Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~SOCIAL LIFE By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Many people don’t think of having a social life as being part of a healthy lifestyle. I didn’t either for a long time. However, like many of us, my mind was …
Deep Dive into Fatty Liver Disease: NAFLD and NASH Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND One of the most common concerns that people call about is fatty liver. Since NASH is a progression, or worsening of NAFLD I wanted to talk about them both in one …
Liver Function Tests
Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND
The Liver Basics!
As an Invite health nutritionist one of the most important parts of my job is to help people understand their blood work. In general I find that when it comes to blood work liver function tests tend to be some of the most confusing. But just what are the markers on your blood work that test for liver health? In other words what even is a liver function test? Well let’s get into this important topic, shall we?
Liver function’s tests are tests that are used to help monitor the health and function of the liver. The first test is ALT. This is an enzyme that is found in the liver. When the liver cell is damaged this enzyme is released and blood levels will increase. Another enzyme that is found in the liver is AST. AST is also found in muscle cells. If the levels are elevated it can indicate possible damage to either the liver or muscles. ALP is an enzyme found in both the liver and bones. If it is elevated in the blood it may indicate liver damage or disease. It may also indicate bone disease. In addition to testing enzymes that are active in the liver the liver blood tests also look at enzymes that are made by the liver. For example Albumin is a protein that helps to fight infection. Lower levels of albumin and even total protein may mean your liver isn’t healthy enough to produce them. Another job of the liver is to process Bilirubin. Normally this is passed through the liver and excreted in the stool. In certain types of liver disease this process is disrupted and bilirubin levels can increase in the blood. PT is a marker of how fast your blood is able to clot. Increased PT can indicate liver damage. However I just want to mention that certain medications can affect PT. Other tests can include GGT and LD. (1)
In addition to blood tests there are certain imaging tests that can help look for liver damage or disease. Imaging tests can include ultrasounds, CT scans or even getting an MRI. One test that can be important in monitoring liver health is a liver biopsy. (2)
These liver function tests may be abnormal for a number of reasons. For example you may have a virus, tumor, diabetes or other liver disease. (2) Throughout this series will be reviewing a number of these conditions. For example we will be reviewing disorders such as NASH, NAFLD, cirrhosis, and even hepatitis. We will also be talking about the gall bladder since it is so closely linked to the liver. Additionally in this series will be talking about how and when to detox. Lastly we will be talking about another important organ, our kidneys!
But what does the liver even do for our health? Well the liver has a number of important jobs. I’ve attached a picture detailing all the functions of the liver! Please take a look the attached picture. (3)
Since the liver is important for so many aspects of our overall health there are many studies on supplements that can help with liver health and function. Throughout this series we will be reviewing many of these nutrients. These nutrients include NAC (4), Milk Thistle (5), Dandelion (6), and even Catalase. (7) Other supplements that help fight infections that will be included will be nutrients such as Olive Leaf (8) and even Probiotics! (9) All of these important nutrients are available from Invite Health. I hope you find this topic as important as I do.
Our product highlight will be Glutathione lozenges!
Sources:
From a Naturopath Point of View Part 5 Dr. Claire Arcidiacono, ND You may have heard the saying that sleep and a good healthy diet are both the base of the pyramid of health. As a Naturopath I agree with this concept 100%! But …
PRIMARY FOOD, LIFESTYLE AND OUR HEALTH~AN INTRODUCTION TO A NEW WELLNESS SERIES By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT Primary foods are an essential part of our health and wellness plan that is often overlooked and even misunderstood. While the topic of self-care in important, …
VEGAN AND VEGETARIAN~ THE SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES, BENEFITS AND TROUBLE
By: Allie Might, FMC, INHC, ATT
Vegan and vegetarian diets….or as many people commonly referred to them as, plant-based diets. I am often told “I eat well, I’m vegetarian” or “My diet is so good, I’m vegan”, but as I ask about meals, I come to realize that many people are not vegan or vegetarian. This is due to a misunderstanding as to what these diet theories actually mean. Let’s break these similar diets down, look at what each entails and see if this is an option for you.
There can be many benefits to adopting a vegan or vegetarian diet. It is believed to be helpful in lowering the risk of such health concerns like diabetes, heart disease, obesity and even cancer. Keep in mind that these benefits are not only due to the elimination of animal products, but also the incorporation of whole foods. You want to try to avoid becoming a “junk food vegan/vegetarian” by adding in a lot of processed proteins which can negate the benefits of adopting a vegan or vegetarian friendly diet.
A vegan diet is a diet free of animal products and by-products. While the elimination of animal protein from the diet is easy to remember, as it includes everything including beef, pork, poultry and fish/seafood. However, the by-products is sometimes what can trip people up. Animal by-products include, but may not be limited to, such items as eggs, dairy and cheese, whey, gelatin and even honey.
A vegetarian diet is similar to a vegan diet but with a bit of a variation. Vegetarian diets are free of animal proteins, however, animal by-products are allowed. Where it gets a little tricky is subcategories differentiating by-products. Lacto-vegetarians follow a standard vegetarian diet which includes dairy products such as milk, cheese, yogurt and butter but avoid eggs. An ovo-vegetarian avoids animal proteins and dairy products but consumes eggs. The last variation is the lacto-ovo vegetarian who eats all dairy products and eggs along with eliminating animal proteins.
Those that follow a vegan or vegetarian diet are more likely to be deficient in certain nutrients. Often times iron and b-vitamins need to be supplemented for these individuals.
Methyl-B is a methylated b-complex, which means it’s better absorbed by the body. Those that follow a vegan or vegetarian diet are more likely to be deficient in b-vitamins. Therefore, supplementing with a good complex is needed. B-vitamins are necessary for such areas as energy, brain health and the cardiovascular system.
Iron Plus Hx is an iron supplement that is non-constipating. It is not uncommon for vegans and vegetarians to be low in iron because most people get iron through meat sources. This elimination can make it difficult to get the right amount of iron through diet. Iron is essential as it help to transport oxygen in the blood. This is why often times those that have an iron deficiency may experience fatigue.
My basic recommendation when following a vegan or vegetarian diet is to make sure you are getting fresh fruits and vegetables and protein at each meal. I like to incorporate smoothies with a good protein powder (Plant Protein or Whey Protein powder) to start the day. How will you incorporate more vegan or vegetarian type meals into your weekly menu in a healthful way?
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8746448/
health.clevelandclinic.org/b-vitamin-benefits
www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-b-complex
www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/features/iron-supplements
