The Liver - To Pearl

[Guest guest]

Hi Pearl, I ran across this in the archives and would like to know if

you remember where you found it. I'd like permission to use it

myself...

 

Thanks, Thessa

 

herbal remedies, PEARLY2@w... wrote:

> Ran across this and thought it might be of some interest!

>

> " Weighing about 4 pounds, the liver is the largest gland of the

body and

> the only internal organ that will regenerate itself if part of it is

> damaged. Up to 25% of the lever can be removed, and within a short

> period of time, it will grow back to its original shape and size.

> The liver has many funcitons, perhaps the most important of which

is the

> secretion of bile. This fluid is stored in the gallbladder and

released

> as needed for digestion. Bile is necessary for the digestion of

fats; it

> breaks fat down into small globules. Bile also assists in the

absorption

> of the fat-soluble vitamins (A,D, E and K), and helps to assimilate

> calcium. In addition, bile converts beta-carotene into Vit.A. It

> promotes intestinal peristalsis as well, which helps prevent

> constipation.

> After nutrients have been absorbed into the bloodstream through the

> intestinal wall, they are transported by way of the hepatic portal

> system to the liver. In the liver, nutrients such as iron and VitA,

B12

> and D are extracted from the bloodstream and stored for future use.

> These stored substances are utilized for everyday activities and in

> times of physical stress. The liver plays an important role in fat

> metabolism; in the synthesis of fatty acids from amino acids and

sugars;

> in the production of lipoproteins, cholesterol, and phospholipids;

and

> in the oxidation of fat to produce energy. The liver creates a

substance

> called glucose tolerance factor (GTF) from chromium and

glutathione. GTF

> acts with insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Sugars not

required

> for immediate energy production are converted into glycogen in the

> liver; the glycogen is stored in the liver and the muscles, and is

> converted back into sugar when needed for energy. Excess food is

> converted to fat in the liver, and the fat is then transported to

the

> fatty issues of the body for storage.

> In addition to its important functions in digestion and energy

> production, the liver acts as a detoxifier. Protein digestion and

> bacterial fermentation of food in the intestines produce ammonia as

a

> byproduct; this ammonnia is detoxified by the liver. The liver

combines

> toxic substances (including metabolic waste products, insecticide

> residues, drugs, alcohol, and other harmful chemicals) with

substances

> that are less toxic. These substances are then excreted via the

kidneys.

> Thus, in order for the liver to function properly, you must also

have

> proper kidney function.

> Finally, the liver is responsible for regulating thyroid function by

> converting thyroxine (T4), a thyroid hormone, into its more active

form,

> triiodothyronine (T3). Inadequate conversion of T4 into T3 by the

liver

> may lead to hypothyroidism. The liver also breaks down hormones like

> adrenalin, aldosterone, estrogen and insulin after they have

performed

> their needed functions.

> *Avoid constipating foods. The liver has to work twice as hard if

you

> are constipated. Be sure your diet contains sufficient amounts of

> choline, inositol, and lecithin, as well as bulk and fiber.

> THE 4 BASIC REASONS FOR POOR LIVER FUNCTION ARE:

> 1) the presence of cumulative poisons: Insecticides, preservatives,

and

> other toxins can build up in and impair the liver. Even though a

> particular toxin may not accumulate in the liver, liver function may

> suffer if the functioning of other organs, especially the pancreas

> and/or kidneys, is adversely affected by the toxin.

> 2) An Improper Diet: A diet that is low in protein and high in

> carbohydrates and fats, esp. saturated fats, fried foods, and

> hydrogenated fats, is hard on the liver and may not provide

sufficient

> protein building blocks necessary for repair. Poor food choices

include

> processed foods, junk foods, refined white flour products, white

sugar

> products, and imitation foods that are designed to appear and taste

like

> an original product but that have been robbed of natural vitamins,

> minerals and enzymes.

> 3) Overeating: Overeating is probably the most common cause of liver

> malfunction. Overeating creates excess work for the liver,

resulting in

> liver fatigue. In addition, the liver must detoxify all of the

various

> chemicals present in our food supply today. When the liver is

> overworked, it may not detoxify harmful substances properly.

> 4) Drugs: Drugs put a great strain on the liver. Drugs are

substances

> that are foreign and unnatural to the body. These foreign substances

> cause the liver to work overtime in excreting these toxins. The

liver

> neutralizes the effects of drugs on the body. Alcohol is

particularly

> toxic to the liver. When excessive amounts of alcohol enter the

liver,

> the liver begins to lose its functioning capacity. Other substances

that

> can contribute to liver malfunction include oral contraceptives and

> caffeine.

> *Keep the colon clean. Toxins accumulate in the liver and must be

> excreted via the colon and kidneys.

> * In one study, people with cirrhosis of the liver were found to

have an

> imbalance of essential fatty acids, which are needed for cell

> production. After taking 10 capsules of primrose oil daily for 3

weeks,

> these individuals showed a marked improvement in the balance of

their

> fatty acids (or flax seed oil).

>

> Pearl (NY)

>

>

> Country Living at it's finest

> /community/Countrylife