fight free radical damage known as reactive oxygen species.
The NAC supplement can help people with chronic degenerative problems, including inflammation of the liver and lungs.
NAC neutralizes toxins and pollutants, including heavy metals that accumulate in the body’s liver, kidneys, and fatty parts.
Restoring glutathione levels with NAC supplements makes liver cells better protect themselves against ongoing damage caused by fat accumulation, viral infections, drug-induced damage, excess alcohol, or autoimmune inflammation.
How can we get more glutathione in our bodies?
Oral glutathione supplements are available at some health food stores and pharmacies and do not require a prescription.
The main problem is that glutathione is not well absorbed from the gut, as digestive enzymes break it down before it can be absorbed. For this reason, taking its precursor (building block) is much more effective.
NAC is the most crucial precursor of glutathione synthesis. NAC is readily absorbed from the intestine and is rapidly converted to glutathione.
Approximately 150 milligrams of glutathione per day is obtained from the average diet, mainly fruits and vegetables. However, most glutathione is manufactured within the body’s cells, especially liver cells.
It is interesting to know that around 80% of the glutathione produced in the liver is transported into the bloodstream to be used by the kidneys for detoxification. Therefore, increasing glutathione levels is good for the liver and kidneys.
Taking glutathione intravenously would be best for people with severely reduced levels of glutathione in their bodies, but this is not practical. The practical solution is to take NAC, the primary precursor of glutathione, a component that the body’s cells need to make their glutathione.
How is the NAC supplement taken?
NAC does not require a prescription and is taken as an oral supplement in 600 to 1800 mg daily doses. It is taken two to three times a day or as recommended by your healthcare provider. NAC is taken 15 minutes before a meal.
Many researchers have concluded that liver glutathione deficiency is one of the main factors that allow the liver disease to progress.
The liver cells of people with chronic liver disease are continually overworked as they fight off toxins and free radicals. It is primarily glutathione that can protect them from severe damage or cell death.
The researchers showed that glutathione given in high doses intravenously to patients with severe fatty livers resulted in a marked improvement in their liver blood test results.
There are no known contraindications for NAC. In some people, NAC can cause indigestion. People with diabetes should consult with their healthcare provider about interference with the effectiveness of insulin.
Diet to protect the liver
Raw juices can accelerate liver damage repair and improve immune function. Good things for juice include:
- Kale.
- Cabbage.
- Carrot.
- Beetroot.
- Ginger.
- Lima.
- Lemon.
- Pomelo.
- Parsley.
- Basil.
- Cilantro.
Some super foods for the liver include:
- She.
- Onions.
- Radishes
- Tahini.
- Hemp.
- Chia seeds.
