Alcohol detoxification is mainly done by the liver, so it is important not to overwhelm it. It has been observed that the liver can begin to become inflamed with as little as 30 grams of alcohol per day (which is about two drinks per day)7.
Now imagine having to detoxify hormones, extra fuel, toxins, and alcohol. For this reason, taking a break from consuming extra alcohol can do a lot of good for the health of your liver.
Acetaminophen Toxicity
Acetaminophen toxicity is so prevalent that it has become almost epidemic, with most acute injuries to the liver being caused by acetaminophen toxicity. In fact, about 20% of all liver transplants are due to acute acetaminophen toxicity8.
Over the counter NSAIDs, specifically acetaminophen, are toxic to the liver; once taken orally, it is rapidly absorbed by the digestive tract and is detoxified by the liver into toxic and non-toxic substances9.
The antidote for acetaminophen toxicity is N-acetylcysteine, this helps the liver regenerate glutathione and aids in the detoxification of acetaminophen and other liver toxins10.
If you have used acetaminophen for an injury, headaches or chronic pain, discovering the root cause of your pain is essential since long-term use of acetaminophen is dangerous. After that, appropriate supplementation with N-acetylcysteine could help with your liver detoxification.
Contraceptives
Another class of medications that tax the liver are prescription contraceptives. In fact, women treated with contraceptives for endometriosis are at a higher risk for liver adenomas, a type of liver lesion11. This is a very interesting topic because many women have, at one time or another, contemplated taking birth control medication.
There are many other side effects from taking long-term birth control, like:
- Loss of menstruation
- Infertility
- Headaches
- Migraines
- Autoimmune Gastritis
- Dysbiosis
Dr. Jolene Brighten is an expert on mitigating the effects of “Post Birth Control Syndrome”. If you have concerns about post birth control syndrome, I highly encourage you to check out her book “Beyond the Pill” where she offers an easy program to detoxify your liver and to help you escape the effects of these class of medications (2).
High-Fructose Corn Syrup
Your body has distinct mechanisms to process fructose. It was widely believed that all fructose was processed by the liver, but we now understand that the intestines can process fructose and the excess is then sent to the liver to be converted into fatty acids12.
When consumed in normal doses, like those found in nature (such as fruits and vegetables), your body can assimilate it and use it as energy. The problem is when it is consumed in supraphysiologic doses, like soft drinks and even refined fruit juices, the intestines lose the ability to keep up with the absorption of fructose and the excess is shunted to the liver where it causes unnecessary work for the liver.