- UPC: 040647006966
# 15696
|
|
Liver Vitality™ . . . .supports healthy liver function* Features and Benefits
F acts about the liverThe liver is the largest internal organ in the human body. One of its most crucial functions is detoxification; the removal of harmful toxins from the blood and their elimination from the body. The liver facilitates this process by altering fat-soluble toxic chemicals so that they become water-soluble compounds that are not stored in fat, but are instead released via urine and feces. The detoxification process uses two sets of complex enzyme systems: in Phase I, toxic fat-soluble molecules are converted to water-soluble, and in Phase II, the molecules are excreted. In addition to detoxification, the liver produces bile, a fluid secreted into the intestinal tract to help metabolize fats. Bile also serves as a carrier for many of the toxins filtered out by the liver, and binds with feces to facilitate their elimination. Bile acts as an emulsifier; helping fats combine with water so they can be more easily absorbed. Every day, the liver manufactures almost 1 quart of bile. Toxins are introduced to the body through food, water, or air (including drugs, food additives, industrial chemicals, and pesticides). For example, each year the average American is exposed to an estimated 14 pounds of food preservatives, additives, waxes, colorings, and flavorings, in addition to pesticidal and herbicidal residues. Common prescription and non-prescription drugs, such as the common pain reliever acetaminophen, can, when regularly taken, put a considerable amount of stress on the liver’s detoxification mechanisms.*1 Even organically grown foods can contain naturally occurring toxic constituents that the liver must process. When the liver functions properly, the human body can tolerate a wide variety of toxins. Even in healthy individuals, the toxins that abound in our modern environment can overload or inhibit liver function, possibly resulting in a steady, insidious accumulation of harmful substances.*2 Toxins can also be naturally-occurring, resulting from normal digestion and metabolism. Fortunately, the liver has a remarkable ability to restore and heal itself. Most important to liver health is a healthy diet (as free as possible from additives and pesticides) and minimal exposure to toxic substances (drugs, pollution, cigarette smoke, excess alcohol beverages). Supplementation with particular herbs and nutrients can also help protect and support healthy liver function and stimulate internal detoxification.*
Milk Thistle Perhaps the best known and best researched herb used to promote liver health is standardized Milk Thistle Seed Extract (Silybum marianum). Milk Thistle heads have been used for thousands of years as both a culinary garnish and a health food.*3 The primary active constituent in Milk Thistle extract is a group of water-soluble flavonoids collectively referred to as silymarin.3,4,5 Silymarin protects against the destruction of liver cells and supports liver health in several ways.* First, silymarin imparts highly potent antioxidant activity.*6 Silymarin protects liver function through its own antioxidant properties, and helps inhibit depletion of important antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase.*7,8,9,10 Silymarin helps protect liver cells by stabilizing cell membranes while maintaining antioxidant glutathione levels, thereby preventing damaging factors such as leukotrienes and free-radicals from penetrating and adversely affecting liver function.*3,11,12,13 Regular, long-term alcohol consumption is one of the most common causes of diminished liver function. Studies conducted on heavy alcohol drinkers confirm that silymarin and its constituents are powerful antioxidants that specifically protect the liver from alcohol-related free-radical damage.*10,14,15,16 Additionally, silymarin can stimulate the production of new liver cells.*3,11
Glutathione Support Glutathione, although a small antioxidant protein composed of three amino acids, is of large import and is essential for adequate liver detoxification of many substances. The body’s level of glutathione is directly linked to the liver’s ability to detoxify, since it allows the transformation of fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble compounds that are easily eliminated in urine.*17 Exposure to toxins typically reduces the concentration of glutathione in the body.*18 Oral consumption of glutathione supplements has been shown to result in poor absorption.*19 Fortunately, glutathione levels can be effectively increased through supplementation of other key nutrients.* In one trial, 500 mg of Vitamin C was shown to increase glutathione levels by nearly 50% after two weeks.*20 Oral supplementation of NAC (N-acetylcysteine) has been shown to enhance levels of glutathione in the liver.*21 One animal trial reported that silymarin, increased glutathione levels in rats by 35%.*22 Other nutrients that support glutathione synthesis are riboflavin, vitamin B-6, selenium, and zinc.*23
Natural Lipotropics This formula contains nutrients and herbs known to possess lipotropic properties.* Lipotropic (Greek: lipo=fat / tropic=turning) agents are a class of substances that play an important role in the body’s ability to catabolize and metabolize (convert or turn) fats. Among the most noteworthy lipotropics are choline, inositol, methionine and betaine ((not to be confused with the digestive aid betaine hydrochloride).* One of the specific aims of supplementation with lipotropics is to support the natural production of SAMe (S-adenosyl L-methionine).* Two of the most important metabolic pathways in the liver are those that manufacture methionine and SAMe from homocysteine. Betaine, or trimethylglycine, is a naturally occurring substance found in many plants and animals. Betaine serves as a methyl donor in human metabolism, maintaining healthy levels of SAMe through supporting its synthesis from homocysteine, thus helping to reduce fatty infiltration of the liver.*24 Choline and Inositol support metabolism of fats by the liver.* Choline is involved in the production of bile and lipoproteins.*25,26,27 Although the body can synthesize choline in the presence of vitamin B12, folic acid, and the amino acid methionine, normal choline production may not always be adequate.*28 Diets deficient in choline may lead to undesirable changes in liver and kidney function.*29 Although inositol has not been proven to be required by humans, inositol deficiency in animals has been shown to result in an unwanted accumulation of fat in the liver.*30 Methionine, an essential sulfur-containing amino acid, has lipotropic properties similar to choline.*31 Methionine is one of the nutrients required for the body’s production of choline and SAMe, and a deficiency in this essential amino acid will adversely affect fat metabolism.*28 Methionine is also used in the detoxification of certain chemicals.*32
Hepato-Protective* Herbal Blend In addition to the standardized Milk Thistle Seed extract, Nature’s Life Liver Vitality™ contains a Hepato-Protective* Herbal Blend composed of Artichoke Leaf (Cynara scolymus), Green Cabbage Leaf (Brassica oleracea italica), Lemon Peel (Citrus limon), and Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale). Recently, standardized Artichoke leaf (Cynara scolymus) has been studied for its effectiveness in supporting healthy liver function.* Artichoke extract is quite similar to milk thistle seed extract in its detoxification-enhancing properties.*33 Artichoke leaf is a choleretic, meaning that it increases the formation and flow of bile from the liver.*34 Though most studies so far have been on animals or in test tubes, artichoke extracts have been shown to enhance detoxification and protect the liver from damage.*31,35,36 Green Cabbage Leaf (Brassica oleracea) contains indoles and sulforaphane, which have been shown to support both phase I & II detoxification mechanisms.*37 Lemon Peel (Citrus limon) contains limonene, which also supports phase I & II detoxification.*38,39 Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) supports liver function by increasing the flow of bile.*40 Other Ingredients Several vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C and E, magnesium, and selenium are required for normal liver detoxification function.*41 Other nutrients in Nature’s Life Liver Vitalityä support specific pathways of liver detoxification.* The B vitamins are involved in both phase I and II detoxification.*2,42 The antioxidant vitamins A,C, and E are included to protect the liver against free-radical damage and promote healthy liver function.* Safety People with active liver or gallbladder disease should consult their physician before taking this product. Standardized milk thistle seed extract is generally free from adverse side effects when taken in recommended doses.*3,11 Because it supports the secretion and flow of bile, some people may experience a mild laxative effect when taking milk thistle, though this side effect usually disappears within a few days.*11 Based on current research, milk thistle has no contraindications for pregnant or lactating women.*13 References
|
One of the most crucial functions of the liver is detoxification; the removal of harmful toxins from the blood and their elimination from the body. In addition to detoxification, the liver produces bile, a fluid secreted into the intestinal tract to help digest and metabolize fats. Bile also serves as a carrier for many of the toxins filtered out by the liver. Toxins enter the body through the environment (food additives, water, air, drugs, alcohol, industrial chemicals and pesticides), and via naturally-occurring pathways (digestion, metabolism). When the liver functions properly, the human body can tolerate a wide variety of toxins, but even in healthy individuals, toxins can overload or inhibit liver function.*1 Along with certain lifestyle and dietary changes, supplementation with particular herbs and nutrients such as those found in Nature’s Life Liver Vitality™ can help protect and support healthy liver function and stimulate internal detoxification:*
Milk Thistle Perhaps the best known and best researched herb used to promote liver health is standardized Milk Thistle Seed Extract (Silybum marianum). The primary active constituent in Milk Thistle seed extract is a group of water-soluble flavonoids collectively called silymarin.2,3,4 Silymarin is a potent antioxidant,5 and helps protect liver function by inhibiting depletion of important natural antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase.*6,7,8,9 Silymarin also helps protect liver cells by stabilizing cell membranes to prevent damage from leukotrienes and free-radicals.*2,10,11,12 Studies conducted on heavy alcohol drinkers confirm that silymarin and its constituents specifically protect the liver from alcohol-related free-radical damage.*9,13,14,15 Additionally, silymarin can stimulate the production of new liver cells.*2,10 Glutathione Support The body’s level of the antioxidant protein glutathione is directly linked to the liver’s ability to detoxify, since it supports the transformation of fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble compounds that are easily eliminated in urine.*16 Exposure to toxins typically reduces the concentration of glutathione in the body.*17 Glutathione levels can be effectively increased through supplementation of certain key nutrients such as vitamin C,18 N-acetylcysteine (NAC),19 and Milk-Thistle.*20 Other nutrients that support glutathione synthesis are riboflavin, vitamin B-6, selenium, and zinc.*21 Natural Lipotropics Lipotropics such as choline, inositol, methionine and betaine (not to be confused with the digestive aid betaine HCl) are a class of substances that play an important role in the body’s ability to metabolize fats.* One of the specific aims of supplementation with lipotropics such as betaine is to support the natural production of SAMe (S-adenosyl L-methionine) from homocysteine, reducing fat build-up in the liver.*22 Choline is involved in the production of bile and lipoproteins.*23,24,25 Diets deficient in choline and inositol may lead to undesirable changes in liver and kidney function.*26,27 Methionine is one of the nutrients required for the body’s production of choline and SAMe, and a deficiency in this essential amino acid will adversely affect fat metabolism.*28 Hepato-Protective* Herbal Blend Standardized Artichoke leaf (Cynara scolymus) extract is similar to milk thistle in its detoxification-enhancing and protective properties.*29,30,31,32 Artichoke also increases the formation and flow of bile from the liver.*33 Green Cabbage Leaf (Brassica oleracea) has been shown to support detoxification mechanisms.*34 Lemon Peel (Citrus limon) also supports detoxification.*35,36 Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) supports liver function by increasing the flow of bile.*37 Ingredients One serving of Liver Vitality™ (three cellulose vegetarian capsules) contains: 5,000 IU vitamin A (as mixed carotenoids), 300 mg vitamin C, 100 IU vitamin E, 5 mg each of thiamine, riboflavin and B-6, 20 mg niacin, 50 mcg B-12, 400 mcg folic acid, 10 mg pantothenic acid, 100 mg magnesium, 7.5 mg zinc, 70 mcg selenium (from yeast), 1 mg copper, 75 mcg molybdenum, 500 mg anhydrous betaine, 250 mg NAC, 175 mg standardized milk thistle (provides 80% or 140 mg silymarin), 150 mg choline, 75 mg each of methionine and inositol, and 80 mg Hepato-Protective Herbal Blend. Safety People with active liver or gallbladder disease should consult their physician before taking this product. Because it supports the secretion and flow of bile, some people may experience a mild laxative effect when taking milk thistle, though this side effect usually disappears within a few days.*10 This product is not contraindicated for pregnant or lactating women.
|
- Solaray
- Red Yeast Rice
- Actipet Pet supplements
- Sunny Greens
- Thompson nutritional
- Veg Life Vegan Line
- Premier One Royal Jelly & Bee Pollen
- NaturalMax
- Kal
- Shop by Brands
Tags:
Vitality,
Supplemental Information