Liver Cleansing Diet

[Aliantha]

As some of you already know, I've recently found out there's a bit of a problem with my liver. Yes I know I drink too much, but that's all over now. I haven't touched a drop since the 15th of Feb and I don't intend to for the next 8 weeks or so, and after that I'll be a fair bit more moderate about things.

Anyway, so I've decided to do the liver cleansing diet which is described in the book of the same name by Dr Sandra Cabot.

I wasn't going to start it till today, but I actually was very excited about it and started at the end of last week. It's not as tough as I thought it would be. I expected to be feeling a bit like shit by now, but I think the fact that I'd knocked off drinking and I already don't smoke, coupled with the fact that I've been gradually cutting out fats and dairy from my diet.

So this diet is supposed to cleanse my liver and provide me with a more healthy eating plan for the rest of my life. A great side effect is that I'm losing weight too. So far I've lost almost 5kg in the two weeks leading up to and having been on this diet.

I've got a long way to go, but I hope to have lost about 20kg at least by the
end of it. I'd then like to keep it up and lose another 10 - 15kg by mid year.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

[skysidhe]

I admire your determination to be healthy by actually going for it and 'doing it'. I want to become healthier myself but I am incredibly lazy.

Well, I don't consider taking gingko biloba and ginseng any great health regime and that's about all I do.

[zhdidi]

Good luck 2 U.

[Aliantha]

I've worked out that I'm losing about 300 grams per day which would be a bit under half a pound. That's not bad going for anyone who'd like to lose weight.

Also, I have to say, I never feel hungry on this diet which is good. The only thing is, I'm in the kitchen preparing food a lot.

[TheMercenary]

Hey, so what is the diet?

This one?

http://www.liverdoctor.com/

Can you give me the jist of what it entails?

[Aliantha]

That's the one Merc.

It's basically a mainly vegetarian whole food diet with no dairy what so ever, and no animal fats other than what you find in fish and skinless chicken.

A lot of the diet is about raw fruit and veges. Non preserved etc.

There's also no added sugar other than what is found naturally in the foods you're eating.

You can have eggs, but not too many.

[monster]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

That's the one Merc.

It's basically a mainly vegetarian whole food diet with no dairy what so ever, and no animal fats other than what you find in fish and skinless chicken.

A lot of the diet is about raw fruit and veges. Non preserved etc.

There's also no added sugar other than what is found naturally in the foods you're eating.

You can have eggs, but not too many.

How does this diet rate on the anti-osteoporosis scale, though? It seams great for weightloss and cholesterol and all, but a little mineral-light?

sorry to hear your liver troubles are continuing. You are braver than me. I don't want to know how screwed up my liver is.

[Aliantha]

Well, I found out the other day that things are still not good for my liver. I get to go for an ultrasound tomorrow to find out if they can see anything wrong.

The diet is going well though. I've lost another 4kg since my first post.

[Aliantha]

Well, you're encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle which includes a certain amount of sunlight, which of course gives your body Vit D which is essential in the fight against osteoperosis. Also, there are a lot of grains and nuts in the diet, many of which are high in calcium. Also, soy products are offered as an alternative to dairy.

What sort of minerals do you think are missing?

[monster]

The grains and nuts probably cover it, but calcium (obviously), and phosphorus are the main deficiencies I've heard of in relation to osteoporosis and vegan-type diets.

I used not to eat dairy at all because I have a slight sensitivity to milk, but when I got pregnant I included more in my diet and the docs said it would probably be a good defence against osteoporosis to keep it there if my eczema didn't get too bad.

Anyhoo, you're clearly not a food incompetant -it was interest rather than criticism, although I can see it didn't come across that way.

[jinx]

The dairy council has spent a lot of money convincing people (western societies) that milk = strong bones and teeth, and that soy gives you cancer.

Although high calcium intakes have long been recommended to prevent osteoporosis, there is little evidence that high calcium intakes effectively prevent fractures. Osteoporotic fractures are, like coronary artery disease, largely a disease of Western societies. Recent evidence that the statins that block the mevalonate pathway, lower serum cholesterol concentrations, and improve cardiovascular disease risk also prevent fractures, together with the increasing evidence that diets high in fruit and vegetables are beneficial in preventing fractures, suggest common dietary etiologic factors. Further research in this area should answer the long-standing question: Why do populations who consume low-calcium diets have fewer fractures than do Western societies who consume high-calcium diets?

[Undertoad]

Why do populations who consume low-calcium diets have fewer fractures than do Western societies who consume high-calcium diets?

Western societies drink Coca-cola, which gets its kick from phosphoric acid, and the phosphorous is thought to leech calcium from bones.

[jinx]

High protein diets (lots of protein in dairy) have been shown to leech calcium from bones also.

[Flint]

I take a cal/mag to offset the sparkling water I drink every day.

[Aliantha]

It's confirmed. My liver is FAT! Actually, I have a condition called 'fatty liver'. Imaginative name huh?

Anyway, the only cure is to lose weight which I'm doing, so basically, all's well that ends well.