User's
Manual for the Liver
By
Gary Greenberg
SuperWriter, Inc.
The most damaging substance
in beer is alcohol, and one of its primary targets is the liver. When
you drink a beer or three, the liver processes the alcohol, which is
basically a poison. Even though the liver is one of the hardiest organs
in the body, a constant onslaught of alcohol can take a devastating
toll that may eventually have your doctor telling you that
The Liver
|
you should
no
longer drink beer.
While you may ignore
such warnings, they are sure to incite your wife, mother, child and/or
other loved ones to constanty bug you about your beer
consumption so it becomes less fun. And no one wants that. So
you need to take good care of your liver, and it, in turn,
will take good care of you.
Weighing in at
about three pounds, the liver is the most versatile and hardest working
organ
in the body, serving more than 500 functions. Fortunately, it needs no
conscious
supervision from us, and goes about its many tasks with a mind-boggling
efficiency.
“The liver is a remarkable
organ,” says integrative family physician Dr. Elson Haas.
“It’s basically a
biochemical factory, the body’s master lab.”
Among other
things, the liver processes nutrients from food to build, fuel and
maintain the
body; filters toxins from the blood; produces bile, cholesterol and
blood
clotting factors; regulates blood sugar; stores vitamins and minerals;
balances
hormones; and supports the
Hannibal Lecter
|
immune system. It is also
tasty, according
to cannibal Hannibal Lecter, who enjoyed eating one or more of his
victims' livers with fava beans and chianti.
The liver is as tough
as it is versatile, in part because it can regenerate itself. But
it’s not
invincible.
"The
liver’s
durability is a double-edged sword because it can take a beating
without
showing any signs of damage until it’s too late,”
says UCLA hepology professor Dr. Sammy Saab. “A simple
liver enzyme test can detect problems before symptoms show, but it
often isn’t
part of a routine blood panel.”
The most
widespread problem these days is non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD). An
estimated 100 million Americans have some form of it, and most have no
idea.
“Fatty liver is
the most common reason for liver damage in the U.S. and the
world,” says Saab.
“Generally, it is the result of being overweight due to a
diet high in sweets
and processed food, and a lack of exercise.”
Not surprisingly, the demon alcohol is
another major cause of liver disease. It destroys the organ’s
cells and
leaves scarred tissue, a condition called cirrhosis. Shockingly, one of
the
most affected demographics is women in their 40s.
Dr. Sammy Saab
|
“We don’t know
if it’s an Uber-Lyft generation that isn’t worried
about drinking and driving,
or just that the drinking culture has become more fashionable, but
we’re seeing
a huge upswing of young women with serious liver disease,”
notes Saab.
Meanwhile, another
generation faces a different threat, undiagnosed hepatitis C. The government’s
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that Baby Boomers
are
five times more likely to be harboring the hepatitis C virus than other
adults.
“Hepatitis
C can lead to
liver damage, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer,” notes the
CDC, adding that
most people who are infected don’t know it. Fortunately, a
simple blood test
can reveal all variations of the virus, which is treatable with
medications.
Speaking of
medications, since the liver metabolizes them, they can also take a
toll.
“Try to avoid
any unnecessary medications and supplements,” says Saab.
“Even over-the-counter
drugs like Tylenol and Motrin should be taken in moderation because
they can
cause liver damage.”
The best
way to take care of your liver is to
regulate your beer-drinking, and be selective about what you put in
your mouth. Like the rest of the body, the liver
thrives on natural, whole foods.
A liver-healthy
diet is heavy on fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and
seeds, with
modest amounts of fish, poultry, dairy and monounsaturated fats. To
help your
liver deal with environmental toxins such as pesticides, beets
can’t be beat
because they contain potent antioxidants and the super-fiber pectin.
Other
liver-detoxifying foods include garlic, onion, fermented vegetables,
dark leafy
greens, lemon, grapefruit, apples, berries, cruciferous veggies,
avocados,
walnuts, olive oil, green tea and turmeric.
And it likely won't hurt beer drinkers
to take a milk thistle supplement before and after indulging. A
funny-sounding flavonoid in the herb, called silymarin, has potent
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that help to protect the
liver from the toxins it metabolizes.
“Believe it or
not, studies show that coffee is very protective against liver
damage,” says
Saab. “Drink two to three cups a day, but without a lot of
cream and sugar.” |