FREE REPORT
By Samglo Enterprises
(Makers of “Nu-Liver” Chinese herbal formula)
www.liverformula.com
“FOODS AND DRUGS THAT CAN DAMAGE YOUR LIVER”
(Take these and your virus could go from BAD to WORSE)
Did you know that there are at least 1000 drugs that can cause harm to
your liver? In the worst cases, drug toxicity can result in acute liver failure,
necessitating a liver transplant. Additionally, there are certain foods, when
consumed that can also damage the liver. And to top it off, if you have liver
disease (i.e. hepatitis), you run an even greater risk by consuming these products.
Find out what these dangerous products are by reading this free report.
Weighing in at between 3-5 pounds, the liver is the largest organ in adults.
It is the chemical wizard of our bodies, going about its daily tasks of transforming
toxins into harmless chemicals for excretion, while at the same time, converting
absorbed nutrients into the proper biochemical forms our cells can use to function.
It’s an enormous task for one organ to perform. The liver routinely performs over
500 known functions to regulate our cells’ metabolism. But it is probably the organ
most assaulted by our toxic modern lifestyles, all full of stress, junk food, drugs
and pollution.
To better understand how important the liver is to our daily survival, let’s
review just a few of the major functions the liver performs.
1.
The liver is the main poison detoxifying organ, breaking down virtually all
foods and drugs into harmless chemicals. Through its enzyme system (P450) the liver can detoxify over 10,000 chemicals that routinely pollute
modern food, water and air.
2.
The liver is the major storehouse for various nutrients, especially vitamins
A, D, B-12, iron, and glucose (blood sugar).
3.
The liver is a key regulator of blood sugar and protein, converting glucose
to glycogen for storage and back to sugar again when needed. It also
converts excess protein to new glucose, a process called
“gluconeogenesis,” especially when the diet provides little or no available
carbohydrates.
4.
The liver is a manufacturer. It produces cholesterol for transport throughout
the body in the proper lipoprotein combinations. It manufactures bile salts
used to emulsify fats and the fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, and K).
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5.
The liver is a deactivator. It breaks down excess hormones, such as
estrogen and insulin, after they have served their functions. It also
decomposes ammonia, a toxic by-product of protein metabolism.
The liver performs these tasks and so many more. From the most deadly
poison to a glass of crystal clear pure water, the liver is in charge of filtering out
impurities. Given the importance of the liver in keeping individuals healthy, a
damaged liver appears to be the missing key for so many unhealthy people.
WHAT’S IN YOUR MEDICINE CABINET?
It is a fact that drugs can damage the liver, and they don’t have to be
prescribed by a doctor to be deadly. For example, Tylenol (acetaminophen), the
most widely used non-prescription over-the-counter pain medication was
responsible for more than 50,000 emergency room visits and 100 deaths in the
United States alone last year. Persons with chronic hepatitis already have
compromised livers, so even regular doses of acetaminophen that would normally
be metabolized by healthy livers, can actually accumulate in their livers and blood
streams. And severe liver toxicity, especially from otherwise harmless drugs, can
result in rapid, acute liver failure, coma and even death.
HOW DRUGS DAMAGE THE LIVER
The liver metabolizes (breaks down) most medications into active chemical
components and metabolites (by-products). Some of these by-products can be
toxic to the liver. Normally, the liver compensates for this toxicity by mixing toxic
metabolites with bile salts that are then excreted through the urine and the feces.
To enable this process to occur, the liver utilizes a family of enzymes, better
known as the P-450 enzyme system. This system helps metabolize and process
most of the common prescription and non-prescription drugs a person consumes.
Some drugs inhibit the P-450 enzyme system and can cause a direct toxic
buildup of their by-products in the body. Taking multiple medications at the same
time can also cause the drugs to compete with one another for the same liver
enzymes, thereby causing a depletion in these enzymes’ abilities to process the
drugs. There are medications that cause direct liver injury by killing liver cells
(necrosis). Other drugs block bile flow (cholestasis) and prevent inactivation of
toxic by-products. Still others cause damage to hepatic blood vessels and a buildup of fat in the liver (steatosis). A few drugs even cause liver tumors.
WHO IS AT RISK FOR DRUG INDUCED LIVER TOXICITY?
As a general rule of thumb, no two people process drugs exactly alike and
genetics mainly determines the speed at which individuals process medications.
Some people have more P-450 enzymes in their bodies, so they can process
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drugs faster. These persons are known as rapid metabolizers. Others are slow
metabolizers. Persons with existing liver disease (i.e. hepatitis) are more likely to
have drug related liver toxicity due to inadequate P-450 liver enzyme levels.
Coupled with impaired blood flow through the liver, they are more apt to process
drugs less efficiently. Research also indicates that women are more likely to
experience drug related liver effects because they primarily have a lower body
weight than men. There are other external factors that appear to influence drug
metabolism such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating certain foods. We will
discuss each of these factors separately in this report.
WHAT DRUGS CAUSE LIVER TOXICITY?
While some drugs can actually be beneficial to the liver, others are highly
toxic. We start by reviewing some of the more popular drugs on the market and
the potential dangers they pose to the liver.
1.
Acetaminophen: As previously mentioned, acetaminophen is one of the
leading causes of acute liver failure. Severe hepatotoxicity can occur with only
twice the normal dose, but liver toxicity is especially likely when the drug is
combined with alcohol. In an overdose of acetaminophen (Tylenol), the liver
chemical glutathione tries to render the drug non-toxic, but it is rapidly
overwhelmed by the drug and soon depleted. The toxic acetaminophen material is
then free to react with other groups of liver cells, leading to hepatic necrosis and
death.
2.
Antibiotics: As a class, antibiotics are a mixed bag. Some antibiotics can
cause direct damage to the liver, especially in people who already have chronic
liver disease. Tetracycline, when used in large doses, can cause jaundice and
fatty liver. Erythromycins can damage the liver through cholestasis (bile retention)
in about 10% of people who take this class of drugs. Penicillins are the most liver
friendly antibiotics, unless they are combined.
Amoxicillin-clavulanate
(Augmentin), when taken concurrently with the penicillinase resistant penicillins
oxacillin, or cloxacillin, can cause cholestatic hepatitis. As a general rule, most
quinolones are safe antibiotics, since only 50% of the drugs are typically
metabolized, the other ½ being unchanged and recovered in the urine. The
exception is the antibiotic Trovan, a 4th generation quinolone that has been known
to cause acute liver injury. It remains on the market because it appears to have
important benefits that are apparently not matched by safer medications. The
same is true for isoniazid, a drug associated with liver toxicity, but still used to
prevent and treat tuberculosis.
3.
Other dangerous drugs: Many anti-HIV drugs are associated with liver
toxicity, a cause of concern among people co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B or
C. Viramine can cause liver inflammation. Also, in a study funded by Johns
Hopkins University, it was found that the risk of liver injury was 5 times greater in
people who took the drug Norvir, an HIV protease inhibitor medication. The statin
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drugs (popular cholesterol reducing medications, i.e. zocor) can be hepato-toxic by
preventing the liver from producing a substance necessary to make cholesterol.
Halothane, an inhaled general anesthetic, has been known to cause severe side
effects and possibly death from liver damage.
On May 9, 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a health
warning regarding the potential liver problems associated with Sporonox and
Lamisil, two drugs used to treat fungal infections of the nails and skin. This came
after the agency reviewed liver failure in several people who took the drugs.
Naphthene is the major ingredient in moth balls. Inhaling excessive amounts of
naphthene can damage the liver, kidney and eyes.
Several drugs were taken off the American market due to liver toxic effects.
Rezulin, an anti-diabetic drug, was removed in March 2000 due to severe liver
failure in over 90 reported cases. Other drugs pulled from the market include:
Duract, a pain medication, Selacryn, a diuretic, and the arthritis drug Oraflex. The
anti-depressant, Serzone, is still prescribed in the United States, but has been
withdrawn in Europe after 50 reports of liver injury, including 11 deaths.
4.
Alcohol and the liver: Alcohol abuse has probably the worst effects on the
liver of any drug. It is a toxin that can cause fatty liver disease, alcoholic hepatitis
and cirrhosis. Because of their lower body-weight, women who abuse alcohol are
statistically at greater risk for developing liver disease than are men.
Approximately 10-35% of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis (an
inflammation of the liver that resembles viral hepatitis) that eventually leads to
cirrhosis (scarring). Cirrhosis is essentially the scarring that occurs when the liver
is damaged by inflammation. The scar tissue blocks the flow of blood and
prevents the organ from functioning properly. About 5% of people who suffer from
cirrhosis develop liver cancer.
Because so many medications are capable of causing liver damage,
anyone with a history of liver disease should check carefully with their doctor
before starting a new medication. The enclosed list, while not all-inclusive, comes
from “The Essential Guide to Prescription Drugs” by James W. Long and James J.
Rybacki. It entails many of the drugs that require careful monitoring of their effects
on the liver.
Drugs that may cause ACUTE DOSE-DEPENDENT LIVER DAMAGE
(resembling acute viral hepatitis)
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
acetaminophen
salicylates (doses over 2 grams daily)
Drugs that may cause ACUTE DOSE-INDEPENDENT LIVER DAMAGE
(resembling acute viral hepatitis)
 acebutolol
 labetalol
 quinine
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 ethionamide
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indomethacin
phenylbutazone
allopurinol
isoniazid
phenytoin
atenolol
ketoconazole
piroxicam
carbamazepine
 probenecid
 cimetidine
 maprotiline
 pyrazinamide
 dantrolene
 metoprolol
 quinidine
 diclofenac
 mianserin
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diltiazem
naproxen
ranitidine
enflurane
para-aminosalicylic
acid
sulfonamides
ethambutol
penicillins
sulindac
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phenelzine
tricyclic antidepressants
halothane
phenindione
valproic acid
ibuprofen
phenobarbital
verapamil
Drugs that may cause ACUTE FATTY INFILTRATION OF THE LIVER
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adrenocortical steroids
phenothiazines
sulfonamides
antithyroid drugs
phenytoin
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tetracyclines
isoniazid
salicylates
valproic acid
methotrexate
Drugs that may cause CHOLESTATIC JAUNDICE
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actinomycin D
chlorpropamide
erythromycin
amoxicillin/clavulanate
cloxacillin flecainide
azathioprine
cyclophosphamide
flurazepam
captopril
cyclosporine
flutamide
 carbamazepine
 danazol
 glyburide
 carbimazole
 diazepam
 gold
 cephalosporins
 disopyramide
 griseofulvin
 chlordiazepoxide
 enalapril
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enalapril
haloperidol
ketoconazole
norethandrolone
sulfonamides
mercaptopurine
oral
contraceptives
 tamoxifen
 methyltestosterone
 oxacillin
 thiabendazole
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nifedipine
penicillamine
tolbutamide
nitrofurantoin
phenothiazines
tricyclic
antidepressants
 nonsteroidal
 phenytoin
troleandomycin
 antiinflammatory drugs
 propoxyphene
 verapamil
Drugs that may cause LIVER GRANULOMAS (chronic inflammatory nodules)
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allopurinol
gold
phenytoin
aspirin
hydralazine
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isoniazid
quinidine
chlorpromazine
nitrofurantoin
sulfonamides
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
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procainamide
carbamazepine
isoniazid
quinidine
chlorpromazine

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diltiazem
penicillin
tolbutamide
disopyramide
phenylbutazone
Drugs that may cause active chronic hepatitis

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acetaminophen (chronic use, large doses)
dantrolene
methyldopa
isoniazid
nitrofurantoin
Drugs that may cause liver cirrhosis or fibrosis (scarring)

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
methotrexate
terbinafine HCI (Lamisil, Sporanox)
nicotinic acid
Drugs that may cause chronic cholestasis (resembling primary biliary cirrhosis)
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chlorpromazine/valproic acid (combination)
imipramine
thiabendazole
phenothiazines
tolbutamide
chlorpropamide/erythromycin (combination)
phenytoin
Drugs that may cause LIVER TUMORS (benign and malignant)
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anabolic steroids
oral contraceptives
thorotrast
danazol
testosterone
Drugs that may cause DAMAGE TO LIVER BLOOD VESSELS
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adriamycin
dacarbazine
thioquanine
anabolic steroids
mercaptopurine
vincristine
azathioprine
methotrexate
vitamin A (excessive doses)
carmustine
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
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mitomycin
cyclophosphamide/cyclo-sporine (combination)
oral contraceptives
TOXIC HERBS:
Some herbs are beneficial to the liver; others are highly toxic. The following
is a list of herbs that are hepato-toxic and should not be taken by people with
hepatitis C or other liver disease (reprinted with permission from: “The Hepatitis C
Support Project”)
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bush tea
chaparral
coltsfoot
comfrey
Crotalaria species
ephedra (Ma Huang)
germander
Gordolobo yerba tea
groundsel
Heliotropium species
Jin Bu Huan
kava kava
Mate tea
mistletoe
pennyroyal oil
pyrrolizidine alkaloids
sassafras
Senecio species
senna
skullcap
valerian
FOODS THAT CAN “INJURE” THE LIVER
Diet is one of the most important aspects of staying healthy, and the liver is
the most important organ of digestion. The following describes the relationship
of several food groups to Hepatitis C, and their potential dangers.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF DIET TO HEPATITIS C:
1. IRON AND HEPATITIS C: Some people with Hepatitis C have difficulty
excreting iron from the body. Since the liver stores iron, an excess of iron (iron
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overload) can become very damaging to the liver. Some studies suggest that
high levels of iron suppress the immune system and the body’s response to
interferon. Hepatitis C patients should avoid taking iron supplements and
restrict excess iron from all sources, especially from red meats.
2. FAT AND HEPATITIS C: The presence of excess fat in the liver can
cause liver enlargement, fatty inflammation and even fatty cirrhosis. Since
overweight individuals are often found to have the most liver abnormalities,
people with Hepatitis C are advised to maintain a normal weight. The primary
culprits are hydrogenated fats and trans-fatty acids, prevalent in many fast
foods. Hydrogenated fats from fried foods (i.e. french fries, donuts) are high in
liver toxic lipid peroxides (rancid fats) and can cause immune suppression and
liver cell damage. Trans-fatty acids (i.e. margarine) can suppress the
production of PGR-1, an important liver protecting prostaglandin.
3. SODIUM AND HEPATITIS C: Advanced scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver
may lead to an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, referred to as
ascites. For every gram of sodium consumed, there is an accumulation of 200
ml of fluid. By lowering a person’s salt intake, this excessive fluid accumulation
can be controlled. It is, therefore, advisable, that people with fluid build-up in
the stomach should not eat at fast food restaurants, and restrict their intake of
red meats that are high in sodium.
4. ALCOHOL AND HEPATITIS C: As we have mentioned previously, the
use of alcohol will accelerate the progression of liver disease in persons with
Hepatitis C. Alcohol damages the liver by producing acetaldehyde, a toxin that
inhibits PCE-1 production, and is largely responsible for liver, brain and heart
blood vessel disease. The National Institutes of Health recommends total
avoidance of all alcohol by persons infected with Hepatitis C.
OTHER FOODS AND ODORS TO AVOID
1. Junk foods: especially those cooked in hydrogenated fats.
2. Caffeine: including colas, chocolate, coffee and some teas. Most coffee is
grown outside the United States and is laden with harmful pesticides. In
addition, when roasting dark coffee beans, carcinogenic hydrocarbons are
produced that can damage the liver.
3. Alcohol: It is worth repeating over and over again to avoid alcohol at all
costs due to its toxic liver effects.
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4. Smoking: Tobacco contains an array of liver toxins including: benzopyrene,
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, cyanide, acetaldehyde, and tars.
5. Fuel exhaust: Auto and diesel exhaust contains dozens of liver damaging
poisons such as: lead, nitrogen oxides, acetaldehyde, cadmium and
peroxyacetylnitrile.
6. Products containing pesticides or heavy metals: These include odors from
solvents, paints, sprays, and even beauty parlor chemicals. Many of these
products are loaded with liver damaging DDT, chlordane, dioxins, lead,
cadmium, mercury, and hydrocarbon solvents like sulfuric acid.
7. Bleached white flour has been chemically processed and most of the
vitamins have been lost. Artificial sweeteners are extremely hard for the liver
to process.
8. Red meats are fine in moderation, but animal products can contain
chemical sprays, growth hormones, antibiotics and steroids, all given to or
consumed by that particular animal. Meat can also take a minimum of 8-10
hours to be digested, often sitting in the bowel the entire night, adding a further
burden to the body.
9. Hot spices like pepper and chili can irritate the liver, but warm spices such
as ginger, fennel and cumin are recommended.
IDEAS YOU CAN USE NOW FOR EATING HEALTHFULLY
Now that you know what foods and drugs can damage the liver, how can
you eat healthfully and still protect your liver? We’ve designed some sensible
guidelines for people with liver disease to follow, based upon sound principles
of nutrition. To boost energy, cleanse and support the liver, and to ensure
good immune function, try this:
1. Try to get some protein at every meal, but limit the amount of red meat
since it is high in fat and toxins.
2. Eat vegetables every day, either as solid food or vegetable juice.
Vegetable juices act to flush out the body to relieve bloating, heaviness and
lethargy. The best vegetable juices are: celery (relieves liver congestion
through its diuretic effect), broccoli (high in sulfur to support the liver), and
beets (has powerful enzymes to protect the immune system).
3. Have a moderate amount of fruit and fruit juices to assist liver health. The
best fruit juices are: lemon (benefits bile formation), apple (cleanses the
liver), pineapple (has the enzyme bromelain which aids digestion), grape
(used since ancient times to treat jaundice and liver disorders), and melons.
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Also blueberries and strawberries are known for their medicinal properties,
and they can break up excessive toxins in the liver.
4. Have some essential fats every day. Salmon, sardines and tuna are foods
high in omega-3 essential fatty acids to help reduce liver inflammation.
5. Try to buy organic foods if you can since they have less added chemicals
which can stress the liver.
6. Drink pure clean water (not tap water) and consume at least 6-8 glasses
per day.
7. Do not eat when you are angry, frustrated, or bored, because your liver is
already stressed.
8. Eat small meals, never large meals at one time, and chew, chew, chew.
Incomplete digestion due to not properly chewing food is a source of many
digestive disorders and can overwork the liver.
9. Most importantly, BE PATIENT. The body takes time to adjust to a diet that
supports healthier liver function.
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