“Confirming your Conscience”
I guess it took my second health insurance screening and the result of my cholesterol levels. My total cholesterol had dropped another 10 points, and it concerned me that I wouldn’t make adequate amounts of good hormones like insulin and testosterone. Being a former non insulin dependent diabetic, balance is important! Go figure that eating between 4 and 12 eggs/day I would have hoped would raise it. But no! It was not to be. I got to thinking that since our bodies via its miraculous processes make about 80% of cholesterol, something on my conscience was not right.
So in all the infinite wisdom, I did some thinking and figured possibly all the time that I took medicines for diabetes, hypertension, high triglycerides, and blood clots these may have given my liver some grief! So let’s take a look on how important our livers are to us:
- The liver holds about 13 percent of the body's blood supply at any given moment. production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion
- production of certain proteins for blood plasma
- production of cholesterol and special proteins to help carry fats through the body
- Conversion of excess glucose into glycogen for storage (This glycogen can later be converted back to glucose for energy.)
- regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of proteins
- Processing of hemoglobin for use of its iron content (The liver stores iron.)
- Conversion of poisonous ammonia to urea (Urea is one of the end products of protein metabolism that is excreted in the urine.)
- clearing the blood of drugs and other poisonous substances
- regulating blood clotting
- resisting infections by producing immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream
When the liver has broken down harmful substances, they are excreted into the bile or blood. Bile by-products enter the intestine and ultimately leave the body in the feces. Blood by-products are filtered out by the kidneys and leave the body in the form of urine.
Medications have side effects that may harm your liver. Some of the medications that can damage your liver are: serzone, anti-cancer drugs (tagfur, MTX, and cytoxan), and medications used to treat diabetes.
How tragic! Ever even think of other medicines that cause the liver to not be able to do its job? When I was in nursing school there was a disease that was so rare that now has gone to at least no. 5 on the list of diseases that cost the most--------------ALZHEIMERS! Yes that’s right! By causing scarring of the brain tissues later in life- but believe me we are seeing this way too soon, the care for these patients is exorbitant! For something that is preventable------------yes PREVENTABLE! The allopathic medical community lists heart disease as one of the top killers today! Naturopathically we know that the level of cholesterol is not the issue goes to: www.ravnskov.com and check the real facts about cholesterol. But the fact that people believe that cholesterol is the culprit is a mission of the allopathic doctors----------the MD’s. Also too the medicine that is used called statin drugs, i.e.: zocor, tricor, crestor, atorvastatin all are culprits in creating unnecessary health problems. By blocking the production of cholesterol, the liver suffers because the ability of itself to have its own balance!
So in the New Year many of us make resolutions. I am sure lots of ideas have floated through your minds probably. If you have made a serious choice on improving your health, here’s some info:
Health is physical, emotional and spiritual. When one is out of balance, then the whole person is affected no matter how the other 2 try to adjust. This in turn causes stressors, which make us not well.
Sometimes identifying which 1, 2 or all are doing can require some help. Prayer, reflection, good foods, the 91 essential nutrients and water even healthy relationships are all positive influences on this triangle.
So let us give our bodies, especially the liver a treat this month and give it some support by:
1. Water- half your body weight in ounces is a good standard to go by. Never ice water and never more than 2 ounces with meals, 8 to 16oz in the am or upon arising is a bonus for the digestive system.(of which the liver belongs)
2. Juicing! It rejuvenates you in a great way! Dr Glidden ND suggests 4 carrots washed not peeled, 1 beet and 1 granny smith apple (organic is best if able-cored) taken within 60mins of processing is awesome for ones liver. Note; from my own experience, the carrot juice itself in the am is a body awakener!
3. 91 essential nutrients! Not being able to come from our foods we need to import them into our bodies every day in proportion for health challenges and bodyweight.
4. Add extra trace mineral selenium! Helps recycle glutathione that helps reduce oxidative damage supporting the liver. Selenium also supports all systems in the body and you can look up Dr. Gerhard Schrauzer PhD and look at his research.
5. Rest. Getting to bed before 10pm is optimal. It has been discussed that the hours between 10pm and 2am are the time our livers look forward to helping our bodies recover from the stresses of the day best.
6. Organic foods are best followed by frozen then canned. None that are processed.
7. A gluten free diet! Leaky gut syndrome is worth a look! Most folks don’t know they are gluten sensitive as well. Blood tests may not show it. Just best to stop eating gluten for as little as 1 week and see how you feel.
Each month I will suggest a book----------
This month, Overdo$ed America by john Abramson M.D.
As always, I am an advocate to change the way healthcare is practiced from allopathic to integrative.
Seek experts:
If it is Nutrition, Naturopathic doctors top the list. (Most chronic illnesses fall into this category).
Then let the Naturopath direct your care. You will have greater successes in your recovery!
You can always: “Ask the Commander”
Have a great month!
Super information! I will copy and save and share!
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