The Liver Cleansing Diet

Liver cleansing is generally thought of as a treatment primarily for alcoholics and older people. However, according to Dr. Cabot, the liver may hold the key to unlocking the secret to weight loss. The book outlines twelve “vital principles” that is essential to improving its function. These include: “listening to your body, drinking 8-12 glasses of filtered water each day, consuming a minimal amount of sugar, avoiding a preoccupation with calories, identifying and avoiding foods that may cause allergic reactions, and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.”

The book also contains recipes to help readers get started. These recipes are generally low-fat, and encourage fruit and vegetable consumption. Dr. Cabot also encourages readers to choose foods that are high in fiber.

This book is based on Dr. Cabot’s conclusion that excessive weight is likely a symptom of liver dysfunction, not the total number of calories a person consumes. She drew this conclusion after noting that the liver helps to regulate fat metabolism, and is also responsible for pumping excess fat out of the body. If the liver is not functioning properly, the metabolism slows, and the body is unable to rid itself of unwanted fat.

According to the book, the key function of fiber in this diet is to minimize the recirculation of fat and toxins. In addition to keeping weight down, this also helps to keep cholesterol levels low. Those who accumulate fat in their midsection during middle age run the risk of developing a fatty liver, which Dr. Cabot claims effectively turns the liver from a fat-burning organ to a fat-storing organ. She also claims that patients with fatty livers will be unable to lose weight unless they take proactive measures to detoxify the organ through proper diet and a liver tonic.

It is easy to see why this plan would be well received by dieters, considering Cabot’s claim that calories are not to blame for weight gain. To many, this may seem like an open-door invitation to eat whatever we want without the counting and calculations that accompany so many other diets. However, the recipes in The Liver Cleansing Diet are quite similar to those that appeal in other weight loss books: low in fat, high in fiber, lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and minimal sugar.

What is new about Dr. Cabot’s approach is her assertion that the liver is responsible for regulating the metabolism. Most physicians dispute this theory, noting that the hypothalamus and pituitary gland have long been considered to control this function.

• Encourages the consumption of fruits and vegetables
• Encourage dieters to consume more fiber

• Does not discuss exercise
• Claims that the metabolism is primarily controlled by the liver, which some physicians assert is untrue

Although the science behind her approach has elicited skepticism from other doctors, the basic nutritional guidelines of Cabot’s approach are difficult to criticize. However, while most dieters already know that they should eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods, making the right choices can be more difficult than it sounds. For this reason, many dieters find that a nutritional supplement containing Hoodia significantly curbs their cravings, making it easier to eat sensibly at mealtimes.

Without a doubt, metabolism plays a huge role in weight loss, and a number of factors can cause it to slow. Fortunately, supplements containing the patented ingredient Advantra-Z have been shown to improve fat burning and boost energy levels.