Is Your Liver Getting the Support It Needs?
What is your liver trying to tell you?
Have you stayed up late or kept an irregular schedule? Have you found yourself drinking often, whether at social events or just to unwind? Have you been feeling tired, low on energy, or just not at your best lately for no reason? If any of these sound familiar, your liver might be under more pressure than you think.
What’s Really Happening Inside Your Liver?
Just like a busy warehouse manager, your liver works tirelessly behind the scenes, sorting through all the toxins and waste to keep your body clean. It relies on specific enzymes and processes, including detoxifying enzymes that activate the clearance of toxins and normal bile production, which is crucial for flushing out fat-soluble toxins from the body.
But when life gets hectic, with late nights or poor habits, it may struggle to keep up. That’s why supporting your liver’s health and detox process is more important than ever.
Step One: Activating Detox Mechanisms with Broccoli Extract
Broccoli extract is a good source of glucoraphanin, a natural compound that gets converted into sulforaphane (SFN) by gut bacteria. Studies suggest that sulforaphane may boost the liver enzyme ALDH2 which helps break down acetaldehyde, a harmful byproduct of alcohol, and inhibits processes that lead to liver fibrosis. This process may help protect the liver and reduce the risk of alcohol-related damage. (Figure 1) [1,2].
Step Two: Supporting Detoxification with Artichoke Extract
Artichoke extract has been valued in Eastern traditions for centuries. Modern research shows it contributes to bile production for liver detoxification, helping your body break down fats and flush out toxins from the liver [3]. It also promotes healthy digestion and can help relieve bloating or discomfort.
Figure 2. Levels of collagen type I in hepatic biopsy samples from baboons fed a
diet containing 50% alcohol, with or without concomitant silymarin [4].
Taking care of your liver’s health does not have to be complicated. With the wisdom of nature and the support of modern science, keeping balance and feeling your best can be simple. Embracing the natural processes of your body and enjoying life with vitality and ease.
Figure 1. Mechanism of SFN in ameliorating alcoholic liver injury [1].
Step Three: Antifibrotic Protection with Milk Thistle Extract
Milk Thistle, known for its active compound silymarin, may support liver health by blocking the cells that cause liver scarring. In long-term studies, a high-alcohol diet led to serious liver damage and collagen buildup (Figure 2) [4]. However, adding silymarin significantly helped reduce this damage, suggesting it may help protect the liver from alcohol-related damage [4,5].
Step Four: Nurturing Balance with Schisandra Extract
Schisandra extract supports the liver’s ability to maintain balance and overall well-being. Packed with over 30 active compounds (lignans), it has shown to have strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and liver-protective effects. It may support balanced liver enzyme levels and contribute to liver tissue regeneration, supporting the liver’s natural recovery [6].
Resources
[1] Yan L, Yan Y. Therapeutic potential of sulforaphane in liver diseases: a review. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2023 Aug 29;14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1256029
[2] Huang X, Xu J, Hu Y, Huang K, Luo Y, He X. Broccoli ameliorate NAFLD by increasing lipolysis and promoting liver macrophages polarize toward M2-type. Journal of Functional Foods, 89(104898). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2021.104898
[3] Kraft K. Artichoke leaf extract — Recent findings reflecting effects on lipid metabolism, liver and gastrointestinal tracts. Phytomedicine. 1997 Dec 1;4(4):369–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0944-7113(97)80049-9
[4] Gillessen A, Schmidt HH j. Silymarin as supportive Treatment in liver Diseases: A Narrative review. Advances in Therapy. 2020 Feb 17;37(4):1279–301. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01251-y
[5] Hackett ES, Twedt DC, Gustafson DL. Milk Thistle and its Derivative Compounds: A review of Opportunities for treatment of liver disease. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2012 Nov 9;27(1):10–6. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.12002
[6] Addissouky TA, Sayed IETE, Ali MMA, Alubiady MHS, Wang Y. Schisandra chinensis in Liver Disease: Exploring the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Promise of an Ancient Chinese Botanical. Archives of Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2024 Jan 1;6(1):27–33. https://doi.org/10.33696/pharmacol.6.052