There are few organs in your body as vital as the liver. It is not only is the largest body organ, it also performs more different functions than any other organ in the body. Among other functions, it receives about one-fourth of the arterial blood pumped out by the heart at every beat, and all the blood from the veins in the area of the intestines which contain digested food ; it removes toxic substances such as nicotine, alcohol, caffeine, drugs, industrial poisons, etc. from the blood, and acts on foodstuff already reduced by the digestive process by putting it back together in chemical compounds usable by the body.
Because of this heavy load imposed on it, you can see that this important health-builder needs all the care it can get in order to keep the body functioning in perfect order. Here are several dietary suggestions from the book "Natural Remedies Encyclopedia" by Vance Ferrell et. al. :
* Make sure you obtain foods high in potassium. This includes rice, bananas, blackstrap molasses, wheat bran, almonds, seeds, kelp and dulse, brewer's yeast, prunes, and raisins.
* Drink lots of water.
* Emphasize raw foods in your diet.
* Drink fresh vegetable juices, especially carrot and beet. Only raw nuts and seeds. They must be fresh, not stale!
* Use only cold-pressed vegetable oils (flaxseed oil and wheat germ oil, taken raw and not added to your cooking). Use no other type of oils - and no grease (margarine, butter, shortening, or meat fat).
* Vitamin K is important, to help prevent cirrhosis of the liver. Vitamin A helps protect the liver ( taken in the form of carotene in fresh carrot juice and leafy vegetables).
* The lemon and the liver are sweethearts. The lemon is one of the best friends that the liver has.
* CoenzymeQ10 helps supply oxygen to the liver.
* Lecithin helps prevent fatty buildup in the liver.
* Dandelion is an excellent food for the liver. Beet juice slowly cleanses the liver. Eating fresh apples stimulates the liver into action. Turmeric also protects the liver.
* Use celandine and silymarin (which is milk thistle extract) each day to help maintain good liver function. But do not use celandine during pregnancy.
Published by Teresita C. Tayanes on January 6, 2009 03:30 AM
