Liver Health

Your Blood Work Indicators

In your personal lab results the primary tests that relate to liver health include you're A/G Ratio, Bilirubin Total, Alkaline Phosphatase S, and AST (SGOT), all of which are found under your Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (13).

Don't forget to review your results using our sample lab results guide.

Supplements that may support Liver Health

Supplements that contain one or more of the following ingredients may support liver health. See references below.

• Artichoke leaf (Cynara scolymus)
• Burdock Root
• Eclipta alba
• Fennel Seed
• L-Methionine
• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum)
• Schisandra chinensis

Dietary supplements may not be risk-free under certain circumstances. If you are pregnant, nursing a baby, or have a chronic medical condition, such as, diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, be sure to consult your doctor or pharmacist before purchasing or taking any supplement.

Core Food Groups

Because everything you eat must pass through the liver, special attention to nutrition and diet can help keep your liver healthy. Increase your intake of high-fiber foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain breads, rice and cereals. A high-fiber diet is especially helpful in keeping your liver healthy.

Minimize your consumption of smoked, cured and salted foods. Try to avoid salt and use alternatives seasonings as lemon juice, onion, vinegar, garlic, pepper, mustard, cloves, sage or thyme.

References

Albert-Puleo M. Fennel and anise as estrogenic agents. J Ethnopharm 1980;2(4):337—44.

Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. (eds). The Complete Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. Boston, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications, 1998, pp. 128—9.

Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1985, pp. 145—6.

Mills SY. Out of the Earth: The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine. Middlesex, UK: Viking Arkana, 1991, pp. 424—6

Healthline. Globe Artichoke. http://www.healthline.com/natstandardcontent/globe-artichoke-1

National Cancer Institute. U.S. National Institutes of Health. Questions and Answers about Milk Thistle. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/milkthistle/

PDR Physicians Desktop Reference. PDR Health: Schizandra. http://www.pdrhealth.com

Tanira MOM, Shah AH, Mohsin A, et al. Pharmacological and toxicological investigations on foeniculum vulgare dried fruit extract in experimental animals. Phytother Res 1996;10:33—6.

Tilloston Institute of Natural Health. Copyright © 1999-2005, Tillotson Institute. All rights reserved. http://oneearthherbs.squarespace.com/important-herbs/eclipta-eclipta-alba-e-prostrata.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine for Treatment of Depression, Osteoarthritis, and Liver Disease. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 64. AHRQ Publication Number 02-E033. August 2002

University of Maryland Medical Center. Burdock. Review Date: 2/24/2007.Reviewed By: Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.