അമിതമായ മദ്യപാനം ശരീരത്തിലെ ഇന്‍സുലിന്‍റെ ക്രമീകരണത്തെ നിയന്ത്രിക്കുന്ന മസ്തിഷ്ക ഭാഗത്തെ ബാധിക്കുമെന്ന് പുതിയ പഠനം. അമിതമായി മദ്യപിക്കുന്നത് ഇന്‍സുലിന്‍ പ്രതിരോധം കുറയ്ക്കുകയും ടൈപ്പ് 2 പ്രമേഹ സാധ്യത വര്‍ധിപ്പിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. മൌണ്ട് സിനായി സ്കൂള്‍ ഓഫ് മെഡിസിന്‍ ആണ് പഠനം നടത്തിയത്. 

ആഴ്ചയില്‍ ഒരിക്കല്‍ ഉള്ള മദ്യപാനം പോലും ഈ സാധ്യതയുണ്ടാക്കും എന്നാണു പഠനം. എലികളില്‍ നടത്തിയ പഠനം ഇത് ശരിവച്ചു. കരളിന്‍റെ ഖടനയില്‍ വ്യത്യാസം വരുത്തുകളും ഹൃദയ സംബന്ധമായ അസുഖങ്ങള്‍ക്കും ഇത് വഴി വയ്ക്കും എന്നും പഠനം തെളിയിക്കുന്നു.

Juice therapy for detoxification of liver

11

A Healthy Liver Through detoxification with the help of Juice Fasting Therapy

A healthy liver can be achieved through detoxification. Juice fasting is a way to “fast-track” liver detox or detoxification. It is one of the quickest ways to increase elimination of toxins and enhance the healing process of the liver, and the body.

What is a Juice Fast?

Juice fasting is a method of treatment of disease through an exclusive diet of juices of fruits and vegetables. It is the most effective way to restore health and rejuvenate the body. An exclusive diet of raw juices of fruits and vegetables results in much faster recovery from diseases and more effective cleansing and regeneration of the tissues than the fasting on pure water.

As juices are extracted from plants and fruits, they process definite medicinal properties. Specific juices are beneficial in specific conditions. Besides specific medicinal virtues, raw fruit and vegetable juices have an extraordinary revitalizing and rejuvenating effect on all the organs, glands and functions of the body.

Why juice and what types of juice?

When you juice your fruits and vegetables, you remove the fiber and drink only the liquid which contains the organic hydration, nutrients, vitamins and enzymes from the plant food. Although you do need fiber in your diet, going for a certain period of time without it will give your body a chance to spend less energy on digestion.

Around 70% of your energy every day is spent on digestion alone, so when you are eating 3 meals a day plus snacks, you are rarely giving your body a chance to direct energy to deeply cleansing the body and drawing up old acidic waste that is likely causing a whole host of symptoms.

If you suffer from headaches, constipation, diarrhea, skin troubles, fatigue, irritability, excess weight, bloating or any other number of symptoms, your body needs some help to cleanse. The intelligent application of fasting is a brilliant way of helping you to do this.

Enjoy plenty of fresh vegetable juices, particularly green vegetable juices (see recipe below), with a touch of fruit to sweeten the juice and ensure it is still delicious. You can also use sweeter vegetable such as carrot, beetroot and bell pepper to add sweetness.

A good rule of thumb is to ensure that at least half of your juices when fasting are green vegetable based juices, and then use other juices for fun and variety. Be particularly careful not to overdo fresh fruit juices as they will send your sugar levels out of balance and feed yeast if over consumed.
Low sugar fruit juices are a better option. Fresh grapefruit juice alone is divine, green apples add sweetness to any juice, and berries add a whole new indulgent flavor. Use lemons and limes in everything if you like! They are brilliant alkalizers and extremely low in sugar.

How to ensure your fast is beneficial

When you fast, your body is using all that time normally spent on digestion to clean up your cells and draw up old toxic matter. When this toxic matter is drawn up, it is looking for a way out of your body. For your fast to leave you cleaner celled and feeling better, you have to ensure that toxic matter actually leaves your body.

You will know this matter has left your body because you will see it and feel it coming out, particularly though your bowel! You might also see it in your skin and through your sweat, and in excess mucus build up in your mouth and nose, but your bowel is going to play the biggest role in dumping that old toxic waste out – literally!

However, the vast majority of people who fast don’t have natural bowel eliminations. If this si the case for you, colon cleansing is truly a must!

If you fast but your bowels aren’t moving, where do you think that toxicity is going? That’s right – nowhere! It’s going to stay inside you and your body will be in exactly the same state as it was before your fast. That is not a beneficial fast!

Favorable Effects

The favorable effect of raw juices in the treatment of disease is attributed to the following facts. Raw juices of fruits and vegetables are extremely rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements, enzymes and natural sugars. They exercise beneficial effect in normalizing all the body functions. They supply needed elements for the body’s own healing activity and cell regeneration, thereby speeding the recovery.

1. The juices extracted from raw fruits and vegetables require no digestion and almost all their vital nutrientsare assimilated directly in the bloodstream.
2. Raw juices are extremely rich in alkaline elements. This is highly beneficial in normalizing acid-alkalinebalance in the blood and tissues as there is over-acidity in most conditions of ill-health.
3. Generous amounts of easily absorbed organic minerals in raw juices especially calcium, potassium and silicon help in restoring biochemical and mineral balance in the tissues and cells, thereby preventing premature aging of cells and disease.
4. Raw juices contain certain natural medicines, vegetal hormones and antibiotics. For instance, string beans are said to contain insulin-like substance. Certain hormones needed by the pancreas to produce insulin are present in cucumber and onion juices. Fresh juices of garlic, onions, radish and tomatoes contain antibiotic substances.

5. Precautions

   Certain precautions are, however, necessary in adopting an exclusive diet of raw juices:
   1.  All juices should be made fresh immediately before drinking. Canned and frozen juices should not be used.
   2. Only fresh ripe fruits and vegetables, preferably organically grown, should be used for extraction of juices
   3. Only as much juice as needed for immediate consumption should be extracted. Raw juices oxidize rapidly and lose their medicinal value in storage, even under refrigeration.
   4. The quality of the juices has a distinct bearing on the results obtained. In case of incomplete extraction of juices, their effective power is proportionately reduced due to the absence of the vitamins and enzymes which are left behind in fiber and the pulp.
   5. If juices are too sweet they should be diluted in water on 50: 50 basis or mixed with other less sweet juices. This is especially important in some specific conditions such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, arthritis and high blood pressure.

   Who Should Avoid This Therapy
   

   Juice fasts provide minimal calories and little fat or protein. They are not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, and they are also unwise for infants, young children, and the elderly. Certain health problems can make it necessary to avoid or limit intake of particular juices. For example, you should obviously avoid the juice of any fruit or vegetable to which you may have an allergy. If you have a problem with sugar, you’ll need to dilute sugary juices such as carrot and beet with low-sugar juices such as celery. And if you have diabetes or suffer from hypoglycemia, you should always take fruit juices with food.

   

   Fruit and vegetable juices may be divided into six main types.

   1. Juices from sweet fruits such as prunes and grapes.
   2. Juices from sub-acid fruits like apple, plum, pear, peach, apricot and cherry,
   3. Juices from acid fruits like orange, lemon, grapefruit, strawberry and pineapple.
   4. Juices from vegetable fruits, namely, tomato and cucumber.
   5. Juices from green leafy vegetables like cabbage, celery, lettuce, spinach, parsley and watercress.
   6. Juices from root vegetables like beetroot, carrot, onion, potato and radish.
   Generally speaking, fruit juices stir up toxins and acids in the body, thereby stimulating the eliminative processes. Vegetable juices, on the other hand, soothe the jaded nerves and work in a much milder manner. They carry away toxic matter in a gentle way. Owing to their differing actions fruit and vegetable juices should not be used at the same time or mixed together. It is desirable to use juices individually. In any case not more than three juices should be used in any one mixture.

   The following broad rules apply when using mixtures of juices:

   Juices from sweet fruits may be combined with juices of sub-acid fruits, but not with those of acid fruits, vegetable fruits or vegetables.
   1.  Juices from sub-acid fruits may be combined with juices of sweet fruits, or acid fruits, but not with other juices.
   2. Juices from acid fruits may be combined with those of sub-acid fruits or vegetable fruits, but not with other juices.
   3. Juices from vegetable fruits may be combined with those of acid fruits or of green leafy vegetables, but not with other juices.
   4. Juices from green leafy vegetables may be combined with those of vegetable fruits or of the root vegetable, but not with other juices.
   5. Juices from root vegetables may be combined with those of green leafy vegetables, but not with other juices. A proper selection of juices in treating a particular ailment is very essential. Thus, for instance, juices of carrot, cucumber, cabbage and other vegetables are very valuable in asthma, arthritis and skin disease, but juices of orange and mosambi aggravate their symptoms by increasing the amount of mucus.

   Method

   Preparation for a Juice Fast – 3 Days Before - Although it can be tempting to jump into a juice fast, preparation is essential because it affects how a person responds to the cleanse. Certain foods, such as coffee, sugar, meat, dairy, alcohol, and wheat are phased out to reduce headaches, cravings, and other withdrawal symptoms. It’s also important to up your intake of fresh vegetables during the pre-fast. How to prepare for a detox.
   How much juice you drink when fasting is a very personal decision as it should be directed by your own hunger signals and how you feel. However, it is ideal to include at least one liter of green vegetable juice every day, if not more. Then you could enjoy another one to three liters of juice dependent on how much you feel you need.
   
   
   Do not add sweeteners and don’t use any processed juice, only fresh When on a raw juice therapy, the prescribed juice should be drunk every three hours. One can thus take juices five to six times a day.
   • A warm glass of water mixed with lemon juice, one teaspoon of honey,  may be taken first thing in the morning on arising to aid with the toxin cleanse. .
   • If you have any stomach pain, dilute further or “chew” it before swallowing to thoroughly mix with saliva. The actual amount of juice will be about half a quart per day.
   • Drink a glass of room temperature or lukewarm water in between each juice to promote elimination.
   • One or two cups of herbal tea is ok. You can use a stimulating one in the morning and a sleep-enhancing one before bed.
   • While fresh juices should be drunk promptly, don’t drink in a hurry. Take the time to treat it as a “meal”, paying attention to the physical sensations that come from the body’s nourishment.
   • Eating the juice with a spoon can help you slow down and feel fuller.
   Thereafter, the prescribed juice may be taken at three-hourly intervals The juice diet can be continued for 3 days without any ill-effects. The patient should take adequate rest during the raw juice therapy.. Consultation with a health care professional is often recommended for fasts longer than three to five days.
   Raw juices act as a cleansing agent and start eliminating toxins and morbid matter from the system immediately. This often results in symptoms such as pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, loss of weight, headache, fever, weakness, sleeplessness and bad breath. These reactions, which are part of the cleansing process, should not be suppressed by the use of drugs. They will cease when the body is able to expel all toxins.
   After the raw juice therapy, the return to normal balanced diet should be gradual.

   

   The Juice Fast Daily Plan

   Upon awakening. A warm glass of water mixed with lemon juice, one teaspoon of honey, a dash of vinegar plus a small pinch of cayenne pepper may be taken first thing in the morning on arising to aid with the toxin cleanse. A warm glass of water mixed with lemon juice, one teaspoon of honey, a dash of vinegar plus a small pinch of cayenne pepper may be taken first thing in the morning on arising to aid with the toxin cleanse
   • Breakfast: 2-3 ounces juice diluted with water. Fruit juice is good at this point for the energy supplied by the sugars.
   • During the morning: Another 2-3 ounces fruit juice diluted with water.
   • Lunch: 5-6 ounces vegetable juice diluted with water.
   • During the afternoon: 2-3 ounces fruit juice diluted with water.
   • Dinner (no later than 7 p.m.): 4 ounces vegetable juice and 2 ounces fruit juice, both diluted, but not mixed together.
   • Before bed: 1 cup of herbal tea, perhaps a sleep-inducing one or one with laxative properties.

   Other Parts of a Juice Fast

   There are other components of a well-designed juice fast:
   1) Physical activity
   While it’s a good idea to tone down your exercise routine during a juice fast, mild exercise such as walking can help to boost blood and lymphatic circulation. Also try massage therapy (such as Swedish massage, lymphatic drainage, deep tissue massage, and Thai massage), contrast showers, and dry skin brushing, which can be done as part of your regular shower.
   2) Promote elimination
   Stored toxins that are mobilized during a cleanse must be released out of the system or they are can be reabsorbed into the system. Proponents of juice fasting may recommend colonic irrigation or an enema at the start of a juice fast. Other methods of promoting elimination include herbal laxatives, such as senna tea or cascara, detox teas, and increased fluid intake.
   3) Mind/body wellness
   Stress can have negative effects on health and can impair detoxification. Allow the mind to rest by incorporating mind/body practices such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness meditation. Try to get plenty of rest. Go to bed as early as you can and take naps if possible.
   According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver is associated with anger, the kidneys with fear, and the gallbladder holds frustration. Proponents of juice fasting believe that old emotions may arise and be cleansed from the system as the corresponding organs are cleansed.
   
   

   Guidelines for Breaking a Fast

   Care needs to be taken when breaking a fast so as not to overburden your digestive system. The best benefit of fasting is realized when a fast is broken properly. Taking it slow and easy is not only kind to your body, but allows YOU the opportunity to integrate your new-found clarity on your relationship to food.
   During a fast, the body undergoes several biological changes. Enzymes normally produced by the digestive system have ceased to be produced or have been diminished greatly, depending on the type of fast performed, so introducing food slowly allows the body time to re-establish this enzyme production.
   The protective mucus lining of the stomach may be temporarily diminished as well, making the stomach walls more vulnerable to irritation until it also returns to normal. Gentle reintroduction of foods, beginning with the simplest and easiest-to-digest foods, supports this process. Substances known to be irritating to the system, such as coffee and spicy foods, must be avoided during the breaking process.
   Because of these biological changes, overeating immediately following a fast is much worse than overeating at any other time. Your system needs time to readjust back to normal digestion and assimilation. Not taking the proper measures can result in stomach cramping, nausea, and even vomiting.
   The adjustment period necessary is based on the length of the fast. Four days is considered adequate for any of the longer fasts, 1-3 days for shorter fasts, and just a day or so for one-day fasts.

   Foods to use for breaking a fast

   The most nutritious and easy-to-digest foods are used to break a fast initially, gradually adding more diversity and complexity over time.
   The type of fast employed will determine the type of foods you use to break it. While juice or fruit are good for breaking a water fast, obviously, they aren’t very helpful in breaking juice or fruit fasts.
   To help you determine when to introduce the different food groups, use the following list. It begins with those that are easiest on the system and can be introduced early on, and progresses to those that should be added later.
   Depending on the length of your fast, you may go through the list in one day or in 4 days. And you certainly don’t need to eat everything on the list, it’s just a general guideline.
   • fruit and vegetable juices
   • raw fruits
   • vegetable or bone broths
   • yogurt (or other living, cultured milk products), unsweetened
   • lettuces and spinach (can use plain yogurt as a dressing and top with fresh fruit)
   • cooked vegetables and vegetable soups
   • raw vegetables
   • well cooked grains and beans
   • nuts and eggs
   • milk products (non-cultured)
   • meats and anything else
   Any of the first three items are good for that initial “breaking” of a fast, that first thing you eat; raw fruit being the easiest and most popular.
   Even if you did a brown rice fast, eating at #8 on the list, you’ll want to start adding new foods from toward the top of the list. This will support re-establishment of more diverse enzyme production beginning with the simplest.
   

    Top 10 juice fast recipes for alcohol abuse and liver detox

   To make your own juice at home, buy an inexpensive juicer with cutting blades and a centrifugal spin. If possible, you want to look for a juicer that operates lower speeds to avoid heating and thereby damaging nutrients, adding oxygen to the juice and eliminating impact shock to the fruit or vegetable. Otherwise, you can press juice or squeeze juice by hand or using a presser.
   If you have been diagnosed as a chronic alcoholic or drug addict, the following recipes might help you restore balance to your internal organs and systems..

   1. Carrot, Beet Juice

   4-5 carrots
   3-4 small beets
   This is one of the most detoxing juices for the body and specifically for the kidneys. If you are new to juicing, you may want to start with half a dose at first just to test for dizziness, when detoxification starts.

   2. Carrot, Beet Juice+

   1 carrot
   1/2 beet
   1 stick celery
   1 cucumber
   This is a great breakfast drink and is very effective in liver cleansing.

   3. Citrus Blend

   1 small lemon
   2-3 oranges
   1 grapefruit
   Feel free to add 1 teaspoonful of honey, if the juice is too bitter. As with many other juices, this treatment works best if you drink it in the morning before breakfast.
   
   

   4. Cabbage Juice +

   2 pears or 2 carrots
   1/2 small cabbage
   2 sticks celery
   handful watercress
   Caw cabbage juice tastes a little sharp to say the leas but it aids digestion and prevents fluid retention and constipation. Cabbage also contains compounds that help the liver function properly as well as protecting against cancer. Celery, watercress, pears or carrots are also powerful intestinal cleansers and contribute to the detoxification process. You can modify this liver detox juice recipe by adding more watercress, spinach or even pear to balance the bitterness.

   5. Wheatgrass Juice

   You must purchase a special wheatgrass extractor (looks like a meat grinder) in order to correctly juice wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is high in chlorophyll which can clean the body, works as a natural antiseptic, neutralize toxins and even slows the aging process.

   6. Super Green

   2 celery sticks
   1 cucumber
   2 handfuls spinach
   handful lettuce
   handful kale
   handful parsley
   TIP: Add the celery and cucumbers last, as these vegetables will help flush the fibres of the other leafy greens from the juicer.

   7. Fruit Liver Cleanse

   2 apples
   1 bunch grapes
   1/2 beet
   1/4 grapefruit
   1/4 lemon

   8. Carrot Apple Cleanser

   4 carrots
   2 apples
   1 lemon
   handful dandelion leaves
   This is a good detox juice recipe that uses dandelion.

   9. Alkaline Liver Cleanse

   2 grapefruit
   4 lemons
   2 cloves garlic, grated
   2 inches ginger, grated
   2 Tbs flax oil
   1 tsp acidophilus
   dash of cayenne (optional)
   Juice the lemon and the grapefruit, then add the other ingredients to the juice. This is said to be a cure for a hangover, but contains all of the most potent liver cleansing ingredients. The alkaline liver cleanse gives your liver a gentle flush and the opportunity to heal itself.

   10. Extreme Liver Cleanse

   1 grapefruit
   1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
   3 cups water
   4 TBS Epsom salt

   Thing to remember

   During a fast, as the toxins are released, you may experience fatigue; body odor; skin eruptions; headaches; dizziness; irritability; anxiety; confusion; nausea; coughing; diarrhea; dark urine; dark, foul-smelling stools; body aches; insomnia; and even cold or sinus symptoms. But don’t panic, because you may experience very few symptoms

   What Side Effects May Occur

   Although, in general, there are no side effects from juice therapy, certain medical conditions such as diabetes may be aggravated by excessive intake of certain juices. It’s also possible for a juice such as grapefruit to interact badly with certain prescription drugs such as Crixivan, Halcion, Lexxel, and Neoral. If you have chronic health problem or are currently undergoing treatment, it’s wise to check with your doctor before undertaking juice therapy. Avoid including excessive amounts of tomato and citrus juices in your regimen. Because they are highly acidic, they could conceivably upset the body’s natural acid-base (pH) balance. Remember, too, that the juice of a food to which you’re allergic can be just as upsetting as the original source.

   When Should Treatment Stop

   Juice supplementation can last a lifetime. Juice fasts, however, should be limited to no more than 2 weeks at a time. No matter how many juices you include in the regimen, it will still lack many of the elements of a balanced diet. A protracted diet of juice alone will damage, rather than improve, your health.

   Benefits of Fasting for a Healthy Liver

   There are many positive benefits to a liver-cleansing, fresh juice fast:
   • Purification
   • Rejuvenation of liver and entire body
   • More energy
   • Rest for digestive organs
   • Clearer, glowing skin
   • Anti-aging effects
   • Improved senses-vision, hearing, taste
   • Self-confidence
   • Reduction of allergies
   • Drug detoxification
   • Better resistance to disease
   • Spiritual awareness
   • More restful sleep
   • More relaxed and calm
   • More motivation and optimism
   • More clarity, mentally and emotionally
   • New inspiration and creativity
   • Better organization
   • More committed to habit changes
   • More committed to long term diet changes
   Once you have completed your fast and feel the positive effects you may consider a one day fast each week to keep that liver running smoothly. Pay attention to your body and determine what’s best for you.
   I would recommend a three day fast at least every spring and fall, but really anytime you are feeling a low period in your health and energy…..it would be a time to consider fasting.