Supplements: Pancreas and Liver

Chromium Piccolinate: Chromium is often deficient in people with diabetes, pancreas disease or who are on intervenous nutrition (TPN). Chromium is a trace mineral which is usually food in your blood. One of its functions is to bind up free insulin. When you eat a meal, the insulin bound to the chromium can be quickly released, and insulin can start acting almost immediately. Also, when insulin is no longer needed, chromium will bind up the free insulin, saving the insulin to be used in the future. In folks with low chromium levels, very little insulin is found circulating in the blood. When food is consumed, blood sugar levels become elevated. It takes your body time to produce and release insulin from your pancreas. During this time, high blood sugar levels greatly injure your body's cells and tissues. When insulin is no longer needed, the excess insulin is excreted by the body. By increasing your chromium level, you can increase the amount of insulin circulating in your blood which leads to lower blood sugar levels and less stress on the pancreas to produce insulin.

Gymnema Sylvestre: Gymnema does a couple of things--it blocks the taste of sweetness, helps regulate blood sugar by blocking the absorption of sugar in the intestines and stimulates insulin release from the pancreas. It works on the fat tissues in the body to help regulate the way sweet and fatty foods are metabolized.

Milk Thistle: Milk thistle has been used for 2,000 years as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, particularly liver, kidney, and gall bladder problems. Several scientific studies suggest that substances in milk thistle (especially a flavonoid called silymarin) protect the liver from toxins, including certain drugs, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), which can cause liver damage in high doses. Silymarin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It may help the liver repair itself by growing new cells.

Dandelion Root, Black Radish Root, Ginger, Parsley, Garlic: These amazing foods are spectacular at detoxifying the liver. If you are unable to incorporate them into your diet, they can be taken (either individually or in combination) as a supplement. The liver is the organ in your body responsible for filtering the blood. Many toxic substances such as drugs (over the counter as well as prescription drugs), food, alcohol, toxins found in drinking water, etc., poison the liver. The liver must constantly filter out these foreign substances and can easily be worn down by the constant influx of toxins, especially if you have a chronic medical condition. By eating liver cleansing foods or taking liver cleansing supplements, you can help your liver regenerate and increase its ability to work optimally.