The Liver-The Forgotten Organ For Effective WEIGHT LOSS By Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS
The First Lady of Nutrition and a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author including the revised edition of Before The Change and The Fat Flush Plan. Ann Louise has been a recent guest on The View and The Dr. Phil Show.
It is mind-boggling that 65 percent of the U.S. population is currently overweight or obese. And, to tell you the truth, I highly suspect this number might be closer to 80 percent! And just as surprising is the fact that America's overweight/obesity epidemic is not simply the result of too much food and too little exercise. There are many other 'hidden weight gain factors' which come into play including the fear of eating fat, stress, insulin resistance, and allergy. Each of these factors not only inhibits weight loss, but can also threaten your health and well being if not corrected and addressed properly.
The most surprising 'hidden weight gain factor' of all is the health and functionality of your liver, the body's most overlooked and perhaps overworked organ. The liver is responsible for performing nearly 400 different functions. It synthesizes and normalizes blood protein, stores glycogen, boosts immunity, metabolizes hormones, detoxifies the blood from chemical, drugs and bacteria of all types and manufactures bile to digest dietary fats and oils. If toxins overload the liver, this not only could contribute to liver toxicity, but also compromises the liver's fat-burning abilities.
According to the American Liver Foundation, 25 million Americans - one in every 10 - are or have been afflicted with liver and biliary diseases. In my New York Times best-selling book The Fat Flush Plan, I uncover a number of unsuspecting causes of liver toxicity. Factors such as caffeine, sugar, trans fats (hydrogenated vegetable oils), medications and inadequate fiber intake impact the liver's ability to burn fat and detoxify poisons and waste materials. Caffeine and trans fats especially disturb the normal detoxification processes of the liver, inhibiting the production of detoxifying liver enzymes and impeding bile production.
So how can you protect your liver?
In addition to a diet consisting of healthy proteins, Omega 3 enriched foods and vital amino acids, I also recommend a number of supplements that support the liver. The use of pure unadulterated oils such as flaxseed oil help boost metabolism and attract the oil soluble poisons which have been lodged in the fatty tissues. With the help of adequate fiber (in the form of psyllium or ground flaxseeds), these oil soluble toxins are transported out of the body for elimination.
Herbs and herbal formulations are another safe and effective means of protecting the liver, naturally. For heavy-duty liver support, I have begun recommending the herbal supplement LiverCare (Liv.52), a supplement which has been on the market nearly 50 years with over 300 clinical studies. LiverCare is a blend of several botanicals proven safe and effective in protecting the liver against harmful toxins found in food, air and water. It also protects against potentially harmful side effects from medications that would threaten the liver.
Although liver support and nourishment is only one piece of The Fat Flush puzzle, it is one of the most critical elements in any effective weight loss program. Once we understand the scientific function and necessity of vital liver process such as detoxification and the metabolism of fats, cholesterol and carbs, we can incorporate an effective weight management program into our daily lives that will work for us for many years to come.
These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure,or prevent any disease and have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
The statements and suggestions in this website are not intended to replace a doctor, Please consult with your doctor before you choose to take any food, vitamin, or herbal supplementation.
