Silymarin, the key active compound in milk thistle, offers potent liver
protection. Silymarin has been shown to increase glutathione
production in the liver, thus increasing detoxification capabilities
significantly. In addition, bile activity is stimulated with the ingestion
of milk thistle, an attribute that is both supportive to the liver and gall bladder.
Dandelion has a long history of use as a tonic to the liver. It has been shown to
enhance bile flow and has been confirmed as having diuretic activity.
NAC is one of the most effective methods of elevating glutathione, a compound required for phase II liver detoxification. Approximately 60% of all toxins passing through phase II are detoxified via glutathione conjugation, which makes NAC an important factor in liver detoxification. As a sulphur amino acid, cysteine is abundant in ‘smelly’ foods such as eggs and garlic, which are known for their liver-supportive properties.
Lipoic acid has demonstrated liver protective properties and acts as an antioxidant by recycling other antioxidants such as glutathione(a major detoxifier in the liver), vitamin C and Co Q10, as well as vitamin E.
Green tea is a rich source of very potent free radical scavenging polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin gallate and gallic acid. In addition, it has been shown to raise the activity of glutathione peroxidase and other antioxidant enzymes in the small
intestine, liver and lungs