The liver is responsible for metabolizing fats, proteins and most of the toxins in our body. It also plays a role in storing glycogen to be used as energy when we need it.
When you eat a meal that contains a lot of sugar or protein (or both), your body breaks them down into glucose and amino acids. Your blood then takes these two nutrients to the liver, where they are stored as simple sugars called glycogen and amino acids. These stores can last for about 24 hours before being consumed by other parts of the body. If you don’t burn through these stores, you end up with excess levels of glucose and amino acids in your system.
High levels of glucose and amino acids in the bloodstream can lead to high blood sugar and low blood pressure. This can result in fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing and even coma.
Another issue with having too much glucose and amino acids in your system is that they stimulate your pancreas to produce insulin. Insulin helps bring the glucose and amino acid back out of your body; however, if you have too much insulin circulating in your bloodstream, it can cause weight gain and type 2 diabetes.
If you have excess glucose or amino acids in your blood, you might think that taking supplements would help reduce their effects on your health. The truth is, though, that the liver actually needs some of these nutrients to function properly. So, while supplements may not do any harm, there isn’t enough evidence to show that they will improve your overall health.
For example, one study showed that consuming whey protein after exercise didn’t increase how fast the protein was broken down by the liver. On the other hand, another study suggested that drinking milk could help prevent liver damage caused by alcohol consumption.
In addition to helping repair damaged liver cells, many different studies have shown that specific vitamins and minerals play an important role in preventing liver disease. For example, vitamin C has been shown to protect against alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis. Vitamin D has also been linked to reduced risk of developing liver cancer and fibrosis from hepatitis B virus infection. Other antioxidants like beta-carotene, selenium and coenzyme Q10 have also been found to improve liver health.
As you can see, there are several factors involved in liver health. While supplementation doesn’t seem to have much effect, it’s still important to eat a healthy diet and avoid harmful habits such as smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, taking certain medications and eating unhealthy foods. However the supplements can help in many ways. Supplements for liver detoxification work by assisting your body’s removal of harmful toxins from your system by assisting your liver in doing so. The liver is a crucial organ in your body and is constantly involved in detoxification processes.
But over time, this process loses its effectiveness and causes your liver to accumulate toxins. Eventually, this results in symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or bloating. There are some of the best Liver products available in the market you can use them.
1. Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is a popular herbal remedy touted as an effective treatment for liver problems. In fact, it’s so effective that it’s currently used to treat acute liver failure in Europe. But despite its popularity, studies haven’t shown that it improves the health of people who already have liver problems.
While there aren’t any major side effects associated with taking milk thistle, it does have some minor ones. One side effect is that it slows down the breakdown of acetaminophen, which is why many doctors advise patients who take this drug to stop drinking alcohol entirely.
2. L-Carnitine
L-carnitine is a natural substance made up of amino acids that the body uses to convert fat into energy. Since the liver relies on carnitine to break down fatty acids, the more carnitine in your system, the healthier your liver will be. However, this compound doesn’t just benefit the liver—it also works well in treating heart disease. Some research suggests that it might lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood. There isn’t very much research on L-carnitine, but since it seems to work well for both liver and cardiovascular health, it might be worth trying.
3. Alpha Lipoic Acid
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA) is a naturally occurring antioxidant that the body uses to remove free radicals from the body. Free radicals are molecules that are unstable because they contain unpaired electrons. Over time, free radicals can cause serious damage to DNA, proteins and other cellular components. In order to prevent this damage, the body produces antioxidants that remove the free radicals. However, sometimes free radicals get released all at once instead of gradually. When this happens, the antioxidants can’t keep up with the free radicals, and the damage begins. To deal with this problem, your body starts a process called inflammation that causes symptoms like pain, swelling and redness.
One way to restore balance to the system is to consume alpha lipoic acid. Studies suggest that ALA may be helpful in treating conditions ranging from diabetes to Alzheimer’s Disease. However, there isn’t enough research to show whether it improves liver health.
4. Green Tea Extract
Green tea extract is thought to be good for the liver due to its high concentration of polyphenol compounds. Polyphenols have anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the amount of toxin that accumulates in the liver. Some studies have shown that green tea extract reduces the amount of enzymes produced by the liver, which may slow the progression of chronic hepatitis and hepatic steatosis. Natural polyphenols found in green tea provide excellent support for liver function. The body’s natural detoxification processes are supported by polyphenols. Particularly, polyphenols support the liver and kidneys’ functions in the elimination process.
5. Glucosamine
Glucosamine is believed to be beneficial for repairing cartilage tissue. Cartilage is a connective tissue that protects joints and acts as padding between bones. As we age, this tissue becomes worn down and eventually breaks down. When this happens, our joints start grinding on each other and causing pain. Because glucosamine is made up of amino acids, it’s likely that it can replace lost cartilage and reduce joint pain.
There’s some controversy surrounding the effectiveness of glucosamine, though. Many studies show that it’s safe and helpful for arthritis sufferers, but others argue that glucosamine doesn’t provide significant benefits over ibuprofen.
