Liver Regeneration - Is This Proof the Body is Capable of Healing Itself?

Liver regeneration is possible, and it can do so with as little as 25% of the healthy liver tissue left. According to an article in the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, (1) the liver is “an interesting organ with high regenerative capacity and complex functions”. This if proof that the body can heal itself without drugs (pharmaceuticals).

As science also shows us time and again, certain foods along with a healthy lifestyle can help our bodies rebuild new healthy cells to replace diseased ones, make us stronger and help us heal. The world is full of people who have helped their bodies heal from diseases including hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even cancer. They all have two things in common; body cleansing to get the excess burden off the liver and other organs then high quality, holistic nutrition to help the body rebuild and regenerate new, healthy tissue; this is the basis of all holistic or alternative health.

The liver is an important organ that has a variety of functions to help your body stay healthy. It acts as a type of filter while it attracts toxins from metabolic processes or external substances (such as pesticides, food additives, etc.). It will attempt to neutralize these toxins and send them out through the intestines or kidneys. Your liver also breaks down fats, makes bile for digestion (and to remove waste) and stores glycogen. If your liver becomes overburdened, it may not be as efficient as we get older or if we get sick.

Taking care of your liver with everyday practices can help you protect and keep this very important organ working at its best. Given enough time and the right nutrition, liver regeneration may be possible, too

Many of us know that limiting alcohol consumption is important, but now we are learning that junk foods or highly processed foods can also inhibit liver function. According to the Linköping University in Sweden, one study showed that a high consumption of fast foods also elevated liver enzymes and fat content, making it similar to that of one who drinks excessive alcohol. (2) While the damage is not the same as long-term alcohol use, it does warn us to limit this type of food.

Keeping your liver healthy may mean more energy, speedier metabolism and of course better health. If your liver is functioning properly, it can better break down unhealthy fats for healthier weight control. You may find allergies decreasing and a stronger immune system. Helping my body cleanse, along with my liver, helped me reverse Hep C. So, besides cutting down (or out) junk food, what else can you do? Here are some more tips to help you protect your liver so you can stay healthy, energetic and strong. 

Liver Regeneration Tips

  • Drink fresh vegetable juice using carrots, celery, any other greens you like and here’s the important one – about ¼ to ½ of a beet. More than this can cause cramping and IBS-like symptoms as it is very powerful. Beets have plenty of antioxidants including beta-carotene, flavonoids and folic acid all of which help the first stage of liver detoxification. I believe drinking fresh vegetable juice on a daily basis was the key to helping my liver regeneration so I could become healthy once again.
  • Organic eggs are a rich source of B vitamins and a good source of protein which help the liver’s detoxification processes.
  • Spinach, garlic, tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, papayas, and melons are all good sources of Vitamin C, antioxidants and beta-carotene.
  • Broccoli, cabbage, eggs, brazil nuts, onions asparagus, avocado and mushrooms all contain natural sulfur compounds, and/or selenium and/or glutathione all of which are important for liver detoxification.
  • Lemon helps to generally cleanse the body.
  • Walnuts contain arginine to help the liver detoxify ammonia, a waste product of the body. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids which help detoxify and add nutrition as do Wheatgerm and Flax oil.
  • Soy Beans contain lecithin (as do eggs) which helps the liver break down fats and helps maintain healthy membranes around liver cells.
  • Dark green superfoods are full of easily assimilated proteins, folic acid and vitamins to assist your body healing process and liver regeneration, if needed.

Keep in mind it takes ten times the amount of nutrition to heal than it does to live on a day-to-day basis. Since your body probably cannot eat and digest that much food, fresh vegetable juices help as well as whole food supplements. Use these foods and supplements along with cleansing and you might find your body is stronger than you think! 

Resources

  1. Michalopoulos, George K. “Liver Regeneration.” Journal of cellular physiology213.2 (2007): 286–300. PMC. Web. 30 Jan. 2015.
  2. Fast food based hyper-alimentation can induce rapid and profound elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase in healthy subjects