The liver is the largest of the entire internal organ
weighing 1500 grams. It is the organ responsible for the metabolic function and
the most chemical processes. Before the blood from the intestine is distributed
to the body it must pass through the liver. In the liver the blood goes through
the following processes:
·
It neutralizes toxic and foreign substance from
the digestive tract.
·
It processes the nutrients carried in the portal
blood from the intestine into better form for body storage. For example,
glucose is processed in reserve glycogen.
The liver is also responsible for the secretion of bile, a
substance useful for digestion which is stored in the gallbladder. It produces
approximately one liter per day.
Hepatopathies
This is general disease of the liver that affects its
function. The foods causing threat primarily to the liver are alcoholic
beverages and food rich in animal protein and fat. All the substance the blood
is bringing from the intestine is first processed in and purified in the liver.
Due to this fact, the following advice must be put into consideration:
·
Avoid foods that can overwork the liver.
·
Eliminate alcoholic beverages.
·
Avoid as possible as you can chemical-based
medication, food contaminants such as pesticides and chemical additives because
they will all be processed by the liver.
For the treatment of hepatopathies the following food must
be reduces or eliminated: Spices, Fried foods, Butter, Cream, Meat, Shellfish,
Sausages, Bacon, Salt, Protein, Total fat, and Alcoholic beverages.
Recommended healing foods: Whole grains, Fruit, Leafy green,
Vegetables, Grape, Apple, Plum, Cherry, Loquat, Artichoke, Cardoon, Onion,
Sauerkraut, Radish, Tapioca, Tamarind, Honey, Lecithin, Brewer’s yeast, and
Olive oil.
Gallbladder
Disorder
This is characterized by abdominal heaviness, pain on the
right side or headache. Gallbladder is the reservoir for the bile that must
empty at the appropriate time. If the gallbladder does not empty at the appropriate
time and intensity due to gallstones, inflammation or excessive thick bile, it
causes disorder called lazy gallbladder. Food rich in fat can aggravate the
problem of gallbladder disorder.
In treating this problem there must be reduction or
elimination of the following foods: Total fat, Citrus fruits, and Vegetable.
Recommended healing
foods: Artichoke, Chicory, Belgian endive, Escarole, Radish, Eggplant, Rhubarb,
Tamarind, Olive, and Papaya.
Hepatitis
This is an infection of the liver or an inflammation which
occur due to virus, alcoholic, a medication or another toxin. In dealing with
this problem diet must be healthy and light but nutritious. In treating this
problem, the following foods must be reduced or eliminated: Alcoholic
beverages, Saturated fat, Protein, Sugars, Coffee, and vitamin A
Recommended healing foods: in addition to healing foods
recommended for hepatopathies, particular attention must be given to the once
recommended in this section. Vegetables, Vitamin C, B vitamins, Folates, Antioxidants.