The Liver and Detoxification

By Shahrokh Shahverdi, DC, CCSP

Shu's Family Wellness & Chiropractic

. http://shusfamilywellnesscenter.com/

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The Liver and Detoxification

The liver is an extremely complex organ involved in multiple immune and metabolic processes. If the liver is not detoxifying optimally, it will be virtually impossible to have success with any disease including thyroid, hormonal imbalance or even weight loss. Unfortunately, many patients are given hormones without a thorough analysis of their liver's ability to metabolize hormones. This can do more harm than good due to a build-up of un-metabolized or partially metabolized hormones circulating in the blood stream causing abnormal hormone responses.

Nutrition, toxin exposure and genetics are all key factors in liver detoxification. Many studies have shown that impaired liver detoxification can lead to fatigue, and autoimmune diseases both major factors in GI and thyroid health. The majority of thyroid hormone is converted into its active form in the liver. If the liver is not functioning optimally, signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism will arise.

The liver is also important for balancing sex and adrenal hormones due to its role in metabolizing hormones and detoxifying thyroid-disrupting chemicals. The process of detoxification is basically the conversion of fat-soluble compounds into water-soluble compounds that can be eliminated in the feces, urine and sweat. Hormones are fat-soluble compounds as well as environmental toxins, drugs, pesticides, and allergy causing complexes.

Live enzymes can directly neutralize chemicals or convert them into waste products that can be easily excreted by the body. Inflammation can place undue stress on the liver. Insulin resistance puts major stress on the liver due to inefficient sugar burning in the liver, which leads to fatty acid production from the excess sugar. Over time this leads to fatty liver disease.

A leaky gut will put undue stress on the liver due to constant flow of toxins passing through the gut barrier entering the liver, which must then detoxify these compounds.

The following pathways must be supported for proper detoxification. This can be important for thyroid patients who have thyroid imbalance due to excess testosterone, estrogen, toxic metals and thyroid disrupting chemicals.

Detoxification can be a vital part of optimizing thyroid function, diabetes, heart disease, weight loss and more.