Your liver is that “often forgotten” 4-pound organ located on the right side of your body that performs more than 500 bodily functions and chemical reactions every single day to keep you alive. In fact, your liver is so important, medical experts agree: If your body was a corporation, your liver would be the president.

Your liver is under constant abuse from over-the-counter and prescription medications, air and water pollution, alcohol use, chemical food additives, stress hormones and a host of other toxic weapons that are out to destroy it. And the fact is… if your liver breaks down, your body breaks down and you could die.

Your liver removes toxins and impurities from your body before they can cause you harm. But there’s a very good chance your liver is not performing at its maximum ability. And if you’re over age 40, you may already have the beginning of a sluggish liver that can lead to an exhausted body.

In fact, by the time you reach age 40, the tubes and ducts leading to and from your liver can start to get clogged with undigested fats, environmental toxins, gallstones, scar tissue and metabolic wastes. And by age 50, you may only be getting a quarter of the bile your body needs to break down the fats from all the foods in your diet.

When your liver can’t make enough bile to remove the toxins, it encapsulates and stores the toxic materials, which will effect and harm your body for years to come. Some of these toxins become hard mineralized stones stored in your gall bladder—commonly known as gallstones.

As time goes on, these stones accumulate and can block normal bile flow from your gallbladder to your liver. So if you have gallstones, you have a clear warning of a possibly serious liver problem.

But there’s hope for improving the condition of this all-important organ with simple and natural ways that safely help remove dangerous toxins from your liver, unclog your liver cells and boost your liver function.

There are herbs, antioxidants, super-nutrients and amino acids that can help you detox and promote proper liver function. Some I recommend are milk thistle, soy lecithin and artichoke leaf. Plus other nutrients such as n-acetyl-L-cysteine, alpha lipoic acid and trimethylglycine can all help contribute to a well-functioning liver and a healthy body.

• Produces a quart of bile daily to break down fat.
• Removes harmful toxins from nearly 100 gallons of blood per day. This includes internal and external environmental pollutants.
• Produces 13,000 essential chemicals and hormones and manages more than 50,000 enzymes.
• Regulates blood sugar levels and prevents dangerous highs and lows.
• Stores essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, D, K and B12.

But your liver could use some help. Our modern American lifestyle has placed it under constant attack from prescription drugs, alcohol, food additives, environmental pollutants, water chlorination, household chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, prescription drugs and over-the counter drugs such as acetaminophen.

And eventually, all those toxins from your daily life are going to take their toll on your liver’s health. By the age of 50, you could experience liver failure because of clogged fatty deposits and years of dangerous toxins trapped in your organs, skin and other body tissues.

To help your liver eliminate all these chemicals and toxins and avoid inflammation, find a high-quality supplement that contains milk thistle, selenium, alpha lipoic acid (ALA) and soy lecithin, also known as phosphatidylcholine. And increase the amount of liver-supporting foods in your diet such as onions, garlic, artichoke leaf, beets, burdock root and leafy green vegetables.

Check out what these nutrients can do for your liver…

• Milk thistle (silymarin)—Supports your body’s replacement of dead or damaged liver cells and helps protect your liver cell walls from being destroyed by the toxic substances being detoxified.
• Alpha lipoic acid (ALA)—Promotes the healthy reduction of elevated liver enzymes that can trigger liver problems.
• Soy lecithin (phosphatidylcholine)—Helps promote health in livers damaged by alcohol, helps prevent a “fatty” liver and supports your body’s elimination of excess cholesterol.
• Artichoke leaf—Enhances bile secretion to help break up cholesterol and other fats.
• Burdock root—Helps to neutralize many toxins that enter the liver.

All of these nutrients are proven to help protect and strengthen the liver and enhance its ability to detoxify your blood. It only makes sense… if your liver is not functioning smoothly, your health is going to suffer. So show your liver love by helping it stay healthy… with nutritious whole foods and quality all-natural supplements. You’ll be amazed at all the health benefits.

The British study, lead by researcher Chee-Tin Christine Lee, involved more than 22,000 adults who were middle-aged or older. Out of that number, 517 had diabetes—with the majority of those having Type 2 diabetes.

By using food and lifestyle questionnaires, the research team found that study participants with diabetes who said they ate fish two or more times a week were much less likely to have protein (albumin) in their urine.

And one of the earliest warning indicators of kidney disease is protein in the urine, a condition known as macroalbuminuria. The presence of macroalbuminuria in the diabetic subjects was 8.3 percent, but less than 1 percent in the non-diabetics.

Of those with diabetes, 18 percent of those who didn’t regularly include fish in their diet—less than one time each week—had macroalbuminuria, but only 4 percent of those who ate fish twice or more a week had the condition.

“This suggests, then, that eating fish may prevent this early sign of kidney problems, which patients with diabetes are more likely to develop,” said study co-author Amanda Adler, M.D., of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, England.

“It is possible that fish oil improves blood lipid profiles and decreases the risk of kidney disease,” Lee said in a Reuter’s Health report. “It could be other components of fish, such as protein or micronutrients, are protective against diabetic kidney disease. However, it is also possible that people who eat fish frequently have other lifestyle factors, which we could not account for.”

You might also remember that malic acid is added to some skin care products to help restore a youthful appearance to aging skin, and that it is used in dental offices to clean and to get the surface of a tooth ready to be filled.

So where can this multi-talented acid be found? Malic acid is in a wide variety of unripe fruit, including apples, cherries, tomatoes and plums, and it is also formed in the cells of animals—including humans. A large amount of malic acid is produced and broken down in the human body every day, and a deficiency of this acid is thought to be a major cause of physical exhaustion!

Because of the evidence that malic acid is essential for energy production, supplements have been studied for their use in treating fibromyalgia and chronic pain. In a clinical study reported in The Journal of Nutritional Medicine, 15 patients taking 200-2400 mg of malic acid with 300-600 mg of magnesium for four to eight weeks reported that their muscular pain was much less—within 48 hours of taking the supplement. And this welcome pain relief continued to increase over the test period!

Plus, since chronic fatigue syndrome is associated with fibromyalgia, doctors and researchers hope that malic acid supplements can help boost energy levels for those suffering from this condition, as well!

But let’s not forget about the detoxifying properties of malic acid that I mentioned earlier—this natural acid is known to remove dangerous toxic metals from your blood.

As a matter of fact, malic acid is the most potent detoxifier of aluminum—a metal that research has shown can cause memory loss, brain decay and even unexplainable fatigue. And this powerful acid is especially good at decreasing aluminum toxicity in your brain—helping prevent damage to your delicate brain cells.

The brains of patients with Alzheimer’s have been found to contain unusually high levels of aluminum. In the past, it was believed that victims of the disease had digested or absorbed large amounts of aluminum in their lives.

However, it is now thought that how well our bodies can detoxify and get rid of the metal is much more important than the amount of aluminum consumed.

In patients who took a malic acid supplement, the amount of aluminum discharged from their bodies in their urine and feces increased dramatically—and traces of aluminum in their organs and tissues were significantly lessened!

That’s why I recommend that you use malic acid to boost your health and rid your body of dangerous toxins. You will get the most effective amounts of this powerful detoxifying agent in my Advanced Artery Solution™ from True Health™.

Dear Dr. Cutler,
You caught my attention when I saw your True Health Tip about poultices in the October 8, 2008, edition of House Calls™. I have been thinking about trying a poultice but I’m not sure how to go about it. Could you give me an idea about how to make one?
—Mona B.


Dear Mona,

First, the cloth that you use to make a poultice can be gauze, linen, muslin, cotton or any porous material that can allow the medicinal mixture to drain through to the skin slowly. The actual ingredients usually are shielded through the cloth layers to protect sensitive skin from too much exposure and to prolong the healing properties of the poultice. These cloth layers are also wrapped in either plastic or other cloth layers to prevent leakage and possible staining.

Secondly, you can make a dry or a wet poultice. A dry poultice is made by combining the ingredients in a mortar and pestle, and by grinding the herbs into fine powder. Apply warm water and mix the powder into a thick paste that can be applied onto the prepared cloth on a flat surface, ensuring the paste is big enough to cover the affected area.

A wet poultice is made by simmering the ingredients in a saucepan for two minutes, and then straining the mixture on the prepared cloth (over the kitchen sink) so that the remaining ingredients can then be applied to the affected area. Most people use a pin to fasten the cloth together firmly once the poultice has been applied.

Be sure to gently cleanse the affected area of your body with warm water and soap, or with hydrogen peroxide before you apply the poultice.

All the best!
Michael Cutler, M.D.

I have received several inquiries over the past few months asking about a natural treatment for genital warts.

The most common genital wart virus is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Various plant extracts are touted to work quite well for warts. For example, tea tree oil, geranium extract and thuja are being used with success. There are products sold online, but you can also purchase the ingredients from a health food store. To make your own remedy, mix the following:

• 1/2 ounce castor oil
• 1/4 teaspoon each thuja and tea tree essential oils
• 800 International Units vitamin E oil (poke a hole and
  squeeze out the liquid)

Combine the ingredients. Apply a petroleum jelly salve to the area around the wart, leaving the wart exposed. Carefully apply the ingredient mixture with a cotton swab. Be aware that thuja oil is extremely strong and can burn skin that is delicate or sensitive. ONLY APPLY THE SOLUTION TO THE WART ITSELF. Also, try immune-enhancing supplements and a nutrient-rich diet, which will add strength over time to the treatment of HPV.

I read your article “For A Deeper Cleanse… Try This” about fasting and I want to fast for all of the reasons you stated. However, I suffer from hypothyroidism and take Synthroid® everyday. Is it safe to do a liquid or water fast under this condition? Would it be safe to stop this medication during a fast? —Kathy L.

Dear Kathy,

The liquid fast (where you drink only water for an average of three to 10 days) will only improve your thyroid condition, not hurt it. Here are some of the effects you can expect with a water fast:

• Weight loss with little or no hunger.
• Detoxification, breaking down fat reserves and mobilizing stored toxins to be eliminated.
• Digestive system is allowed to rest.
• Resolve inflammatory processes, including painful arthritic conditions.
• Relief from allergic reactions, such as asthma and hay fever.
• Relief from abnormal fluid accumulations such as leg edema.
• Helps restore blood pressure to healthy levels.
• Clearer skin, and revitalized taste buds.
• And much more…

All the while, you are preparing yourself and your stomach for a lifestyle change to whole, natural foods.

However, keep taking your thyroid replacement medication. It has a gradual effect on metabolism. Only reduce the amount when you are feeling you need less, but please don’t forget to follow-up with a TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) level test with your doctor.

For more questions and answers like this one, check out my monthly newsletter, Easy Health Options™, by visiting www.easyhealthoptions.com.

All the best!
Michael Cutler, M.D.

Dear Health Conscious Individual,

Welcome to House Calls with Dr. Cutler™!

In this week’s issue, we will discuss getting your body in complete balance. This means monitoring your pH levels, which can ultimately lead to health problems if not kept in check. Be sure to read my checklist and see if you’re in danger!

Body balance also means eliminating free radicals from your system. The abundance of these floating molecules in your body could increase your risk for health problems!

Plus, can you truly spot organic and natural foods? Read below to find out how…

Yours for healthy living,

Michael Cutler, M.D.
Medical Advisor, True Health™

Do You Have Symptoms of Irregular pH Balance?

It’s no secret that your body is made up of about 70 percent water. Every one of your 100 trillion cells is filled with water. And every other chemical in your body—from the stomach acid you need to digest food… to the blood that carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells of all your organs—either contain water or are suspended in water.

Therefore, for you to be healthy, that water needs to have a healthy pH balance—even out into the tissues of the organs where metabolism actually occurs. The letters “pH” mean “potential of hydrogen” and simply measure how acidic or alkaline your body is on a logarithmic scale from 0 to 14.

Your body will work hard to keep your organ tissues in pH balance. You will achieve optimum health much easier when your organ tissues stay in a slightly alkaline environment—about 7.0 to 7.5 as measured by saliva.

Blood pH is very different, however. It remains in the 7.34 to 7.38 pH range normally. And urine is normally acidic at a pH of 6.2 to 6.8 upon your first morning bathroom visit. What some people don’t realize is that saliva is a fairly good reflection of tissue pH which can vary, while blood pH will be one of the very last things to change in a sick person.

Is an acidic pH balance behind YOUR symptoms? Take this simple test:

1. Do you suffer from high blood pressure, a failing heart or other heart problems?
2. Do your joints feel stiff, inflamed and painful or do you suffer from bone loss?
3. Has a doctor told you that your blood sugar levels are too high or too low?
4. Are you finding it more difficult to get a good night’s sleep?
5. Do you suffer from constant fatigue or energy crashes after meals?
6. Do you frequently endure cramping, constipation, heartburn or other digestive problems?
7. Do you sometimes feel depressed, negative and cranky?
8. Have you noticed that your ability to solve problems or to remember details is lacking?
9. Do you sometimes suffer from shortness of breath or other lung problems?
10. Do you experience pain, numbness or tingling in your hands, legs or feet?
11. Is your skin or hair aging more rapidly than they should?
12. Do you notice that your eyesight or hearing is fading at an alarming rate?
13. Do you suffer from low sexual desire or performance problems?
14. Do you contract infections more often with each passing year?

If you answered “YES” to one or more of these questions, there’s a good chance that you may be suffering from acid overload. In addition to the best nutrition you can consume, the next step is to supplement with alkalizing minerals.

Antioxidants: Your Body’s Natural Housekeeper

Did you know that the presence of free radicals in your system could increase your risk of health problems? But, despite the damaging effects they can have on your health, there’s great news! You can fight off—and even PREVENT the attack of free radicals naturally!

Here’s how: Your body has a natural defense system of antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital molecules are damaged. Simply put, antioxidants play a housekeeper’s role by “mopping up” free radicals before they get the chance to do harm to your body.

Antioxidants are produced by your body and taken in through foods you eat. Take the well-known L-glutathione, for example. It is produced by the body from three amino acids called: cysteine, glycine and glutamic acid. L-glutathione functions as an electron donor molecule for those free radicals that are stealing electrons from healthy stable molecular structures.

In this way, L-glutathione turns oxidized (damaged) vitamins back to their original molecular configuration. For example, vitamins C and E that get oxidized are restored as antioxidants. L-glutathione also destroys reactive oxygen molecules (such as superoxide, hydroxyl and other free radicals).

Antioxidant vitamins A, C, E, omega-3 fatty acids, minerals, glutathione, proteolytic enzymes, and a host of other antioxidant substances are scientifically proven to slow down the aging process. Furthermore, a diet rich in antioxidants helps keep your skin looking younger, improves your memory—and can even REVERSE many health problems!

It’s important to remember that free radical damage accumulates with age. If the production of free radicals becomes excessive, gradual severe damage can occur. So, the best way to ensure adequate intake of antioxidant nutrients is through a predominately whole foods diet.

For example, consuming six vegetable and three fruit servings per day will provide you with optimal amounts of fiber and micronutrients. Then, if approximately half of all your food is cooked and the other half is raw, then you are really on your way to true health!

Organic and Natural Food Products vs. Real Whole Foods

On a recent trip to Anaheim, Calif., my daughter and I attended the annual Natural Products Expo West. There were more than 3,000 exhibitors showing their food and natural products to the masses of attendees from all over the country. Here are just a few examples of the products on display (www.expowest.com):

• Gluten-Free: breads, brownies, cereals, pastas and snack foods
• Certified Fair Trade: personal care products, rice, teas, chocolate, snacks, coffee
• Whole and Sprouted Grains: pizza, kid snacks, nutrition bars, dinner rolls, desserts
• Healthy Omega-3 Fats: capsules and culinary oils to breakfast and dinner foods
• Reusable Shopping Bags: certified organic, hemp, recycled materials and biodegradable
• Pre- and Probiotics: from supplement capsules to yogurt snacks, drinks and bars
• Exotic Ingredients and Novel Flavors: from ’superfruits’ mangosteen, goji berry, yumberry and acai berry to yerba mate
• Healthy Kid-sized Foods: drinks, snacks and everything in-between

This is a pretty impressive list—with many great alternatives. But, what I learned when I arrived was both revealing and appalling! Besides eating food samples literally all day long, we got the overriding message that became very clear to us:

There is a huge marketing push to get you to believe that because it says “organic” or “natural,” it is good for your health!
Instead of high fiber, high nutrient, low sugar or real whole foods, I saw hundreds of food products with “natural” sugar in granola bars, yogurts, juices, cookies, candies, cakes, refined cold cereals, pretzels, sodas, etc., you name it. They were selling foods with a “natural” sugar version that is just as low in fiber and micronutrients as the regular ones!

We discovered that while many of these products could be better for your health because they are derived from organic sources (no pesticides, chemicals, hormones or antibiotics), they still don’t compare to the real thing. They don’t have live micronutrients in them: dietary fiber, whole vitamins, organic minerals, live enzymes, antioxidants, phytochemicals or healthy oils.

I was quite proud, however, of the ONE vendor who actually had real whole foods (he was selling the spices to go on the real whole foods). So, if you shop health food stores, consider staying in the organic produce section and not in the aisles where there are a myriad of “natural” boxed, canned, bottled and otherwise refined and processed sugary and fatty food products. Let these non-produce food products be the exception or the occasional condiment. They are NOT the basis for a healthy, whole foods eating lifestyle.

For a comprehensive list of good and bad foods, check out my 90 Days to True Health™ program today, with recipes and suggestions to help you figure out the right plan for your family.

Q & A

Each week in the Q & A section of House Calls with Dr. Cutler™, I will share with you some of the many questions I get every week from subscribers to my monthly advisory newsletter, Easy Health Options™”. For more information on Easy Health Options™”, visit www.easyhealthoptions.com

Peripheral Neuropathy In Feet and Legs

Dear Dr. Cutler,

I have severe pain in the feet and lower legs, of idiopathic origin. I’m controlling the pain, most of the time, by taking several prescription painkillers.

P.S. I currently take Ultimate pH Balance™ and Liver & Kidney Cleanse™ and am awaiting my order of Advanced Artery Solution™.
—Frank C.

Dear Frank,

You are on the right track. There is a whole lot more to address, which is covered in my program called 90 Days to True Health™. Peripheral neuropathy is either from compression in the back, or it can be from diabetes or an “autoimmune” disease affecting the peripheral nerves. What has caused your immune system to attack your nerves this way is your question to be asking of the physicians.

The various things that you will want to explore are heavy metals (i.e., mercury) toxicity, liver function and the alkaline/acid status of your blood—and more importantly of your tissues. And you want to explore all possible types of allergens that can trigger the immune system and anything else that can turn on your immune system’s inflammatory process. Even sugar can worsen nerve function in sensitive patients.

So there are lots of possibilities you may want to explore. When reversed, you can get normal healing and at least partial restoration of function.

All the best!
Michael Cutler, M.D.