This is the 8th article in a series specifically designed for Masters of Health Magazine readers to provide information that is not readily available for person’s who are experiencing baffling weight loss issues.
The majority of mail we received from last month’s article contained serious questions about how to safely detox a non-alcoholic fatty liver which seems to be a major weight loss deterrent.
Not knowing where to start with a safe detox was a major concern.
Dr. Chad Levitt from the UpWellness Center in Bulford, Georgia, USA suggests that Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is a major supporter for liver detox. Many conventional physicians suggest taking statins as a way to control cholesterol which helps create a fatty liver. Dr. Jack Wolfson, of Natural Heart Doctor Clinic of Scottsdale, Arizona, suggests the herb Silymarin combined with the supplement Berberine will do more than Statins with less side effects. Still some alternative practitioners suggest harsh methods (like walnut hulls). Detoxing gently is likely a more prudent method.
Editor’s NOTE: MOH does not recommend the use of statins. Also, AVOID consumption of canola oil and other damaged omega-6 oils as they cause an omega-3 deficiency. Omega-3 enables cell membranes to communicate with each other. Silymarin/Milk Thistle is very beneficial for liver repair. Vitamin E is vital for gall bladder health and many other functions.
It is a common misconception that eating less and increasing exercise is the panacea for weight loss. This is far from the Truth.
No matter which method you choose, experts agree that detoxing a fatty liver is one of the first steps in supporting your body’s ability to build and optimally manage fatty acid metabolism. The most common issues found in our database of people concerned with repairing a fatty liver included:
1. Peptides = Short chain amino acids involved in biochemical functions such as hormones, insulin and oxytocin.
2. AMPK – An Enzyme that helps regulate energy balance in the body: manages cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism
3. Taurine - A sulfur-containing amino acid important in the metabolism of fats and bile salts.
4. ATP – This process releases energy that cells use to power their functions. Involves energy conversion and expenditures.
5. Lysine -An Amino Acid that helps build protein, collagen, bile salts and Carnitine
6. Lipase – An Enzyme that helps digest fats (hormonal, hepatic, pancreatic and salivary glands). Especially lacking in post-menopausal females.
7. Arginine – An Amino acid that helps the body build proteins such as bile salts (found in many foods, including meat, fish, poultry, soy, beans, and dairy)
8. Adiponectin – A Protein hormone that helps with insulin sensitivity, inflammation, and metabolic processes (fat cells released into bloodstream)
9. Leptin – A hormone primarily produced by adipose (fat) tissue that plays a crucial role in regulating energy balance by inhibiting hunger, thereby helping to regulate body weight.