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Health, Wellness & Nutrition Center, LLC, 3234 West Truman Boulevard, Jefferson City, MO (2025)

08/24/2025

Parasites 101

What is a parasite? A parasite is an organism that lives off another organism (host). Parasites use the host's body for nourishment and shelter. Does everyone have parasites that need cleansed from the gut? Short answer is no. Doing parasite cleanses when no parasites are present can strip the gut of beneficial bacteria. This leads to a host of health complications.

So, let’s take a look at the straight talk about parasites. A healthy human body contains billions of good parasites like bacteria that are essential for functions like digestion and immune system response. Most harmful intestinal parasites are transmitted through ingesting soil contaminated with f***s, ingesting p**p, or water containing the parasite. I hear you…gross! In some cases, parasitic infection is spread by insects (in tropical areas).

Most people get intestinal parasites by ingesting eggs that get passed along through p**p. The eggs are microscopic, so there’s no way to know you’re swallowing them. Thorough hand washing is a must! Some parasite eggs can survive on surfaces for a long time. If you touch the surface and then touch your mouth, you can get infected.

Other ways of becoming infected include consuming contaminated water. Water sources include public and private drinking water sources, pools, rivers and lakes. Also, avoid consuming foods grown in contaminated soil (fertilized with human waste). Likewise, eating raw or undercooking meats with parasites will lead to transmission.

Animals can carry parasitic eggs in their fur. For example, fleas can transmit tapeworm eggs to the host. In addition, parasites can be transmitted through the handling of animal waste and not utilizing protective gloves or frequent hand washing.

Hygiene plays an important role here. Use clean water and soap to keep your hands free of parasite eggs. Wash your hands after going to the bathroom, before handling food or eating, and after cleaning up after children (dirty diapers) or pets. Likewise, thoroughly wash hands and arms when gardening or working with soil.

Symptoms of parasite infection can include abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea, a**l itching, unexplained weight loss and exhaustion. However, these are common to a number of other health conditions.

Diagnosis of parasite infection must come from reliable testing vs. vague symptom a**lysis. F***l exams to look for parasites or parasite eggs. Both endoscopic exam of the intestines as well as colonoscopy reveal evidence of parasites. Again, simple blood work can reveal specific types of parasitic infections. Finally, imaging scans can detect. Parasite-related organ damage.

Are internet parasite cleanses damaging to your health. If you do not have live parasites or eggs in your body, the answer is yes. Many of the herbs utilized in cleanses have toxicity levels in the human body. Likewise, they are designed to strip the intestinal tract—this includes all your beneficial bacteria as well! Some herbs interfere with prescription drugs and other herbs, placing added stress on the body. Unfortunately, some of the herbs used in cleanses are also tainted with heavy metals.

The laxative effect can be dehydrating., creating electrolyte imbalances. Kidney, liver, pancreas damage can occur from cleanses if the is not a need for cleanse. Nutrient depletion can occur due to the bowel flushing before nutrients are absorbed. Most importantly, if not parasites are present, worsening of underlying conditions can occur.

If you are concerned about parasites, please have physical testing (even if just bloodwork or stool sample) before you jump on the cleanse bandwagon. Even in natural approaches, treatments are dictated by specific confirmed parasites.

Dianna Richardson, ND August 2025

References:

Halliez MC, Buret AG. Gastrointestinal Parasites and the Neural Control of Gut Functions. Front Cell Neurosci. 2015 Nov 25;9:452.

Strothmann AL, Berne MEA, Capella GA, de Moura MQ, da Silva Terto WD, da Costa CM, Pinheiro NB. Antiparasitic treatment using herbs and spices: A review of the literature of the phytotherapy. Braz J Vet Med. 2022 Sep 11;44
Pereira MA, Santos-Gomes G. Parasitic Infection and Immunity-A Special Biomedicines Issue. Biomedicines. 2022 Oct 12;10(10):2547

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. "Detoxes" and "cleanses": what you need to know.

Strothmann AL, Berne MEA, Capella GA, de Moura MQ, da Silva Terto WD, da Costa CM, et al. Antiparasitic treatment using herbs and spices: A review of the literature of the phytotherapy. Braz J Vet Med. 2022 Sep 11;44:e004722.

Batiha GES, Olatunde A, El-Mleeh, et al. Bioactive compounds, pharmacological actions, and pharmacokinetics of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Antibiotics (Basel). 2020;9(6):353.

08/18/2025

High Homocysteine: What is it?

Homocysteine is an amino acid that is an intermediate in the production of two other amino acids, methionine and cysteine. Methionine is an essential amino acid and antioxidant that synthesizes (creates) proteins. Cysteine is a nonessential amino acid synthesized from methionine. It reduces inflammation, increases communication between immune cells, and increases liver health.

Normally, your homocysteine levels are low. It is maintained through utilization of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, and Folate (vitamin B9) to quickly break down homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine in your blood may be a sign that this process isn't working properly; or that you're lacking certain B vitamins.

High levels of homocysteine can damage the inside of your arteries and increase your risk of forming blood clots. This may increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, and other heart diseases and blood vessel disorders.

A clot inside your blood vessels is called a thrombus. Since it is inside your bloodstream it can travel anywhere in your body. It may become stuck in your: Lungs—pulmonary embolism; Brain—cause a stroke; Heart cause heart attack.

Many studies have confirmed the connection between high homocysteine and both large and small vessel issues. More recent studies have linked high homocysteine levels with impaired verbal memory, and fine motor skills as well.

Additionally, homocysteine is also important to neurologists since most anticonvulsants (for seizure disorders) raise homocysteine levels, an effect that may explain the teratogenic effects of these drugs. Research has found anti-seizure medications negatively affect homocysteine levels in the body. This may result from medications reducing the nutrients needed to metabolize homocysteine. Additionally, links are being investigated to Alzheimer’s disease.

Furthermore, people with the genetic condition MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) lack the enzyme production needed to convert the essential B-vitamins to breakdown homocysteine. In addition to afore mentioned conditions, MTHFR can affect fertility, pregnancy, and anxiety disorders. Again, leading to high risk for a variety of serious health conditions if not corrected.

A homocysteine test is a simple, inexpensive blood draw. Age and various chronic health conditions may impact the results. However, a safe range by age for homocysteine is available for reference.

Dianna Richardson, ND August 2025

References:

Varga et. Al. (2005). Homocysteine and MTHFR Mutations. Circulation , 111(19): e289-e293.

Sener et. Al. (2006). Effects of common ant-epileptic drug monotherapy on serum levels of homocysteine, Vitamin B12, folic acid and Vitamin B6. European Journal of Epilepsy, 15(2): P79-85.

Sachdev et. Al. (2004). Homocysteine and the Brain in Midadult Life. JAMA Neurology 61(9): 1369-1376.

Diaz-Arrastia (2000). Homocysteine and Neurologic Disease. JAMA Neurology.

Smith AD Homocysteine, B vitamins and cognitive deficits in the elderly. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2002;75785- 786PubMedGoogle Scholar

Toole JFJack CR Food (and vitamins) for thought. Neurology 2002;581449- 1450PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Boushey CJBeresford SAOmenn GSMotulsky AG A quantitative assessment of plasma homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease: probable benefits of increasing folic acid intakes. JAMA1995;2741049- 1057
ArticlePubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Moller JNielsen GMTvedegaard KCAndersen NTJorgensen PE A meta-a**lysis of cerebrovascular disease and hyperhomocysteinaemia. Scand J Clin Lab Invest 2000;60491- 500PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Fassbender KMielke OBertsch T et al. Homocysteine in cerebral macroangiography and microangiopathy. Lancet 1999;3531586- 1587PubMedGoogle ScholarCrossref

Hogervorst ERibiero HMMolyneux ABudge MSmith D Plasma homocysteine levels, cerebrovascular risk factors, and cerebral white matter changes (leukoaraiosis) in patients with Alzheimer disease. Arch Neurol 2002;59787- 793

08/18/2025

Inflammation: Inflammation can play a role not only in the development of cancer but in growth. We are learning that the "microenvironment" surrounding cancer cells may play a role in whether a cancer progresses or not. Some foods have anti-inflammatory properties which could change this process.

Apples & Pears
Phloretin found in apples and pears markedly induced programmed cell death (apoptosis) in cancer cells.

Green Tea
Theaflavin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) were found to potentiate the effect of the chemotherapy. Skip the creamer, as dairy products can combine with and neutralize ECGC. Consider adding a touch of lemon instead, which enhances the absorption of this compound.

Salmon (or other fatty fish)
Most cancer patients are low in vitamin D. The reason being cancer cells utilize the body’s supply to build their network. When cancer cells were treated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 it was found that in this setting vitamin D3 inhibited the growth of lung cancer cells (as well as other cancer cells).

Vitamin D which is found in fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and herring appears to have other health benefits as well and a deficiency in vitamin D can lead to many medical problems. In addition to dietary sources, vitamin D can be absorbed outside from the sun, but sunscreen interferes with this process. Given its role in cancer, and how easy it is to know your level with a simple blood test.

Ginger
Well known for its digestive benefits, ginger is also anti-inflammatory and contains pain reducing properties.
Ginger contains a compound 6-shogaol. Through its actions on the pathways that help cancer to spread, it may lower the risk of metastases from a cancer already present. Evidence of the benefits of ginger were noted in treating lung cancer cells in the lab.

Quercetin
Quercetin inhibits a signaling pathway in lung cancer cells that is necessary for the cells to divide and multiply. Earlier studies found that in addition to inhibiting cancer cell growth, quercetin also plays a role in programmed cell death (apoptosis) of cancer cells.

Foods rich in quercetin include dill w**d, red onions, blueberries, apples, and green and black tea. Capers are one of the highest known sources of quercetin. This powerful antioxidant appears to inhibit the growth of several cancers, especially cancers of the lung, brain, blood, and salivary gland. [FYI: quercetin is a great antihistamine as well as being anti-inflammatory. It is NOT nature's hydroxycholorquine.]

Berries
Berries such as blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cranberries are loaded with compounds known as anthocyanidins. One form of anthocyanidin known as delphinidin.

Dietary delphinidin has shown to inhibit the growth of the tumors, limited the ability of the tumors to create new blood vessels in order to expand (something known as angiogenesis) and induced cell death (apoptosis) among the cancer cells.

An added benefit are studies finding that anthocyanidins may help prevent the formation of blood clots (thrombosis). Considering that 3% to 15% of people with lung cancer develop blood clots, berries may help in more ways than one.

Carrots
Carrots are an excellent source of chlorogenic acid. In order for tumors to grow and invade tissues, they must grow new blood vessels to supply the tumor. Some treatments for cancer are designed to interrupt this process which is called angiogenesis. In other words, if the tumor is unable to create a blood supply for itself, it cannot continue to expand.

Chlorogenic acid appears to disrupt a signaling pathway in lung cancer which is necessary in order for angiogenesis to occur. While carrots are very rich in this compound, it may also be found in significant quantities in flaxseed, apples, strawberries, potatoes, and pineapple.

Unlike some foods which can lose their protective phytochemicals during cooking, carrots are an exception to the rule.

Resveratrol
One of the problems with cancer treatment is that cancer cells have a mind of their own. They are "smart" if you will, and become resistant to treatments designed to eliminate them. Thankfully it's been found that compounds such as resveratrol may sensitize tumors to the effects of treatment.

Specifically, with lung cancer, an intake of this nutrient may help to improve the effectiveness of common chemotherapy medications such as Taxol (paclitaxel), Platinol (cisplatin), and Iressa (gefitinib).

Of course, there is controversy in recommending an alcoholic beverage, but don't be worried. Red grape juice packs a powerful punch, as do other foods containing resveratrol such as dark chocolate and blueberries.

Lycopene
Lycopene works at several points in the progression of cancer. It may inhibit growth of tumors, interfere with the process in which lung cancer cells divide, inhibit the spread of cancer, and assist in ridding the body of cancer cells through apoptosis.
In addition, lycopene has anti-inflammatory properties which may help lessen both the promotion and progression of lung cancer.

Zinc
For those who don't get enough zinc to begin with, it's important to know that zinc deficiency is associated with a decline in immunity—something very important for cancer patients.
Meat, shellfish, legumes (especially lentils and chickpeas), seeds (h**p, pumpkin, sesame), pine nuts, cashews, eggs, green beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, kale and dark chocolate are all good sources of zinc.

As with all disease, dietary choices play a role in preventing, managing, and resolving conditions.

Dianna Richardson, ND August 2025

References:
1. Murata M. Inflammation and cancer. Environ Health Prev Med. 2018;23(1):50. doi:10.1186/s12199-018-0740-1

2. Ma L, Wang R, Nan Y, Li W, Wang Q, Jin F. Phloretin exhibits an anticancer effect and enhances the anticancer ability of cisplatin on non-small cell lung cancer cell lines by regulating expression of apoptotic pathways and matrix metalloproteinases. Int J Oncol. 2016;48(2):843-53. doi:10.3892/ijo.2015.3304

3. Pan H, Kim E, Rankin GO, Rojanasakul Y, Tu Y, Chen YC. Theaflavin-3,3'-Digallate Enhances the Inhibitory Effect of Cisplatin by Regulating the Copper Transporter 1 and Glutathione in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(1). doi:10.3390/ijms19010117

4. Verone-boyle AR, Shoemaker S, Attwood K, et al. Diet-derived 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 activates vitamin D receptor target gene expression and suppresses EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer growth in vitro and in vivo. Oncotarget. 2016;7(1):995-1013. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.6493

5. Hsu YL, Hung JY, Tsai YM, et al. 6-shogaol, an active constituent of dietary ginger, impairs cancer development and lung metastasis by inhibiting the secretion of CC-chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in tumor-associated dendritic cells. J Agric Food Chem. 2015;63(6):1730-8. doi:10.1021/jf504934m

6. Chang JH, Lai SL, Chen WS, et al. Quercetin suppresses the metastatic ability of lung cancer through inhibiting Snail-dependent Akt activation and Snail-independent ADAM9 expression pathways. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2017;1864(10):1746-1758. doi:10.1016/j.bbamcr.2017.06.017

7. Mehta HJ, Patel V, Sadikot RT. Curcumin and lung cancer--a review. Target Oncol. 2014;9(4):295-310. doi:10.1007/s11523-014-0321-1
8. Farkhondeh T, Samarghandian S, Pourbagher-shahri AM, Sedaghat M. The impact of curcumin and its modified formulations on Alzheimer's disease. J Cell Physiol. 2019;234(10):16953-16965. doi:10.1002/jcp.28411

9. Pal HC, Sharma S, Strickland LR, et al. Delphinidin reduces cell proliferation and induces apoptosis of non-small-cell lung cancer cells by targeting EGFR/VEGFR2 signaling pathways. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(10):e77270. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0077270

10. Park JJ, Hwang SJ, Park JH, Lee HJ. Chlorogenic acid inhibits hypoxia-induced angiogenesis via down-regulation of the HIF-1α/AKT pathway. Cell Oncol(Dordr). 2015;38(2):111-8. doi:+10.1007/s13402-014-0216-2

11. Gupta SC, Kannappan R, Reuter S, Kim JH, Aggarwal BB. Chemosensitization of tumors by resveratrol. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2011;1215:150-60. doi:+10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05852.x

12. Ono M, Takeshima M, Nakano S. Mechanism of the Anticancer Effect of Lycopene (Tetraterpenoids). Enzymes. 2015;37:139-66. doi:10.1016/bs.enz.2015.06.002

13. Kocdor H, Ates H, Aydin S, et al. Zinc supplementation induces apoptosis and enhances antitumor efficacy of docetaxel in non-small-cell lung cancer. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;9:3899-909. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S87662

07/21/2025

Did you know…

Many of you have heard me repeatedly state that too much of a good thing can be disastrous to your health. Usually, this comes up in supplement conversations. When supplements are utilized properly, they can be quite beneficial in restoring balance in the body. However, when misused or overused the end result can be less than desirable.

It is very important to understand the role marketing plays in decision making. Billions of dollars are spent each year on supplement sales (roughly $63.94 billion in 2024). In order for one product to catch your attention over another, marketing plays a large role. While the FDA does monitor for false claims, unauthorized ingredients, contaminates, etc., the time from action to you hearing about it is often years. In the meantime, marketing is pushing for strong sales. In today’s technological society marketing is taken directly to the people. We see this with both prescription drugs and supplements.

A popular item on the market is turmeric/curcumin. Used properly it can be a great asset for reducing pain and inflammation. Medical studies have investigated it for numerous other properties as well. However, there is growing concern due to misuse and extreme dosing.

Several years ago, many suppliers began adding black pepper to turmeric supplements. This was due to a small study that possibly indicated this increases absorption. (Turmeric is actually better absorbed with a healthy fat.) As a result of the combination of excessive use and added piperine reports of liver damage are on the rise.

Turmeric appears to have become the most common cause of clinically apparent, herbal-related liver injury in the United States. Recent reports have shown a close association of turmeric induced liver injury with the HLA allele B*35:01, which was found in over 70% of cases. In some cases, as little as 1,000mg of curcumin/turmeric with 5 mg added black pepper resulted in acute liver toxicity. Please keep in mind this was associated with specific brands of turmeric/curcumin and well documented.

Thankfully in most cases discontinuing the supplement resulted in liver damage reversing within 3-4 months. Again, please understand, these were high doses that were taken for an extended amount of time. Combinations with other prescriptions or certain supplements also played a significant role increased liver damage. It is reported some people sustained liver damage to the point of needing liver transplants.

It a time of social media driven medical advice, take note of your own individuality. Marketing continues to drive supplement sales and misuse. As stated earlier, just because a product/herb has the potential to be beneficial, it does not necessarily make it safe or the right choice for you.

Dianna Richardson, ND July 2025

References:
National Library of Medicine (2025). LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548561/

Halegoua-DeMarzio, Dina et al. (2023). Liver Injury Associated with Turmeric—A Growing Problem: Ten Cases from the Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network [DILIN] The American Journal of Medicine, Volume 136, Issue 2, 200 – 206

Jefferson health (2024). The trouble with turmeric as associated liver injury. Retrieved from https://www.jeffersonhealth.org/your-health/living-well/the-trouble-with-turmeric-associated-liver-injuries

Grandview Research (2024). U.S. Dietary Supplements Market Summary. Retrieved from https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-a**lysis/us-dietary-supplements-market-report

07/09/2025

Artery Cleaning Foods Part 2

In part one (1) we looked at the benefits of fatty fish, berries, citrus fruits, legumes, tomatoes, and allium vegetables. In this segment, we will discuss benefits of several more foods.

Extra virgin olive oil
Higher intake of olive oil is associated with reduced risk of death and cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke. What sets olive oil apart? It’s a rich source of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyphenol antioxidant compounds. Research has shown that diets rich in MUFAs are associated with increased “good” HDL cholesterol and reduced “bad” LDL cholesterol. Meanwhile, extra virgin olive oil’s polyphenols help lower inflammation, reduce platelet aggregation, prevent LDL oxidation, and reduce blood pressure.
Olive oil also has a beneficial effect on blood sugar. People consuming the most olive oil had, on average, a 16% reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes and reductions in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C), an measure of average blood glucose over several months.

Avocado
Avocados deliver a one-two punch for cleaning out your arteries. Like olive oil, avocados contain loads of blood sugar-stabilizing, cholesterol-optimizing MUFAs. But they’re also a surprisingly great source of fiber, clocking in at about 6.5 grams per half avocado. A recent study also found that eating one avocado per day is associated with reductions in LDL cholesterol.
While some people are wary of eating avocados because they also contain some saturated fat, don’t worry about that. Although saturated fat intake may increase LDL cholesterol, it typically only increases the larger, “bouncier” LDL particles that are less likely to stick to artery walls and cause damage than small, dense LDL particles. Additionally, most recent research has found no beneficial cardiovascular effects of reducing saturated fat intake.

Cruciferous Vegetables
Like allium vegetables, cruciferous vegetables (think: broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, arugula, cabbage) also contain organosulfur compounds and may reduce your risk of death from atherosclerosis. Research has found that consuming all vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables, is associated with thinner, healthier carotid artery walls (thick artery walls, on the other hand, are a marker of atherosclerosis). Cruciferous veggies also contain blood sugar-stabilizing, cholesterol-lowering fiber.

Beets
Red, golden, and rainbow beets may be controversial in the flavor department — with a notable earthiness — but there’s no question they’re good for supporting healthy blood flow. Beets and beetroot juice are some of the best sources of beneficial dietary nitrates, which are converted to nitric oxide (NO) in the bloodstream. NO relaxes and widens blood vessels, which lowers blood pressure and helps prevent damage to artery walls that could make them more vulnerable to narrowing and plaque buildup. To mellow beets' earthy flavor, try roasting them with olive oil or toss them into a smoothie.

Spinach
Like beets, spinach and other dark leafy greens are a good source of dietary nitrates, which support supple, free-flowing blood vessels and arteries by boosting NO production. Additionally, leafy greens contain fiber and a range of micronutrients, including folate. Folate plays a key role in cardiovascular health by lowering levels of the amino acid homocysteine. High blood levels of homocysteine are a known risk factor for atherosclerosis, as they can damage the lining of blood vessels and increase arterial plaque buildup.

Adding foods listed in part 1 or now part 2 of this series can help you meet vascular health goals. As with all things, the addition of these foods must be balanced against reducing negative food and beverage impacts coupled with physical activity. Take control of health impacts for a long, quality filled life!

Dianna Richardson, ND July 2025

References:
Blekkenhorst LC, Bondonno CP, Lewis JR, Woodman RJ, Devine A, Bondonno NP, Lim WH, Zhu K, Beilin LJ, Thompson PL, Prince RL, Hodgson JM. Cruciferous and Total Vegetable Intakes Are Inversely Associated With Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Older Adult Women. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018 Apr 4;7(8):e008391.

Cruciferous and Allium Vegetable Intakes are Inversely Associated With 15‐Year Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease Deaths in Older Adult Women. Retrieved from https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/JAHA.117.006558

Blekkenhorst LC, Sim M, Radavelli-Bagatini S, Bondonno NP, Bondonno CP, Devine A, Schousboe JT, Lim WH, Kiel DP, Woodman RJ, Hodgson JM, Prince RL, Lewis JR. Cruciferous vegetable intake is inversely associated with extensive abdominal aortic calcification in elderly women: a cross-sectional study. Br J Nutr. 2021 Feb 14;125(3):337-345.

Raubenheimer K, Hickey D, Leveritt M, Fassett R, Ortiz de Zevallos Munoz J, Allen JD, Briskey D, Parker TJ, Kerr G, Peake JM, Pecheniuk NM, Neubauer O. Acute Effects of Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Juice on Blood Pressure, Hemostasis and Vascular Inflammation Markers in Healthy Older Adults: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 22;9(11):1270.

Jackson JK, Zong G, MacDonald-Wicks LK, Patterson AJ, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Manson JE, McEvoy MA. Dietary nitrate consumption and risk of CHD in women from the Nurses' Health Study. Br J Nutr. 2019 Apr;121(7):831-838.

Yuan S, Li X, Jin Y, Lu J. Chocolate Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies. Nutrients. 2017 Jul 2;9(7):688.

Sperkowska B, Murawska J, Przybylska A, Gackowski M, Kruszewski S, Durmowicz M, Rutkowska D. Cardiovascular Effects of Chocolate and Wine-Narrative Review. Nutrients. 2021 Nov 26;13(12):4269.

Summerhill V, Karagodin V, Grechko A, Myasoedova V, Orekhov A. Vasculoprotective Role of Olive Oil Compounds via Modulation of Oxidative Stress in Atherosclerosis. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2018 Dec 21;5:188.

Gorzynik-Debicka M, Przychodzen P, Cappello F, Kuban-Jankowska A, Marino Gammazza A, Knap N, Wozniak M, Gorska-Ponikowska M. Potential Health Benefits of Olive Oil and Plant Polyphenols. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Feb 28;19(3):686.

Malekmohammad K, Sewell RDE, Rafieian-Kopaei M. Antioxidants and Atherosclerosis: Mechanistic Aspects. Biomolecules. 2019 Jul 25;9(8):301.

07/09/2025

How’s Your Liver Doing?

Contrary to popular belief, supplement support of your liver is not always in your best interest. Often forgotten, all supplements (just like prescription drugs) will be processing through either your liver or kidneys—technically through both. It is estimated in the U.S. 44,000 cases of liver damage (including 2,700 deaths) are linked to supplements and supplement misuse. These supplements rage from ones utilized for inflammation control to weight loss, to body building, to improving moods, and more.

Responsible for the body’s metabolic processes, the liver carries a heavy workload. It is responsible for breaking down or converting substances like fats and proteins, removing toxins from the bloodstream, and extracting vitamins and minerals. The liver also produces a type of bile needed to breakdown fats into digestible fatty-acids—while getting rid of wastes. There are some common conditions that can affect your liver beyond supplement misuse/overuse.

While most of us have heard of hepatitis, are you aware there are multiple types? Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and a few less common ones vary in severity. All are viral and affect the liver through inflammation and subsequent infection, potentially resulting in liver damage and/or failure. Hepatitis A is contracted through contaminated drinking water and consuming foods prepared without proper bathroom hygiene. B and C are predominantly spread through blood and body fluids. D and E may occur as co-infections with the other forms of hepatitis.

Another form of liver disease on the rise is fatty liver disease (hepatosteatosis). Hepatosteatosis occurs when excess fat is stored in the liver. 25 to 30 percent of people in the United States are affected by this condition. The disease causes great discomfort due to the enlargement of the liver. Also, it can lead to other complications including cirrhosis, liver failure, and metabolic syndrome. Fatty liver disease can affect people of any age. This is a diet and lifestyle disease.

A more serious condition of the liver is Cirrosis. Cirrhosis of the liver occurs when healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue. This impedes regular function and causes chronic liver failure. Most commonly, this condition is a direct result of excessive alcohol consumption, contraction of hepatitis B or C, and over time untreated fatty liver disease.

Instead of reaching for the latest supplement craze for your liver, embrace a liver-healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and a high-fiber diet, low in saturated fats, to help reduce fatty liver disease and prevent cirrhosis.

Here are a few Liver-Healthy foods to incorporate in your diet.
Legumes
Artichokes
Fatty fish (really any type of fish high in fish oil)
Leafy greens
Fruit
Oatmeal
Nuts
Olive or Avocado oils

Avoid the following Foods/Items to also improve Liver
Alcohol
Salty foods
Fried foods
Red Meat
Deli meats
White flour
White rice

Keep in mind everyone’s liver healthy varies with differing diets and lifestyles. Optimizing your liver health with improve many aspects of your general health!

Dianna Richardson, ND July 2025

References:
Bell LN, Chalasani N. Epidemiology of idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury. Semin Liver Dis. 2009 Nov;29(4):337-47.

Dina Halegoua-DeMarzio, MD1, Victor Navarro, MD2, Huiman Barnhart, PhD3, Herb L. Bonkovsky, MD4, Robert Fontana, MD5, Paul Hayashi, MD6, Christopher Koh, MD7, Alisa Likhitsup, MD5, Jose Serrano, MD, PhD7, Andrew Stolz, MD8, Raj Vuppalanchi, MD9, 59, A Recent Epidemiologic Shift in Herbal and Dietary Supplement-Induced Liver Injury: Two Decades of Experience From the U.S. Drug-Induced Liver Injury Network, ACG 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting Abstracts. Philadelphia, PA: American College of Gastroenterology.

Likhitsup A, Chen VL, Fontana RJ. Estimated Exposure to 6 Potentially Hepatotoxic Botanicals in US Adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2425822. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.25822

Navarro VJ, Khan I, Björnsson E, Seeff LB, Serrano J, Hoofnagle JH. Liver injury from herbal and dietary supplements. Hepatology. 2017 Jan;65(1):363-373.

Ghabril M, Ma J, Patidar KR, Nephew L, Desai AP, Orman ES, Vuppalanchi R, Kubal S, Chalasani N. Eight-Fold Increase in Dietary Supplement-Related Liver Failure Leading to Transplant Waitlisting Over the Last Quarter Century in the United States. Liver Transpl. 2022 Feb;28(2):169-179.

NIH (2023). In brief: How does the liver work? Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279393/

NIH (2024). Hepatitis A. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/viral-hepatitis/hepatitis-a

Lonardo A, Nascimbeni F, Maurantonio M, Marrazzo A, Rinaldi L, Adinolfi LE. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Evolving paradigms. World J Gastroenterol. 2017 Sep 28;23(36):6571-6592.

NIH (2021). Defining NAFLD and NASH. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/nafld-nash/definition-facts

NIH (2023). Cirrhosis. Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosis

Health, Wellness & Nutrition Center, LLC

08/24/2025

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