Liver Detoxification Pathways

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A Toxic Liver produces Excessive Inflammatory Chemicals

JoAnn Guest

Dec 15, 2004 20:48 PST

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Liver Detoxification Pathways

Introduction -The Liver and Detoxification

 

More than ever before in the history of mankind, human beings need to

have healthy livers to break down the chemicals that have crept into our

environment.

I received an E-mail from a reader of my books, who was alarmed by the

large number of *hormone implants* being inserted into beef animals

where she worked in a stock and station agency.

 

Steers are implanted with " oestrogens " , which is justified by corporate

statements. Tests have shown that a non-pregnant woman produces 54,000

times the amount of oestrogen found in a 500 gram steak.

 

 

This is all very well, however, it is still increasing the " workload " of

the liver, which over a long period of time may cause " hormonal

imbalances " in those who eat beef regularly.

 

We must ask ourselves why is the incidence of breast cancer so high,

particularly in relatively young women?

 

Surely it is better to eat meat from animals that roam free and happy in

fresh green pastures that are not injected with potent *hormones* or fed

" concentrated " stock feed (growth hormones) to rush their growth?

 

The liver is the 'gateway' to the body and in this chemical age its

" detoxification systems " are easily

overloaded.

Thousands of chemicals are added to food and over 700 have been

identified in drinking water.

 

Plants are sprayed with toxic chemicals, animals are injected with potent

hormones and antibiotics and a significant amount of our food is genetically

engineered, processed, refined and cooked.

 

All this can lead to *destruction* of delicate vitamins and minerals,

which are needed for the " detoxification " pathways in the liver.

 

The liver must try to 'cope' with every toxic chemical in our

environment, as well as " damaged " or plasticized hydrogenated fats that

are present in processed and fried foods.

 

 

The Liver Filter

The liver is the 'cleanser' and 'filter' of the blood stream and is of

vital importance.

 

The liver is the largest organ in the body and has an enormous amount of

blood flowing through it every minute of our lives.

 

If we examine the liver under a microscope, we will see rows of liver

cells separated by spaces which act like a filter or sieve,

through which the blood stream flows.

 

The liver filter is designed to remove " toxic matter " such as dead

cells, microorganisms, chemicals,

drugs and particulate debris from the blood stream.

 

The liver filter is called the *sinusoidal*system, and contains

specialised cells known as " Kupffer cells " which ingests and breakdown

*toxic* matter.

 

The liver filter can remove a wide range of microorganisms such as

bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites from the blood stream, which is

highly desirable,

as we certainly do not want these dangerous things building up in the

blood stream and invading the deeper parts of the body.

 

Infections with parasites often come from the 'contaminated' water

supplies found in large cities, and indeed other dangerous organisms may

find their way into your gut and blood stream from these sources. This

can cause chronic infections and poor health, so it is important to

protect your liver from overload with these microorganisms.

 

The safest thing to do is boil water for at least 5 minutes, and ensure

that you drink only bottled spring water that has been filtered and

sterilised.

 

High loads of unhealthy microorganisms can also come from eating foods

that are prepared in conditions of poor 'hygiene'

 

by persons who are carrying bacteria, viruses or parasites on their

skin.

 

Foods, especially meats that are not fresh or are preserved, also

contain a higher bacterial load,

which will " overwork " the liver filter if they are eaten regularly.

 

Recently, it has become very fashionable for people to detoxify their

bodies by various means,

such as fasting or " cleansing " the bowels with fibre mixtures.

 

Fasting can by its extreme nature, only be a temporary method of

cleansing the body of waste products,

 

and for many people causes an excessively *rapid release* of toxins

which can cause unpleasant, acute symptoms.

The liver filter, like any filter, needs to be cleansed regularly, and

it is much easier and safer to do it everyday.

 

This is easily and pleasantly achieved by adopting a daily eating

pattern that maintains the liver filter in a healthy clean state. By

following the recipes, methods of cooking, and guidelines in my book,

you will be able to keep the liver filter healthy and clean.

 

Although it is important to keep the intestines moving regularly and to

sweep their walls with high fibre and living foods, it is important to

remember that the bowels are really a channel of 'elimination' and not a

cleansing organ per se.

 

In other words the bowels cannot cleanse, filter or remove toxic wastes

from the blood stream.

It is only the liver that can purify the blood stream and we only have

one liver.

 

The Liver Detoxification Pathways

 

Inside the liver cells there are sophisticated mechanisms that have

evolved over millions of years to break down toxic substances.

Every drug, artificial chemical, pesticide and hormone, is broken down

(metabolised) by " enzyme pathways "

inside the liver cells.

 

Many of the toxic chemicals that enter the body are " fat-soluble " , which

means they dissolve only in fatty or oily solutions and not in water.

Fat-soluble chemicals have a high affinity for fat tissues and cell

membranes, which are made of fatty substances.

 

In these fatty parts of the body, toxins may be stored for years, being

released during times of exercise, stress or fasting.

During the " release " of these toxins, symptoms such as *headaches*,

poor memory, stomach pain, nausea,

fatigue, dizziness and palpitations may occur.

 

The liver is designed to " convert " fat-soluble chemicals into

water-soluble chemicals so that they may then be easily " excreted " from

the body via watery fluids such as bile and urine.

 

How the Liver Detoxifies Harmful Substances

 

Basically there are TWO major detoxification pathways inside the liver

cells, which are called the Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification pathways

(see diagram above).

 

Phase One - Detoxification Pathways

 

An example of the phase one pathway is the " Cytochrome P-450 " mixed

function oxidase enzymes.

This pathway converts a toxic chemical into a less harmful chemical.

 

This is achieved by various chemical reactions

(such as oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis),

and during this process " free radicals " are produced which,

if excessive, can damage the liver cells.

 

Antioxidants (such as vitamin C and E and natural carotenoids) reduce

the damage caused by these free radicals.

If antioxidants are lacking, toxic chemicals become far more dangerous.

 

Excessive amounts of toxic chemicals such as 'pesticides' can disrupt

the P-450 enzyme system.

 

Phase Two - Detoxification Pathway

 

This is called the " conjugation pathway " , whereby the liver cells add

another substance (eg. cysteine, glycine or a sulphur molecule)

to a toxic chemical or drug, to render it less harmful.

 

This makes the toxin or drug 'water-soluble',

so it can then be excreted from the body via watery fluids

such as bile or urine.

 

Through conjugation, the liver is able to turn drugs,

hormones and various toxins into " excretable " substances.

 

For efficient phase two detoxification, the liver cells require

sulphur-containing amino acids such as taurine and cysteine.

The nutrients glycine, glutamine, choline and inositol are also required

for efficient phase two detoxification.

 

Organic Eggs and cruciferous vegetables

(eg. broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower), and raw garlic,

onions, leeks and shallots are all good sources of natural *sulphur*

compounds to " enhance " 'phase two' detoxification.

Thus, these foods can be considered to have " cleansing " action.

 

The phase two enzyme systems include both UDP-glucuronyl transferase

(GT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GSH-T).

 

Glutathione is the most powerful internal antioxidant and liver

protector.

It can be " depleted " by large amounts of toxins and/or drugs passing

through the liver, as well as starvation or fasting.

 

Toxic Overload

 

If the phase one and two detoxification pathways become overloaded,

there will be a " build up " of toxins in the body.

 

Many of these toxins (xenoestrogens, for example) are fats soluble and

incorporate themselves into fatty parts of the body where they may stay

for years, if not for a lifetime.

 

The brain and the endocrine (hormonal) glands are " fatty " organs,

and are common sites for 'fat-soluble " toxins to accumulate.

 

This may result in symptoms of brain dysfunction and hormonal

imbalances, such as infertility, breast pain,

menstrual disturbances, *adrenal gland* 'exhaustion'

and early menopause.

 

Many of these chemicals (eg. pesticides, petrochemicals)

are carcinogenic and have been implicated in the rising incidence

of many cancers.

 

If the filtering and/or detoxification systems within the liver are

overloaded or " inefficient " , this will cause toxins, dead cells and

microorganisms to 'build up' in the blood stream.

 

This will then increase the workload of the immune system,

which will become overloaded and irritated.

 

The immune system will then produce excessive *inflammatory* chemicals,

and in some cases,

auto-antibodies, because it is in a " hyperstimulated " state.

 

This may lead to symptoms of *immune dysfunction* such as allergies,

*inflammatory* states,

swollen glands, recurrent infections, chronic fatigue syndrome,

fibromyalgia or autoimmune diseases.

 

Some of the more common autoimmune diseases are systemic lupus

erythematosus (SLE),

sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cirrhosis,

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis,

vasculitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

 

Immune " dysfunction " is common in the chemically overloaded environment

we live in today,

and is 'exacerbated' by nutritional deficiencies inherent in processed

and high fat diets.

 

Suppressive drugs are often used to treat symptoms of immune

dysfunction.

 

Rarely does anyone think about the liver, which seems incredible to me

because it is such a powerful organ and is easily improved.

 

Indeed the simplest and most effective way to cleanse the blood stream

and thus take the load off the immune system is by improving liver

function.

 

http://www.weightcontroldoctor.com/healthtopics/healthyliverbowelbook/default.as\

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_________________

 

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

 

AIM Barleygreen

" Wisdom of the Past, Food of the Future "

 

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