Love your liver for a healthier heart

There is a huge amount of emphasis on heart health here in the United States. And with good reason, considering cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of both men and women in our country.

Unfortunately, with all of the time we spend looking to our hearts, other organs can get overlooked. Now, new research is demonstrating just how linked our organs are and how one particular organ, the liver, could play a big role in heart disease protection — if you treat it right.

The heart-health liver link

The research, by a team at Iowa State University, started as an attempt to fill in gaps in how scientists understand the links between heart health and other tissues.

But why did they start with the liver? For starters, there was already significant data suggesting that liver function actually is a risk factor for cardiac disease. And that information tied into the fact that patients with liver dysfunction often develop cardiac disease.

However, the direct link between liver and heart disease remained elusive…

So, the scientists decided to build on their past research where the team had been able to demonstrate that when they manipulated genes in the cardiac muscles of flies, they could restore the heart function of older flies to that of younger flies — essentially turning back the clock on cardiac tissue.

That went so well, they decided to test the same method on the liver — and here’s where it got really interesting…

When the scientists manipulated the flies’ livers, not only did their liver function improve but so did their heart muscle function — without any cardiac intervention whatsoever!

In other words, simply by helping the liver to work better, the team was able to help the heart work better too.

It all comes down to the peroxisomes

So how did the scientists accomplish this?

By keying in on organelles in the liver known as peroxisomes, which are responsible for lipid metabolism and detoxification. Remember, the liver is your body’s main detoxing organ.

And it worked so well that the researchers feel that their results have opened up an entirely new field of study on how those little detoxification powerhouses can regulate the aging process.

While that brand-new field of study is exciting and could lead to big breakthroughs down the road, what’s most important now though is just what this research could mean for those of us who are especially heart-health conscious: If you want to keep your heart healthy, your liver needs to be part of the equation that includes pump, cleanse… and repeat.

Liver-health helpers

So where do you start? With the liver experts, of course! To keep your liver function in tip-top shape, The American Liver Foundation recommends:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Getting your exercise.
• Limiting alcohol.
• Washing your hands well after preparing or eating food or going to the restroom.
• Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fiber from fruits and veggies.
• Avoiding toxins from insecticides, chemicals and cigarette smoke.

That last one can be harder than committing to a daily exercise regimen. That’s because our homes, the offices where we work and the cars we drive are packed full of harmful chemicals. Not to mention the food we eat.

Even clean-living enthusiasts will tell you that it’s almost impossible to avoid the very real danger of hidden chemicals. That means your liver is working harder than ever to do its main job of detoxing the body. And now we know that wear and tear on the liver could eventually lead to wear and tear on the heart.

Many people choose to do regular salt-water cleanses or water fasts to ease the liver’s load. But in my research, I’ve found an easier way.

Some of the most powerful detoxing agents and liver supporters can be supplemented…

No doubt you’ve heard of milk thistle, a purple flower and an ancient liver-booster, milk thistle has been found to help support the elimination of heavy metal buildup, medication residue, environmental pollutants and alcohol that can accumulate in and damage your liver. But there are more…

• N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) — NAC is a little-known amino acid that has been shown to help support the gentle detoxification of your liver, to rid it of tobacco and other types of carbon monoxide-rich smoke, alcohol and the air pollutants you’re exposed to daily.
• Turmeric — This 4,000-year-old Indian herb helps balance inflammation and protect your liver from oxidative stress while promoting healthy liver function.
• Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) — ALA is a potent antioxidant that helps keep fats from accumulating in your liver.

Clearly, the health of your liver and the health of your heart are indelibly intertwined.

Sources:

1. Link between liver and heart disease could lead to new therapeutics — EurekAlert!
2. 13 Ways to a Healthy Liver — American Liver Foundation
3. What foods protect the liver? — MedicalNewsToday