
Weight Loss and Your Liver Part II
by Laura J Hieb, ND on August 31, 2022So the liver does not like excess fructose.
What else doesn't it like?
Rancid fats.
What are rancid fats? They are fats that have been oxidized by exposure to oxygen and/or high heat.
Deep fried foods, roasted nuts, nuts in chocolate candies, and basically any oil that has sat around too long/been exposed to light/been exposed to air are example of foods that contain rancid fats
That is why many better quality oils, like extra virgin olive oil come in dark glass or tin containers--to limit light exposure.
Some oils are more stable than others. Omega-3 fatty acids, like fish oil and flaxseed oil are very heat unstable and should never be used in cooking. In fact, they should be stored in the refrigerator to keep them fresh. If fish oil smells fishy, it is rancid and should be discarded.
Omega-6 fatty acids are also fairly unstable when heated. These oils include sunflower oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, corn oil, cotton seed oil, sesame oil, walnut oil, etc. And yet they are often used for deep-frying and other high heat cooking. Many organic chips are deep fried in safflower and sunflower oil. The PCC in Bellevue roasts vegetables in safflower and sunflower oils! (Really, they should know better.)
Olive oil, an omega-9 fatty acid, is stable at low heat cooking. Canola oil is another Omega-9 fatty acid that also contains some omega-3 fatty acids. Canola oil is processed at very high heat, causing the omega-3 fatty acids to become rancid. Avoid Canola oil (formerly known as rapeseed oil).
Avocado oil is another omega-9 fat and is slightly more heat stable than olive oil.
The most heat stable oils are coconut, palm oil and organic lard. If you are going to buy (and eat) chips make sure they've been fried in these oils. Make sure that if you use palm oil that it is sustainably farmed. A lot of palm oil production takes place in Malaysia and is endangering local animals and farmers.
You can make your own fries and chips in your oven using coconut or palm oil or organic lard.
What else does the liver not like?
Well obviously alcohol--small amounts occasionally are fine--the main former cause of liver disease.
Also the liver does not like Tylenol/Acetaminophen.
According to PubMed (National Institute of Health) Acetaminophen overdose is the leading cause for calls to Poison Control Centers (>100,000/year) and accounts for more than 56,000 emergency room visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and an estimated 458 deaths due to acute liver failure each year.
Instead of Tylenol, take 1,000mg of turmeric/curcumin 2-4 times daily. This spice and its active constituent lower inflammation which lowers pain---and it's good for the liver!
To be continued...