ISO Foods that are good for your liver

[erinyyc]

I have recently found out that my liver is not functioning properly. It is storing too many toxins and not getting rid of them. I have had to stop taking vitamins (I became toxic from vitamin A ) and have had to keep a close eye on what I eat through out the day to avoid eating too much vitamin A.

My question is...are there foods that help clean out your liver?

Erin http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[AndreaU]

I found this info on Dr. Andrew Weil's website http://www.drweil.com

Liver Problems Dietary Recommendations:
1. Decrease protein to 10 percent or less of daily caloric intake.
2. Limit dietary fat to 25 percent of daily caloric intake.
3. Eat lots of starches, vegetables, and fruits.
4. Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
5. Drink plenty of water.
6. Drink dandelion-root tea.
7. Try taking extracts of the seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum). This herbal remedy is non-toxic, and European research shows that it stimulates regeneration of liver cells and protects them from toxic injury.

Hope that's a start... as for Vitamin A, I know it appears in many fruits & veggies. I guess it's a matter of finding out which ones don't have it.

[This message has been edited by AndreaU (edited 04-19-2001).]

[erinyyc]

AndreaU..thanks for the great info and website. I know that I have had to cut back on my carrot consumption drastically. I used to munch on carrots all day long (a habit I got from quitting smoking). All the carrots, cantelope, and dairy, added to the vitamins, it's no wonder I was toxic!LOL
Thanks again
Erin http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lorilei]

I know that there are a variety of resources out there which deal with detoxifying the liver. One good book is The Liver-Cleansing Diet by Sandra Dr. Cabot

You might also check into the benefits of herbal teas for liver cleansing. I know there are some great herbs (with no or few side effects) that have a great impact on the liver and its function!

Good luck!

[maizeyoats]

I don't know of any specific food that you should eat but I do know that you should cut down on protein while your liver is regenerating. I would highly recommend that you take Thisilyn by Nature's Way. I have been told by a liver specialist that it is the best available.
Hope things get back to normal soon.

[makedah]

I'm curious...what made you think your liver wasn't working properly, as in what symptoms did you have? How did your doctor determine what was going on? I don't have the foggiest idea about what would be a sign of liver malfunction.

[erinyyc]

makedah..Well it was sort of a fluke actually. I had been feeling ill for quite a while despite eating well, exercising, and having my yearly flu shot (I have asthma so a flu shot is a must). I also had been having a lot of bladder infections, so my Dr. sent me for an abdominal ultra-sound test to check my kidneys. Before the results came back I noticed that the whites of my eyes were a little yellow, so I returned to the DR. That same day my results came back from the ultra-sound and showed my liver was enlarged (but my kidneys and bladder were just fine). My Dr. sent me for some tests to see if I was toxic and it came back positive for a few things but almost deadly for vitamin A. By the time the last results came in my eyes were very yellow and I had gone from a very fair complexion to an olive toned one.
Keep in mind that all of the tests, from start to finish, only took a total of 10 days!
So if you notice changes or signs of your eyes or skin looking yellow or sallow (that is if you normally don't look this way) please check with your Dr., it could be your liver.
If the Dr. hadn't sent me for the ultra-sound to check my water works I wouldn't have even known my liver was enlarged and I was toxic until it my have been to late.
There is more to my problem than just being toxic, but it's still so soon and there are more tests to be done.
Erin http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
Thanks to all who sent info! I don't think there's a book left in the library about the human liver!!LOL

[This message has been edited by erinyyc (edited 04-21-2001).]

[mlou]

Milk thistle and fresh parsley are two of the best things around for liver problems. Garlic is the bar-none best way to de-tox any part of your body!! Eat lots and the parsley will help curb some of the garlic odor http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Keep in mind though that when you think garlic is seeping out your pores-IT IS! This means it is doing it's job http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif