There are many of us who use AAS that are toxic to the liver, but even without AAS our livers can become the body's garbage collector from every day toxins in the air we breath, the food we eat, and the water we drink. Maintaining a healthy liver is essential for life! Here's why?
THE LIVER
Although detoxification takes place in a number of body systems, the principal organ of detoxification is the liver. Your life depends on the liver's function as the primary defense against toxins that enter from the blood stream. If your liver ceased to function, you would quickly become very ill from the accumulation of toxic substances.
In addition to filtering and detoxifying the blood, the liver contributes to the body's anabolic and catabolic functions--this is, the reformation or building of new cells, tissues, and organs, and it's opposite, the breakdown of cellular structure. The liver also functions as storage for glycogen, a stored form of glucose. The astonishing capacities of the liver make it among the most functionally important organs in the body. It performs hundreds of different functions involving decontamination and recycling substances within the body. These functions include the following:
* Detoxifies chemicals form the environment.
* Converts amonia to urea.
* converts carbuhydrates and proteins to fat.
* Breaks down proteins.
* Eliminates bilirubin (a substance secreted in the bile)
* Filters and detoxifies blood.
* Forms ketones (waste products of partially metabolized fat) and phospholipids (fat molecules) from fatty acids.
* Forms lipoproteins.
* Metabolizes drugs.
* Metabolizes hormones.
* Produces bile salts.
* Produces lymphatic fluid (lymph nourishes and cleanses tissue cells).
* Stores glycogen and converts it to glucose for fuel.
* Stores vitamins A, D, B12, and the mineral iron.
* Synthesizes cholesterol and enzymes.
* Synthesizes blood-clotting factors.
* Synthesizes plasma proteins (including globulin needed for antibody formation.
HOW THE LIVER DETOXIFIES
The liver contains cells called "Kupffer cells" which are capable of removing dead cells, bacteria, and foreign substances from the blood. While the kupffer cells are responsible for filtering about 99 percent of the bacterial and food contaminants from the blood, other important cells in the liver, termed hepatocytes, are active in the detoxification of drugs, heavy metals, chemicals, alcohol, and hormones. These processes of detoxification require two important steps, known as phase one (oxidation reduction) and phase two (conjugation elimination)
The liver removes toxic and metabolic waste products from the body by converting then to water-soluble compounds that can be excreted in the urine. Those substances that are not water-soluble are transformed by the liver and excreted in the bile, a substance used for this purpose and for the digestion of fats. The bile is then transported into the intestines where it is eliminated in the feces. Toxins not completely removed by either one of these processes may be eliminated through the skin (fat soluble compounds are excreted in sweat), or lungs. Toxins that remain in the body accumulate in the adipose (fat) tissue and nerve cells, contributing to a wide range of degenerative conditions.
PHASE-ONE DETOXIFICATION
Phase one of the detoxification system is dependant on a group of fifty or so enzymes in the cytochrome P-450 system. Cytochrome P-450 enzzymes work primarily by oxidizing, or breaking down, toxins that effect our bodies. Oxidation is a biochemical reaction that inactivates or destroys chemicals by the transfer of oxygen and loss of electrons. The result is that for every atom destroyed by oxidation a free radical is generated. Management of free radical damage ia a critical concept too in our quest for health, longevity, and prevention of diseases.
Free radicals are a highly reactive species of oxygen and can damage protein, fats, cholesterol (lipids), and nucleic acids (compounds which make up our DNA and RNA--the building blocks or blueprint of who we are).
Free radical production is normally held in balance by antioxidants. Antioxidants that block destructive oxidation reactions include vitamins C and E, carotenoids, and the mineral selenium. Environmental pollution, infections, pesticides, eating the wrong foods, smoking, radiation, and even exposure to sunlight are some of the causes of free radical formation.
For this reason, the hepatocyte cells in the liver require a continuos supply of antioxidant nutrients to neutralize the potentially damaging free radicals. The most important antioxidant required by the liver for detoxification is the chemical GLUTATHOINE. Glutathoine is used in both phase one and phase two of the liver's detoxification process.
Glutathoine is a short protein chain (called a "tripeptide" containing three amino acids) consisting of L-glutamic acid, L-cysteine, and glycine. Glutathoine is an important antioxidant used by every cell in the body. Usually the liver produces Glutathoine in sufficient quantities to keep "check" on the free radicals produced. But the problems that cause free radical production, such as pollution, pesticides, smoking, poor food choices, and even disease processes such as diabetes or parkinson's disease, can cause the body's stores of Glutathoine to be depleted and not able to keep up with the onslaught of free radical production.
Important dietary sources of Glutathoine include fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, and meat. The body can also synthesize Glutathoine from the amino acids methoinine, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and glycine. Methoinine, the primary source for Glutathoine, is abundant in a well-rounded diet. One excellent supplemental source of Methoinine is S-adenosylmethoinine, also known as SAM-e.
Two other supplements that can significantly increase Glutathoine levels are MILK THISTLE and ALPHA LIPOIC ACID. Milk thistle is a preperation from the fruit of milk thistle (sylibum marianum). Milk thistle's liver protective action is mainly due to it's antioxidant capacity, which helps maintain Glutathoine levels in the body. Alpha Lipoic Acid is a Glutathoine-boosting and anti-aging nutrient. Addind Alpha lipoic acid to your diet can improve your cellular Glutathoine levels by 30% or more. Alpha lipoic acid also plays a role in supporting Glutathoine activity.
Other key nutrients required by the liver for phase one detoxification include beta-carotene, vitamin C, E, B3 (niacin), and choline (a form of B vitamin), the minerals copper, magnesium and zinc, and the essential fatty acids omega-3, omega-6
KEY NUTRIENTS REQUIRED FOR PHASE-ONE DETOXIFICATION INCLUDE:
* Beta carotene
* Choline
* Copper
* Lecithin
* Magnesium
* Glutathoine
* Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
* Sulfur
* Vitamins B3 (niacin), C, and E
* Zinc.
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Originally Posted by Honest Abe
