The 5 biggest enemies of our liver

Dear reader, we present to you our beauty columnist Inessa Tsarkova!

Inessa is an active nutritionist, gastroenterologist, therapist, naturopath and aromatherapist, health coach, integrative medicine doctor with a holistic approach. And now she will share with us her knowledge in the field of both physical and mental health, nutrition and much more.

Friends, what is your relationship with the word “liver”?

That’s right, “oven”. This word also means the heat treatment of food and at the genetic level is also associated with the Russian stove, without which people in Russia could not imagine life. It was the most important energy center of the house. Without it, it was impossible to cook food, warm up in the cold, wash or wash clothes, and even get rid of various ailments (both physical and mental).

Inessa Tsarkova

I already wrote about this in my article “How to protect your liver during the New Year holidays: expert advice.” In it you can also read what functions the liver performs in our body. It not only cleanses the blood, neutralizes it and removes toxic substances from the body, but also helps to “bake” (bake) various super important protein molecules (like a Russian pie in the oven) to form all cells (including the walls of blood vessels) and contains miraculous enzymes for the proper functioning of our body. It also produces heat and “warms”, provides energy and “nourishes” in times of famine.

The 5 Most Destructive Enemies of the Liver

Alcohol

There is no safe dose of alcohol. British scientists have found that only 40 grams (for men) and 20 grams (for women) cause irreversible changes in liver cells, leading to hepatitis. Alcohol also has a very detrimental effect on brain cells and contributes to the development of serious damage to the central nervous system. The higher the degree, the more toxic its effect. The harder and longer it takes for the liver to neutralize and eliminate it. Cheap, low-quality alcohol, which contains other toxic substances in addition to ethanol, is especially dangerous. For example, dangerous methyl alcohol and fusel oils, which can even lead to death. “High-quality” alcohol (especially if consumed frequently or in large quantities) is no less harmful. For example, beer, in addition to ethanol, also contains phytoestrogens, purines, stabilizers and preservatives. Wines contain sulfites, and champagne and sparkling wines contain a lot of sugar.

In addition, our liver suffers great harm from “light” cocktails. It turns out that this mixture has an even more destructive effect on its cells, as it contains various alcohols, sugars, carbon dioxide and synthetic additives (dyes, flavors).

So, friends, we replace the alcohol in our glasses with compote, or even better, with clean water with lemon. If for some reason you can not completely give up alcohol, then the least harmful thing would be to occasionally drink a glass of quality dry wine or a glass of quality vodka. And remember that well-refined alcoholic beverages cannot be cheap.

Medicines

Especially the liver is damaged in people who frequently use drugs and self-medicate. It is important to remember that all pills have undesirable side effects and toxic effects on the body. Therefore, it is very important to treat them carefully and, if necessary, choose the right dosage and duration of treatment with an experienced doctor.

The process of neutralizing drugs in the liver occurs in three stages. The liver must transform, neutralize and remove all harmful substances that are unsuitable for cell life. A large number of enzymes are involved in these reactions, many of which are blocked by drugs themselves. So taking “harmless” paracetamol harms liver cells a thousand times more than the same alcohol. Sad statistics also show that more than 25% of cases of liver failure (when this wonderful organ can no longer perform its functions) are observed precisely because of the use of drugs. Today, one in three Russians experiences negative changes in liver function, including due to regular use of drugs.

Which drugs are the most harmful?

Banal painkillers and antipyretics (the so-called NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), which people are accustomed to drinking immediately when something hurts (head, stomach, knees, back) or the temperature rises. It would be more logical to find out the cause of the pain. Perhaps a spasm, lack of blood or oxygen is to blame, or maybe inflammation has begun due to some kind of toxic effect. And having figured it out, not just “suffocate” the signal for help from this organ, but also affect the real cause of the pain.

Birth control pills. With their help, it is convenient for women to avoid unwanted pregnancy, but, unfortunately, they have to pay for this “convenience” with their own health. Contraceptives not only threaten with thrombosis, excess weight and bad mood, but also harm the liver cells, causing their expansion and inflammation, contributing to the stagnation of bile and the formation of gallstones.

Antibiotics. These drugs kill not only pathogenic bacteria, but also friendly (beneficial) microflora that provides us with good immunity. A failure in the immune system leads not only to frequent infections, but also to the development of autoimmune diseases, as our internal defenses begin to attack our own cells (including liver cells). Antibiotics directly affect the tissues of the organ, causing damage and inflammation. Depending on their chemical formula, they can damage cell membranes, concentrate bile, make it difficult to outflow, and thus prevent the liver from cleaning.

Although I am a doctor, I have not used any medication for over three years and do not recommend it to my patients and family, preferring natural healing methods. When necessary, I use our natural “medicines” – pure, therapeutic grade essential oils with food grade certificates. These medicinal products (plant extracts obtained by steam distillation or cold pressing) have been used by all known healers throughout human history. Natural pure essential oils do not have any toxic effect on the liver, but rather heal it, improve bile flow and eliminate inflammation.

Artificial chemical additives in foods (flavor enhancers, dyes, preservatives, etc.)

These substances are unknown to our cells and enzyme systems. Since these substances have chemical formulas created artificially in laboratories, it is very difficult (sometimes impossible) for the liver to cope with them. As a result of our liver not being able to neutralize and remove them, they accumulate more in the tissues over time and begin to damage them, causing inflammation, damage and even cancer.

The most common additives in food products are flavor enhancers and preservatives. One of the most popular and equally dangerous (and not only for the liver, but also for the entire body) is monosodium glutamate (E621 or “Chinese salt”). After all, it gives dishes a very appetizing “meaty” taste (they especially like to add it to fast food). In experiments conducted on rats, it was found that it affects the hypothalamus (an important part of the brain and the main hormonal organ), neurons in the inner layer of the retina, which can lead to blindness and cause obesity. It turned out that this supplement has an even stronger effect on humans. Even in small doses, it causes headaches, an increase in blood pressure and insulin levels. Accumulating in the body (primarily in the liver tissues), imperceptibly, it damages its cells, contributing to the development of hepatosis and cancerous changes.

Another equally popular and equally dangerous additive is titanium dioxide (or E171). It is added to milk powder, “quick” breakfasts, mayonnaise and horseradish, as well as crab sticks. It is used to bleach flour for ravioli, chewing gum, and white chocolate.

No less dangerous for the liver are iron oxides and hydroxides (E172), which are added to artificial caviar, chocolate and cakes. Also aluminum (E173), which is used as a dye in confectionery decorations and other foods and drinks (including tablets).

The list of these harmful “foods” could go on forever, but how can you avoid them?

A very simple way is to avoid buying products with long (and unclear) labels. And it is best to learn to choose only natural products in their original form for yourself and your family, because nature itself has made them for us.

Excessive fructose

All types of sugar damage our liver, but fructose does it particularly strongly. Why? Because (and only) it is used in liver cells. In modern conditions of excessive fructose consumption and lack of enzymes and oxygen, this sugar does not produce energy as intended, but activates inflammation in liver cells, gradually turning them into fat cells, and then fatty hepatosis develops. and then cirrhosis.

You can read more about this in my article “Dangerous fructose: main sources and how its excess affects the body.”

My friends, I call you once again to be aware! Read labels carefully to monitor the presence of fructose in foods. Remember that it can be hidden under other names. Such as corn syrup, sorbitol, glucose-fructose syrup or fruit sugar.

Stress

The liver needs to be cleansed. It does this by secreting bile and pushing it into the bile ducts and then through the gallbladder into the intestines. If the intestines are not functioning properly (in people who are prone to constipation) or if there are inflammatory changes in the walls, then bile can be reabsorbed and spread throughout the body via the blood. Eventually, it will back up into the liver and damage its cells.

Stress causes spasms. This prevents bile from flowing freely through the ducts and the gallbladder from contracting completely. Intestinal spasms aggravate constipation, leading to internal poisoning. My dear readers, it is important to remember that the gallbladder, which cleanses the liver, is the most nervous organ. With every stress, anxiety, irritation or anxiety, your liver suffers, which is vital for health and resourcefulness. Therefore, do not forget to make it a habit to use techniques to relax and harmonize your internal state every day. I wrote about this in my previous articles “Body spasms: where do they come from and what to do with them”, “How tension affects beauty and health” and “How to meditate correctly: time, methods, types”.

Also, with the help of miraculous essential oils, you can quickly get rid of mental and physical stress, eliminate spasms and the effects of stress (read more in my article “From lavender to rosemary: a great guide to aromatic oils”).

And of course, do not forget to add magic fiber, bitterness and the right fats to your daily diet (which I have written about many times before: “3 categories of products that are not obvious for health and beauty”, “Elimination of consequences: the right detox after the New Year holidays”). All these products contribute to good bile flow and therefore to the health of our greatest worker – the liver.

My dear readers, love yourself and keep your body healthy, take care of it like the greatest jewel of this world. After all, this wonderful temple was created for the soul and for its long, fulfilling and happy stay on our planet.