Are you waiting for a transplant? Do this in the meantime.
Timestamps
0:00 Introduction: In need for a new liver?
0:17 Liver facts
1:51 How much liver damage is too much?
2:33 The most important thing for your liver
5:18 Share your success story!
In this video, we’re going to talk about what to do if you’re in need of a new liver.
There are around 15,000 people on the liver transplant list in the US today.
I want to share some information that you might find useful in the meantime while you’re waiting for a new liver.
Liver cells have a huge tolerance for injury. Liver cells also have a massive capacity to regrow and repair themselves.
The liver has some key functions...
• Biochemical defense against toxic chemicals
• Makes proteins
• Makes bile
• Stores vitamins
• Very important in brain health (liver damage can potentially contribute to dementia)
There are three things that can destroy a liver:
1. Inflammation
2. Insulin resistance
3. Scar tissue (cirrhosis)
When this damage happens, the liver begins to enlarge. This enlargement of the liver can cause referred pain in your right shoulder and neck.
A damaged liver can have a difficult time releasing bile, which can cause the bile to back up and cause more inflammation.
The question is, how much liver damage is too much for your liver to recover from?
I’ve had patients come into my office that had liver damage to the point that they were on the transplant list—some of them were able to undo the damage enough that they didn’t need to be on the list. Though this is an uncommon situation, it does happen.
Oftentimes, when you’re on the transplant list, they don’t tell you what you can do in the meantime to support your body’s natural function.
What’s the most important thing to do for the liver?
The most important thing to do for your liver is to lower your carbohydrates. Why?
A high-carbohydrate diet contributes to inflammation, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis.
Healthy Keto and intermittent fasting are great for lowering inflammation, reducing scar tissue, and taking fat off the liver.
If you’re not familiar with Healthy Keto, check out some of the other videos here on my channel.
Research shows that a high-fat, low-carb diet can help reduce liver fat.
The best fats to have on keto are:
• Egg yolks
• Omega 3s
• Olive oil
Avoid omega-6 fatty acids and stick to a moderate to low amount of protein.
Dr. Eric Berg
08/31/2023
