Recipes for a Healthier Liver

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Your Liver: Vital to All Aspects of Health


Your liver is the most overworked organ in your body. It is responsible for:

Filtering and processing all food, nutrients, alcohol, drugs and other materials that enter the bloodstream and letting them pass, breaking them down or storing them
Manufacturing bile to emulsify fats for digestion
Making and breaking down many hormones, including cholesterol, testosterone and estrogens
Regulating blood sugar levelsThe quality of virtually every function your body performs depends on your liver. In addition, the liver is the anchor of all emotions, which means that the negative emotions we experience are stored there.

In today’s world we face many challenges to maintaining healthy, fully functioning livers. That’s why it has never been more important to cleanse and detoxify our livers on an ongoing basis.

Signs That Could Indicate Less Than Optimal Liver Health:

Overweight
Abdominal bloating after eating
Poor and inadequate digestion’
Frequent or continued fatigue
Frequent headaches or migraines
Mood and behavior swings
Unpleasant moods
Bad breath
Coated tongue when going without food for a half or full day
Irritable bowel syndrome
Sluggish metabolism
Over-burdened immune system
Recurring colds, fevers and mucus
High cholesterol
Excessive body heat
Gallbladder problems
Fatty liver
Allergies
High blood pressure
Sugar cravings
Inability to lose weight
Excessive alcohol intake
Hormonal imbalance
Oily skin
Skin blemishes
Rashes
Chemical intolerance
Excessive gasThese are some of the factors that may indicate you have liver problems. All liver problems will grossly affect body functions.

Facts About the Liver

Largest fatty organ in the body; essential for life
Produces bile to help absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins
Removes or neutralizes poisons from the blood
Produces immune cells to stop infection
Removes germs and bacteria from the blood
Makes proteins that regulate blood clottingLiver Stressors

Exposure to chemicals – Toxins, pharmaceutical drugs and parasites. Many pesticides, petrochemicals, and environmental toxins are potent liver stressors. Acetaminophen can also stress the liver, as can reactions to prescription drugs. Parasitic infection (schistosomiasis) can also contribute to cirrhosis.
Poor Diet – Excess intake of refined carbohydrates and sugars can cause fatty liver or liver degeneration over time, Diabetes, protein malnutrition, obesity, and corticosteroid treatment can also cause fatty liver.
Iron overload – Excess iron in the diet can stress the liver, especially in individuals who are genetically unable to dispose of or sequester dietary iron (hemochromatosis). It creates a haemo-type liver pathology.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) – This condition causes fat buildup and eventual cirrhosis of the liver. This type of hepatitis appears to be associated with diabetes, protein malnutrition, obesity, coronary artery disease, and corticosteroid treatment.
Chronic hepatitis B and C – The hepatitis virus is a major cause of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in the United States. Hepatitis viral infections cause inflammation and low-grade damage to the liver that eventually leads to cirrhosis and death.
Inherited diseases – Alpha-1 antitrypsin, Wilson’s disease, galatosemia, and glycogen storage diseases are inherited disorders that result in mal-production, mal-processing, and mal-storage by the liver of enzymes, proteins, and metals.
Blocked bile ducts When the ducts that carry bile out of the liver are blocked, bile backs up and damages liver tissue (biliary cirrhosis). A Stressed Liver Can Lead To:

Loss of appetite
Nausea
Weakness
Weight loss
Edema and ascites. When the liver stops making albumin, water increases in the leg (edema) and abdomen (ascites).
Bruising and bleeding. Caused when liver slows production of clotting proteins.
Jaundice. Yellowing of the skin and eyes
Itching. Bile products deposited in the skin may cause intense itching
Gallstones
Forgetfulness, poor circulation or disturbed sleep
Sensitivity to medication. Because the liver does not remove drugs from the blood at the usual rate, drugs act longer than expected.
Portal hypertension. The flow of blood through the portal vein is slowed, which increases the pressure inside.
Varices. Blood from the intestines and spleen backs up into blood vessels in the stomach and esophagus. These vessels swell and are more likely to burst.
Lowered immunity. Cirrhosis can result in immune system dysfunction, leading to infection.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

NOTE: The following delicious recipes were created to facilitate cleansing of the liver.The secret is to use foods that are acid-binding. Enjoy!

Beet Salad with Apples and Carrots

3 medium cooked beets (sliced and diced)
1 large apple (Golden Delicious or Granny Smith)
3 carrots
1/2 fresh lime
2 tbs. coconut oil
1 dash of Juva Spice
1 dash of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. Agave
1 head of romaine lettuce
1 head of red leaf lettuceDirections: Grate the carrots and apples. Steam the beets for one minute and then run under icy water for 3 minutes to prevent overcooking. Slice, then dice and mix together.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Essential Rice Salad

3 cups cooked brown rice (chilled)
1 cup cooked corn kernels
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped almonds
1 cup grated carrots
3 green onions (finely sliced)
2 tbs. sesame seeds (toasted)
1/4 cup raisinsDirections: After cooking rice, place in refrigerator. When rice is chilled, toss rest of ingredients in salad bowl, along with a light dressing of your choice.

NOTE: Is also delicious without any dressing

[Edith K. Thurmond]

The Liver Cleanser (Beet Soup)


5 cups pureed steamed beets
4 cups of vegetable stock (or Campbell's all-natural stock)
4 tbs. chopped garlic cloves
1 whole cucumber (finely chopped)
2 squeezes of lemon
1 tsp. Juva SpiceDirections: Combine all the ingredients and mix well. If precooked, you can serve it chilled - or put in saucepan and bring just to boil before serving.

[Wendy Smith]

Edith,

Thanks for this post. It is very interesting what all the Liver is involved with!
I remember them talking about my liver when they took out my gallbladder and stones..not sure what they were saying..i was coming out of recovery from the surgery at the time. Now it makes me wonder!?

I LOVE BEETS....is that the main thing that is good for the Liver...or is it the combination of all the foods in the recipes?
I have never cooked beets..my mom use to when i was a kid...i buy them in the jar or can...which i know can't be as healthy but i love them.
Do you have a recipe just for cooking beets by themselves. Just boil them? Add anything?
Thanks again
Wendy

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Edith,

Thanks for this post. It is very interesting what all the Liver is involved with!
I remember them talking about my liver when they took out my gallbladder and stones..not sure what they were saying..i was coming out of recovery from the surgery at the time. Now it makes me wonder!?

I LOVE BEETS....is that the main thing that is good for the Liver...or is it the combination of all the foods in the recipes?
I have never cooked beets..my mom use to when i was a kid...i buy them in the jar or can...which i know can't be as healthy but i love them.
Do you have a recipe just for cooking beets by themselves. Just boil them? Add anything?
Thanks again
Wendy

Wendy, glad you enjoyed the information regarding the liver. Yes, beets are one of the best foods for the liver. Spinach and lemons are 'right up there' too. When cooking beets, I try to minimize the bleeding but it is not possible to eliminate it entirely. Cooking them whole in a covered pan, whether baking or steaming, will minimize the best. Beets have a special affinity with all sort of herbs, as well as lemon juice. I would not 'pickle' them. The best way of all is to juice the beets and their tops and mix with other vegetables juices. I did not think that most people on this forum would probably do the juicing so I am putting the best recipes I have for liver cleansing. The lemonade that I posted on the SUMMER DRINKS thread on w2w is actually a drink for detoxifying the body and tastes great. When doing a targeted liver cleanse, that drink, with the addition of a drink made chiefly of Ningxia wolfberries, is used extensively.

There IS synergy with the combination of ingredients but all of the recipes will contain foods that are acid-binding. Most people's daily diets consist, primarily, of acid-forming foods. That is not good and is what causes all sorts of problems in the body. In a nutshell, the following cycle is what happens:

Acid creates mucus.
Mucus creates inflammation.
Inflammation creates disease.
Disease causes illness and can cause death.The Berg's Tables are what show the acid-binding and acid-forming foods. Dr. Berg died before his work was completed but there is enough done for us to use wisely. Basically, the animal meats and most dairy products are extremely acid-forming as are most grains commonly eaten. Brown rice and whole wheat are almost neutral while white flour and white rice are highly acid-forming. All the vegetables (root and above ground) are acid-binding with the exception of brussel sprouts. Some of the highest and best veggies to be consumed are:

Beets (and tops)
Endive
Green lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Dandelion
Dill
Leeks
Black radish (highest and best of all). You will have to 'grow your own' and seeds can be purchased from www.seedsofchange.com (http://www.seedsofchange.com)
Sweet potatoes
Celery
Celery rootIn the fruit category, all are acid-binding and great for daily consumption. Some of the very highest are:

Figs
Raisins
Olives
TangerinesSoy beans are, also, high in acid-binding properties. I watch just how much I do consume as they tend to really affect hormones and too much of them can actually get one's hormones out of balance. Tricky business that hormone balance is!

When eating any food that is acid-forming, be sure and also eat some foods with it that are acid-binding as this is very important. I plan to put a new recipe in this category every few days until there is a nice assortment of them. My prayer is that every woman will really look at her body (especially the liver) and learn to consume the foods that support her health and well being. My reason for posting the information about the liver is to gain knowledge. When we have knowledge, then we have power and reasons to make good informed choices. God created us to be healthy and I do believe that we have a responsibility to cooperate with him in that venture.

Blessings to you,

[Grandma Carolyn]

Wendy, glad you enjoyed the information regarding the liver. Yes, beets are one of the best foods for the liver. Spinach and lemons are 'right up there' too. When cooking beets, I try to minimize the bleeding but it is not possible to eliminate it entirely. Cooking them whole in a covered pan, whether baking or steaming, will minimize the best. Beets have a special affinity with all sort of herbs, as well as lemon juice. I would not 'pickle' them. The best way of all is to juice the beets and their tops and mix with other vegetables juices. I did not think that most people on this forum would probably do the juicing so I am putting the best recipes I have for liver cleansing. The lemonade that I posted on the SUMMER DRINKS thread on w2w is actually a drink for detoxifying the body and tastes great. When doing a targeted liver cleanse, that drink, with the addition of a drink made chiefly of Ningxia wolfberries, is used extensively.

There IS synergy with the combination of ingredients but all of the recipes will contain foods that are acid-binding. Most people's daily diets consist, primarily, of acid-forming foods. That is not good and is what causes all sorts of problems in the body. In a nutshell, the following cycle is what happens:

Acid creates mucus.
Mucus creates inflammation.
Inflammation creates disease.
Disease causes illness and can cause death.The Berg's Tables are what show the acid-binding and acid-forming foods. Dr. Berg died before his work was completed but there is enough done for us to use wisely. Basically, the animal meats and most dairy products are extremely acid-forming as are most grains commonly eaten. Brown rice and whole wheat are almost neutral while white flour and white rice are highly acid-forming. All the vegetables (root and above ground) are acid-binding with the exception of brussel sprouts. Some of the highest and best veggies to be consumed are:

Beets (and tops)
Endive
Green lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Dandelion
Dill
Leeks
Black radish (highest and best of all). You will have to 'grow your own' and seeds can be purchased from www.seedsofchange.com (http://www.seedsofchange.com)
Sweet potatoes
Celery
Celery rootIn the fruit category, all are acid-binding and great for daily consumption. Some of the very highest are:

Figs
Raisins
Olives
TangerinesSoy beans are, also, high in acid-binding properties. I watch just how much I do consume as they tend to really affect hormones and too much of them can actually get one's hormones out of balance. Tricky business that hormone balance is!

When eating any food that is acid-forming, be sure and also eat some foods with it that are acid-binding as this is very important. I plan to put a new recipe in this category every few days until there is a nice assortment of them. My prayer is that every woman will really look at her body (especially the liver) and learn to consume the foods that support her health and well being. My reason for posting the information about the liver is to gain knowledge. When we have knowledge, then we have power and reasons to make good informed choices. God created us to be healthy and I do believe that we have a responsibility to cooperate with him in that venture.

Blessings to you,

Edith I've been looking for the information from you. Doug probably misunderstood you. He thought you would be sending me some info in my e-mail, but I think you probably told him you would post it on the internet. I just happened to find your posts while reading WW. Thanks for posting this information.

What was the name of the book that you suggested that I get to read about cleansings? I misplaced my notes.

Thanks for the info.

**GC**

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Sprouted Green Salad

4 cups mixed sprouts (mung beans, soybeans, alfalfa)
1 cup mixed herbs of your choice (e.g., parsley, chives, basil, dill and coriander)
1 large Gala apple (diced)
10 green onions (sliced)
1 cucumber (diced and seeded)
4 stalks of celery (diced)

Directions

Mix together and add dressing of your choice.

[Sue Pyles]

This post was very interesting.

[Carmen Harrison]

Hi Edith:
Do you have a favorite liver cleansing juice recipe?

We have been enjoying fashion designer Donna Karan's Green Juice that she did on the Martha Stewart show a few days ago.
It is really yummy, but I don't know if it would be considered a liver cleansing juice.

Donna Karan’s Green Juice

Ingredients:

5 apples, preferably organic
1/2 bunch celery
1/2 bulb fennel
1 cucumber
1/2 head romaine lettuce
1 (1-to-2-inch) piece of ginger
1 lemon, peeled
2 cups kale, spinach leaves, or parsley sprigs

Directions:
Juice all ingredients in a juicer. Divide evenly between 2 glasses and serve.

We didn't know what to do with the fresh fennel sprouting from the fennel bulb, so we just put it in the juicer also.

[Edith K. Thurmond]

Hi Edith:
Do you have a favorite liver cleansing juice recipe?

We have been enjoying fashion designer Donna Karan's Green Juice that she did on the Martha Stewart show a few days ago.
It is really yummy, but I don't know if it would be considered a liver cleansing juice.

Donna Karan’s Green Juice

Ingredients:

5 apples, preferably organic
1/2 bunch celery
1/2 bulb fennel
1 cucumber
1/2 head romaine lettuce
1 (1-to-2-inch) piece of ginger
1 lemon, peeled
2 cups kale, spinach leaves, or parsley sprigs

Directions:
Juice all ingredients in a juicer. Divide evenly between 2 glasses and serve.

We didn't know what to do with the fresh fennel sprouting from the fennel bulb, so we just put it in the juicer also.

Carmen, I just replied with a thorough response and recipe and then lost it when clicking SUBMIT. Will have to try a bit later when there is more time. Lots to do this evening.

Blessings,