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The Cancer Chronicles
July 2004
Sat Dharam Kaur
Improving Liver Function to Decrease the Body’s Toxic Burden
Sat Dharam Kaur, N.D.
We live in a gorgeous world which we have tragically contaminated with human waste — plastics, pesticides, solvents, detergents, cosmetics, preservatives, drugs, chemicals and pollutants all threaten our health and the health of other species. Many of these toxic substances act as carcinogens, accumulating in our cells and tissues, persisting in our bodies until we pass them on to the next generation in utero or through breastmilk. We bank them in our fat cells where over time they can damage cell membranes, disrupt hormones and initiate the cancer process.
One of the ways in which we can assist our bodies in dealing with these toxins is through maximizing liver function. Another is through intensive sauna detoxification. In this article I will suggest ways in which you can improve your liver to help deal with carcinogens more effectively.
The Liver
The liver acts as our main ‘factory’ for breaking down, neutralizing, detoxifying, and removing chemicals, poisons, body wastes, bacteria, antigen-antibody complexes, and unused and undigested food surpluses from our body. The liver makes bile, which it uses to carry away harmful poisons and wastes. The bile passes through the bile ducts, into the intestines, and is eliminated with its accumulated toxins.
About one litre of blood passes through the liver every minute for detoxification. The liver uses a two step detoxification sequence to protect us from ‘outside’ chemicals (exotoxins) as well as internally generated endotoxins. Each of these steps uses different types of enzymes for detoxification. Chemicals or hormones that are fat-soluble must first be processed through Phase 1 detoxification to be made water soluble so they can be inactivated by Phase 2 enzymes. The Phase 2 enzymes do most of the real clean-up.
Phase 1 Detoxification
Phase 1 detoxification uses a group of 100 different enzymes, known collectively as the ‘cytochrome P450’ system, each with an affinity for a different family of fat-soluble toxins. These enzymes act on toxins utilizing the biochemical reactions of oxidation (lose an electron), reduction (gain an electron), or hydrolysis (add water). Some toxic substances are inactivated completely through Phase 1, but most are not, and need Phase 2 to finish the job.
Many of the water-soluble intermediate products of Phase 1 are highly reactive and can have up to 60 times more toxic activity than their previous fat-soluble incarnations, unless they are quickly neutralized by Phase 2 enzymes. These reactive intermediate products are collectively called ‘epoxides.’ Some epoxides are highly carcinogenic, such as benzo[a]pyrene (BP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon found in smoked meats, and the C4 estrogen, a breakdown product of estrone. People who have a fast Phase 1 and a slow Phase 2 are at most risk of cancer because they build up epoxides during Phase 1 detoxification.
When the P450 enzymes act on a toxin, free radicals called ‘superoxide radicals’ are formed along with epoxides. If not quickly neutralized, both of these products have the potential to damage cell membranes, resulting in tissue injury, inflammation and possibly cancer. Superoxide radicals are neutralized by an enzyme called ‘superoxide dismutase’ (SOD) that is dependent on the minerals manganese, copper, and zinc to work. The Ayurvedic herb amla can double our levels of SOD.
Epoxides are neutralized by Phase 2 reactions and by antioxidants like vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium as well as another antioxidant called glutathione. Glutathione is a protein containing the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Glutathione production and activity are dependent on healthy levels of selenium, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, vitamin B1 (thiamine), and the amino acid cysteine. The herb milk thistle can increase glutathione production by 35% in the liver, while alpha lipoic acid increases glutathione levels in red blood cells and lymphocytes 30-70%. Sugar decreases the production of glutathione.
The P450 enzymes in general need zinc, copper, magnesium, molybdenum, iron, calcium, choline, niacin, riboflavin, vitamins C, E, A and the B complex to work effectively. Other substances that speed up Phase 1 detoxification include foods in the brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts), as well as oranges, tangerines and caraway seeds. Supplements that speed up Phase 1 detoxification are indole-3-carbinol or DIM, vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B1, vitamin C, limonene (in essential oils of palmarosa, lemon, orange, celery), rosemary, schizandra and St. John’s wort.
St. John’s Wort, rosemary, and schizandra all stimulate Phase 1 detoxification and can more than double the activity of the P450 enzymes. This is a good thing if Phase 2 enzymes can keep up, but will be harmful if they can’t. These herbs can decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy and some other medications by reducing drug concentrations and should be avoided during this time.
Phase 2 Detoxification
Phase 2 detoxification enzymes utilize six pathways to step in to bind up the water-soluble toxins so they can no longer do damage (unless they become unbound in the large intestine). The smaller products of Phase 2 detoxification, being water soluble, are eliminated through the kidneys. The larger ones are transported in the bile to the gall bladder, then to the small intestine, and eventually are eliminated through the stools.
You can improve both Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification with the following nutrients: curcumin, ellagic acid, amla, rosemary, schizandra, milk thistle, vitamins A, B complex, C, and E, choline, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, coQ10, indole-3-carbinol or DIM, limonene from essential oil of lemon, flaxseed and fish oil, and foods containing cysteine and methionine. Using a combination of many of these, you will maximize your liver’s ability to deal with carcinogens and decrease your total body burden. Next month we will discuss ways to eliminate harmful chemicals through sauna detoxification.
Sat Dharam Kaur is naturopathic doctor practicing in Owen Sound. She has authored two books on breast health, the most recent one being The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer. Sat Dharam will be lecturing on women's health at the Whole Life Expo in Toronto on Nov 26, 27, 28 and will facilitate a Healthy Breast Teacher Training Program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine on Jan 28, 29, 30, 2005. For more information, see www.healthybreastprogram.on.ca or call Sat Dharam at (519) 372-9212
Sat Dharam Kaur, N.D.
We live in a gorgeous world which we have tragically contaminated with human waste — plastics, pesticides, solvents, detergents, cosmetics, preservatives, drugs, chemicals and pollutants all threaten our health and the health of other species. Many of these toxic substances act as carcinogens, accumulating in our cells and tissues, persisting in our bodies until we pass them on to the next generation in utero or through breastmilk. We bank them in our fat cells where over time they can damage cell membranes, disrupt hormones and initiate the cancer process.
One of the ways in which we can assist our bodies in dealing with these toxins is through maximizing liver function. Another is through intensive sauna detoxification. In this article I will suggest ways in which you can improve your liver to help deal with carcinogens more effectively.
The Liver
The liver acts as our main ‘factory’ for breaking down, neutralizing, detoxifying, and removing chemicals, poisons, body wastes, bacteria, antigen-antibody complexes, and unused and undigested food surpluses from our body. The liver makes bile, which it uses to carry away harmful poisons and wastes. The bile passes through the bile ducts, into the intestines, and is eliminated with its accumulated toxins.
About one litre of blood passes through the liver every minute for detoxification. The liver uses a two step detoxification sequence to protect us from ‘outside’ chemicals (exotoxins) as well as internally generated endotoxins. Each of these steps uses different types of enzymes for detoxification. Chemicals or hormones that are fat-soluble must first be processed through Phase 1 detoxification to be made water soluble so they can be inactivated by Phase 2 enzymes. The Phase 2 enzymes do most of the real clean-up.
Phase 1 Detoxification
Phase 1 detoxification uses a group of 100 different enzymes, known collectively as the ‘cytochrome P450’ system, each with an affinity for a different family of fat-soluble toxins. These enzymes act on toxins utilizing the biochemical reactions of oxidation (lose an electron), reduction (gain an electron), or hydrolysis (add water). Some toxic substances are inactivated completely through Phase 1, but most are not, and need Phase 2 to finish the job.
Many of the water-soluble intermediate products of Phase 1 are highly reactive and can have up to 60 times more toxic activity than their previous fat-soluble incarnations, unless they are quickly neutralized by Phase 2 enzymes. These reactive intermediate products are collectively called ‘epoxides.’ Some epoxides are highly carcinogenic, such as benzo[a]pyrene (BP), a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon found in smoked meats, and the C4 estrogen, a breakdown product of estrone. People who have a fast Phase 1 and a slow Phase 2 are at most risk of cancer because they build up epoxides during Phase 1 detoxification.
When the P450 enzymes act on a toxin, free radicals called ‘superoxide radicals’ are formed along with epoxides. If not quickly neutralized, both of these products have the potential to damage cell membranes, resulting in tissue injury, inflammation and possibly cancer. Superoxide radicals are neutralized by an enzyme called ‘superoxide dismutase’ (SOD) that is dependent on the minerals manganese, copper, and zinc to work. The Ayurvedic herb amla can double our levels of SOD.
Epoxides are neutralized by Phase 2 reactions and by antioxidants like vitamins A, C, E, zinc and selenium as well as another antioxidant called glutathione. Glutathione is a protein containing the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine. Glutathione production and activity are dependent on healthy levels of selenium, magnesium, sulfur, manganese, vitamin B1 (thiamine), and the amino acid cysteine. The herb milk thistle can increase glutathione production by 35% in the liver, while alpha lipoic acid increases glutathione levels in red blood cells and lymphocytes 30-70%. Sugar decreases the production of glutathione.
The P450 enzymes in general need zinc, copper, magnesium, molybdenum, iron, calcium, choline, niacin, riboflavin, vitamins C, E, A and the B complex to work effectively. Other substances that speed up Phase 1 detoxification include foods in the brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts), as well as oranges, tangerines and caraway seeds. Supplements that speed up Phase 1 detoxification are indole-3-carbinol or DIM, vitamin B3 (niacin), vitamin B1, vitamin C, limonene (in essential oils of palmarosa, lemon, orange, celery), rosemary, schizandra and St. John’s wort.
St. John’s Wort, rosemary, and schizandra all stimulate Phase 1 detoxification and can more than double the activity of the P450 enzymes. This is a good thing if Phase 2 enzymes can keep up, but will be harmful if they can’t. These herbs can decrease the effectiveness of chemotherapy and some other medications by reducing drug concentrations and should be avoided during this time.
Phase 2 Detoxification
Phase 2 detoxification enzymes utilize six pathways to step in to bind up the water-soluble toxins so they can no longer do damage (unless they become unbound in the large intestine). The smaller products of Phase 2 detoxification, being water soluble, are eliminated through the kidneys. The larger ones are transported in the bile to the gall bladder, then to the small intestine, and eventually are eliminated through the stools.
You can improve both Phase 1 and Phase 2 detoxification with the following nutrients: curcumin, ellagic acid, amla, rosemary, schizandra, milk thistle, vitamins A, B complex, C, and E, choline, selenium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, coQ10, indole-3-carbinol or DIM, limonene from essential oil of lemon, flaxseed and fish oil, and foods containing cysteine and methionine. Using a combination of many of these, you will maximize your liver’s ability to deal with carcinogens and decrease your total body burden. Next month we will discuss ways to eliminate harmful chemicals through sauna detoxification.
Sat Dharam Kaur is naturopathic doctor practicing in Owen Sound. She has authored two books on breast health, the most recent one being The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer. Sat Dharam will be lecturing on women's health at the Whole Life Expo in Toronto on Nov 26, 27, 28 and will facilitate a Healthy Breast Teacher Training Program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine on Jan 28, 29, 30, 2005. For more information, see www.healthybreastprogram.on.ca or call Sat Dharam at (519) 372-9212