Why Liver Cleanse?

How some poisons affect the liver?

The liver is the largest organ in the body, weighing about three pounds in an adult. It is also the major detoxifying organ in the body and has several important functions.

• It receives essential nutrients from the in­testine, storing and secreting them as needed.

• It detoxifies a large number of toxic sub­stances, rendering them less harmful.

• The liver produces bile from cholesterol and lecithin. Bile contains bile salts which are very important in the digestion of fats.

• Along with the pancreas, the liver helps to regulate blood sugar levels by storing and releasing sugar as glycogen, which is the body's primary energy source.

• The liver produces about 400 enzymes which facilitate many body functions, including but not limited to digestion.

Liver injury with accompanying jaundice, also called toxic hepatitis, usually occurs as a result of a number of toxins, including: 

• Chlorinated hydrocarbons such as cleaning solvents

• Certain heavy metals such as arsenic found in some anti-protozoa medications, barium from gastrointestinal testing, copper and lead from old pipes, and antimony and tin from metal alloy manufacture and fireworks

• A variety of organic compounds.

Two major types of liver injury are liver cell necrosis (cell death), and fatty liver.   With fatty liver, one cannot process fats and oils properly, so they build up in the liver, as well as in the ar­teries. High blood pressure, or hypertension, can result.

Liver cell necrosis causes sclerosis (hardening) and scarring, which in turn causes dry liver. In­dications of this are cholesterol levels of under 135 and an LDH (lactose dehydrogenase - don't confuse this with HDL or LDL cholesterol) of less than 110. Dry liver is a condition in which the fatsoluble vitamins A, D, E, and K are not processed for use by the body, causing deficiency symptoms and free radical damage due to loss of the antioxidant effects of vitamins A and E. Dry liver is like a car engine that is allowed to run with insufficient oil. Sooner or later the en­gine is going to seize up. Both conditions are prevented or remedied by the ingestion of healthy emulsified oils, choline, and lecithin.

Some chemicals which produce cell necrosis are:

• Acetaminophen (one brand name is Tylenol), in large amounts over time

• Beryllium metal, a product of coal combustion

• Bromobenzene, a carcinogenic solvent and motor oil additive

 Producers of lipid (fat) accumulation in the liver include:

• Cerium, a metallic element used as spark metal for gas lighters

• Cycloheximide, a fungicide and plant growth regulator

• Ethanol, or beverage alcohol

• Methotrexate, a cancer drug

• Tetracycline, an antibiotic

 Some toxins that produce both effects are:

• Aflatoxin, from mold that grows on peanuts and potatoes

• Bromotrichloromethane, a solvent

• Carbon tetrachloride, cleaning fluid and solvent

• Chloroform, anesthetic and solvent

• Tannic acid, found in tea and used in dyeing fabric and tanning leather

• Tetrachloroethane, a solvent

• Trichloroethylene, solvent used in dry cleaning and degreasing metals