Common toxins to avoid
As well as our 12 top liver-loving foods we’ve
sourced the worst common toxins that can damage
your liver. Some you should avoid completely.
Others just need to be taken in moderation and with
caution. One of the most common causes of liver
damage is alcohol, so much so that we’ve given it a
page all of its own. Read more about the effects of
alcohol on your liver.
#1 Large doses of Iron
Taking more iron supplements than recommended
can cause serious liver damage. This is because
the body has no way of eliminating excess iron, so
it accumulates in the organs and tissues, including
the liver. Too much iron can cause liver scarring
which in some cases can lead to cirrhosis , a
condition where the liver slowly deteriorates and
malfunctions. Excess iron can also increase a
person’s risk of developing liver cancer.
The National Health and Medical Research Council
in Australia recommend no more than 45mg of Iron
per day for men and women aged fourteen years
and above. Lower amounts of iron are
recommended for children under the age of
fourteen. Only take iron supplements if discussed
and recommended by your doctor.
Please click here for more information on Australian
vitamin and mineral recommendations.
A side note about haemochromatosis:
Haemochromatosis is a disease where there is too
much iron is in the body. It is the most common
form of iron overload disease. There are two types
of haemochromatosis:
Primary haemochromatosis is a genetic disorder
inherited from family members. People with this
condition absorb too much iron and it ends up
accumulating in the body, especially in the liver.
Secondary haemochromatosis is caused by other
blood-related disorders such as anaemia, or may
be due to many blood transfusions, long term
alcoholism and/or other health conditions.
If left untreated, iron overload can lead to liver
damage. That’s why it’s important to receive
treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis to
prevent further complications, including liver
disease, liver cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer,
heart disease, arthritis or diabetes. Some organ
damage can be reversed if detected early enough
and treated appropriately.
For more information about haemochromatosis
click here.
#2 A word on Supplements
A varied diet generally provides enough of the
vitamins and minerals needed every day. However,
some people may need supplements to correct
deficiencies of particular vitamins or minerals. High-
dose supplements should not be taken unless
recommended by a medical practitioner. Check out
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating for further
information about nutrition.
If you are taking supplements, keep in mind that
many could have side-effects and potentially
interact with each other and with medications. This
could cause damage to your liver. A good idea is to
write a list of all the supplements you take
including: vitamins, herbal teas, herbal remedies,
nutritional supplements, over-the-counter products
and medications and seek advice from your doctor.
#3 Cigarettes
If you smoke cigarettes there’s a chance that you
are causing damage to your liver – increasing your
risk of developing liver cancer and decreasing your
liver’s ability to rid your body of dangerous toxins. In
turn, this could leave you more susceptible to the
damaging effects of some medications on the liver
too. Talk to your doctor or ring Quitline to get help.
#4 Cannabis
Frequent use of cannabis has been shown to
contribute to liver damage. As well as this, research
has shown that the use of cannabis may suppress
immune function and enhance the development of
disease. With this in mind, avoiding frequent use of
cannabis is advised.
People who have hepatitis C and use cannabis
everyday are more likely to have severe fibrosis
which can then lead to cirrhosis of the liver. If you
have been diagnosed with hepatitis C, you may
have heard that occasional or light use of cannabis
has been shown to help some people deal with
treatments and side-effects. However, if you are
considering using cannabis during treatment you
should also be aware that it may do more harm than
good and discuss it with your specialist.
If you wish to reduce your cannabis use, services
are available to help you manage cannabis use;
contact the alcohol and other drug service in your
state or territory, chat to your GP or go to the
Australian Drug and Information Network website
for more information.
#5 Illicit drugs
All drugs have the potential to put stress on your
liver. While heroin and morphine are not toxic to the
liver, the substances that they are mixed with can
be. What’s more, intravenous drug use is
particularly renowned for transmitting infection and
diseases such as hepatitis B and C. There is also
evidence to suggest that hallucinogenic mushrooms
contain many chemicals that the liver cannot
tolerate, while amphetamines (speed) can damage
your liver and cocaine and ecstasy can cause liver
toxicity and even liver failure.
#6 Some herbal remedies
Many herbs and herbal remedies are known to be
toxic to your liver. Here’s a list of the most common
herbal toxins: Barberry, black cohosh, chaparral,
Chinese ginseng, comfrey, creosote bush,
germander, gordoloba yerba tea, greasewood,
greater celandine, false pennyroyal, Jamaican bush
tea, Jin Bu Huan, Kombucha tea, misteltoe, Sho-
saiko-to, pennyroyal oil (squawmint oil), sassafras,
senna, skullcap and valerian combined and white
chameleon.
#7 Large doses of vitamin A
Did you know, a massive 50% to 80% of your
body’s total vitamin A source is stored in the liver?
That’s why excessive consumption can cause
damage to your liver. The highest recommended
daily intake of Vitamin A depends on your age and
sex. If you have a high alcohol intake, pre-existing
liver disease, high cholesterol or severe protein
malnutrition the safe level of vitamin A intake may
be lower for you. For adults, the safe daily intake of
vitamin A is around 3,000 micrograms – this is
much lower for children and adolescents. Consult
your doctor for more detailed information.
#8 Some prescription medicines
The liver plays a huge role in processing
medications, and there are some prescribed
medications that contain higher levels of toxins than
others such as; codeine, corticosteroids -steroid
medication taken to reduce inflammation,
tetracycline - a group of antibiotics,
Benzodiazepines – depressant drugs commonly
prescribed to relieve stress and anxiety can also
harm the liver. Some of these drugs include Valium
(diazepam) and Restoril (temazapam) which should
be taken with caution. Take your medications as
directed by your doctor. Keep in mind that many of
these medicines are safe to take in prescribed
doses provided you don’t have advanced liver
disease.
#9 About Paracetamol
When used as directed, paracetamol is generally
safe, even for those with liver disease. However
unless recommended by a doctor taking too much
paracetamol at once, or taking normal or high doses
over a prolonged period of time, can cause liver
damage. In Australia, the recommended
paracetamol dose for adults and children without
liver disease 12 years and over is 500 mg to 1000
mg every four to six hours as necessary, with a
maximum of 4000 mg in any 24-hour period.
People with liver disease should not exceed 2000
mg of paracetamol per day . People taking
paracetamol who also drink alcohol regularly are at
higher risk of developing severe liver damage.
Alcohol changes the way the paracetamol is broken
down and leads to an accumulation in the liver of a
toxic by-product that can kill the liver cells. People
who drink alcohol regularly should take paracetamol
rarely, if at all. You should seek information from
your doctor if you have concerns.
#10 Some over-the-counter medications
Even over-the-counter medications should be taken
with caution – always follow the directions on the
packaging. Paracetamol for example, when taken in
excessive amounts can be very toxic to the liver,
especially when taken together with alcohol. If you
already have liver disease, aspirin should be taken
with care. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
like Advil (ibuprofen) and diclofenac can also be
dangerous for people with liver disease.
#11 Salt
You probably know that high salt intake can
increase your blood pressure, but did you know that
high blood pressure can contribute to fatty liver
disease? Try to limit salt/sodium in your diet to a
maximum total of one teaspoon (2,300 milligrams) a
day. Read the nutrition label and reduce your intake
of high-salt processed foods such as meat, bacon
and sausages. Talk to your doctor about
medications that can help keep your blood pressure
under control.
Weight gain, obesity, fatty foods and saturated fats
are also common causes of liver damage and liver
disease. Read What can damage your liver and
learn how easy it is to love your liver by taking a
look at our recipes and diet and exercise tips.
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