Alcoholism Treatment
cure the bio-chemical root cause of alcohol addiction

Yes! You can heal your liver! And yes, a damaged liver will encourage addictive biochemistry and behavior! When your liver does not function properly the digestive tract doesn’t either and neither will break down and synthesize the proteins from your food needed to feed the brain with the proper aminos such as tryptophan which is necessary for production of serotonin within neurons themselves.

Serotonin is the brain chemical associated with sleep, mood, locomotion, feeding and anxiety. While other cells outside the brain such as blood platelets and some intestinal lining cells make and/or use serotonin, all serotonin used by brain cells must be made within the neurons themselves. When serotonin is not properly constructed within the brain, the result can be irritability, aggression, impatience, anxiety and depression. Serotonin is also directly linked to compulsive behavior such as problem drinking. So there is just one of the many links a sluggish or dis-eased liver can produce to encourage addictive biochemistry.

In this issue we will explore the liver, the pathways of successful detoxification and repairing / rejuvenating it. The information provided here is a “snapshot” of the mechanics involved in proper liver detoxification. For the complete, step by step detoxification process click here to purchase Alcoholism: The Cause & The Cure or copy and paste http://cheersbook.com into your browser.

The liver is the governess of all the critical systems in the body and is the largest single organ of the body. When the liver is not functioning well the entire body suffers. Every organ is compromised including the brain and skin! This is because the dense sponge-like organ which averages 3 pounds is responsible for providing a number of critical services to the body which relies heavily on the output of these functions to properly work themselves.

The liver is the largest metabolically active organ in the body and the primary organ in charge of detoxifying the system. It converts food to stored energy and is a filter to remove toxins from the blood converting them into harmless water-soluble substances that the body can then eliminate. It processes foods, drugs and medications absorbed from the digestive tract enabling the body to use them effectively and finally dispose of them. It makes substances like bile, cholesterol, triglycerides and albumin for use elsewhere in the body.

The liver detoxifies by taking a harmful substance (drug, poison, metabolite) and “morphing” it into a friendly substances. It does this by a two part process called Phase I preparation and Phase II conjugation. Phase I uses oxidase enzymes to make the toxic substance ready for further detoxification by Phase II. Phase II receives the prepared metabolite and conjugates (adds on) one of several compounds that make the metabolite water-soluble and ready to exit the body mostly through the kidneys and sweat glands – (skin being the largest which is one of the reasons exercise is so good for you!)

To determine the efficiency of this two-part system, a functional liver test must be done to measure how well this system handles known substances like caffeine, acetaminophen (aspirin) and salicylic acid. The morphed end product metabolites are well known and the ratio of how much was taken and how much is changed in a healthy liver is also well known. These morphed end products are measured in the blood and urine. Most people who have a history of long term problem drinking have dysfunctional detoxification pathways (6 total) and both Phase 1 and 2 need accurate evaluation for proper support during any aggressive detoxification process such as that which The 101 Program prescribes. If your Phase 1 path is efficient and phase 2 is not and these intermediate toxins build up in the tissues you could cause more problems than you started off with. On the other side of things, properly detoxing your system will bring you to a state of enhanced health that you have probably not known for some time (probably since you were a kid) and deliver you to a new reference as to what feeling healthy really means. We receive many emails of people telling us of how many other chronic ills including the depression they had lived with for years cleared up as a result of The 101 Program’s 8 week detox. This is because, as I said, every organ in the body - even the brain and proper neurotransmitter activity - rely on a healthy liver executing the 500 plus responsibilities it performs for the body to be healthy and disease-free.

Here’s a checklist of the liver’s daily duties:

• Stores sugars, converts different types of sugars into glucose, and maintains blood sugar levels.

• Hepatocytes produce and excrete bile.

• Metabolizes (detoxes) hormones, drugs, viruses, pesticides and other environmental as well as endogenous (internally produced substances) Kupffer cells act as macrophages (filters) – which removes organic by-products, cellular debris, and many other particles

• Synthesizes proteins, and clotting factors

• Stores vitamins and minerals – D, A, B12 and iron

• Converts ammonia to urea

• Changes fatty acids to ketones

• Helps maintain blood glucose levels – is intricately involved in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism – produces bile which makes dietary fats digestible. Breaks down fats so they can be used to fuel metabolic activity; manufactures triglycerides, lipoproteins and cholesterol. Converts carbohydrates and proteins into useable energy forms.

• Makes RBC’s in fetal life and emergencies

Symptoms
The three types of alcohol liver disease are fatty liver, acute alcoholic hepatitis, and chronic alcoholic liver disease cirrhosis. A fatty liver is commonly the first manifestation of alcohol injury to the liver producing symptoms of an increased size of the liver due to fat buildup within the liver tissue. Fatty liver is reversible at this point if healthy changes are made. Symptoms of acute alcoholic hepatitis are acute onset of a fever, jaundice, tender enlargement of the liver, and commonly occur after a bout of heavy drinking. Severe hepatitis can result in death.

Cirrhosis is characterized as liver cell death over an extended period of time with a progressive pattern leading to liver failure and death. In the early stages, there is enlargement of the liver, but then a reduction in size is observed with a nodular characteristic. The poor flow of blood return through the liver will result in portal hypertension which will produce symptoms that include vomiting blood, tarry black stool as a result of the blood, enlarged spleen, dilated veins and swelling in the abdomen, and hemorrhoids. The symptoms from the death of the liver cells will commonly also produce foul smelling breath, spider veins on the skin, enlarged breasts, jaundice, ankle edema, anemia, and a tendency toward bleeding problems. Cirrhosis is a major risk factor for primary liver cancer.

Symptoms of a “sluggish” liver that needs attention are: sallow skin color, poor skin tone, dark circles under the eyes, yellow coated tounge, a bitter taste in the mouth, headaches, irritability, premenstrual tension, arthritis, and inability to digest fats – recognized as severe indigestion after eating high fat meals.

Toxicity

Most medications have a liver toxicity effect, and many are known to have a very high liver toxicity effect.

Many people are not aware that some very common drugs are highly toxic to the liver and one of which is used to alleviate hangovers – acetaminophen (aspirin) pain relievers – the other is a common antibiotic tetracycline. When the toxicity of the drug (alcohol) or medication reaches the liver, it produces liver cell death which can often be detected by a blood test indicating elevated liver enzymes. In my opinion it is not wise to take ANY drug with alcohol as the toxic effects are magnified and therefore that much more harmful.

And don’t forget. The byproducts of alcohol metabolism are just a few of the toxins your liver must “neutralize”. There are also numerous environmental toxins and toxins the body creates internally – add that to alcohol intake, food allergy byproducts, smoking, caffeine, and pharmaceutical use and you can see that the liver is kept quite busy in the 21st century and needs all the proper help it can get! As a “tune up” I actually do the Krispy Kleen 8 week complete detox and cleanse once a year. Every time I do it I feel 20 years younger for at least 6 months until I begin feeling the cloudy effects of toxic buildup in my system again – and that is even with the excellent fish only vegetarian – next to no simple sugars type diet I’ve adopted. When you know what it feels like to have a mind so sharp you truly feel you could cut glass with it and a body that doesn’t complain about 2 hour workouts a day and sleeps like a baby (at 43)– you can easily sense even the slightest toxic buildup. The goal is to get you to that clear headed enhanced health state so you change your reference for what truly feeling great really feels like – what you consider a good feeling day these days will seem a really bad one once you’ve experienced what I’m talking about.

Detoxing & Healing The Liver
There are 6 major detoxification pathways. The 3 most important are the glutathione conjugation pathway, the sulfation pathway and the peptide conjugation pathway which the body produces Glycine, Taurine, glutamine, arginine, and ornithine to produce this detoxification method.

The glutathione conjugation pathway which utilizes glutathione for the detoxification of deadly industrial toxins such as PCBs and the breakdown of carcinogens. Someone who’s glutathione stores are constantly taxed and regularly depleted makes themselves more susceptible to cancer since glutathione is directly responsible for ridding carcinogens from the body.

The sulfation detox process is the one responsible for the transformation of neurotransmitters, steroid hormones, drugs, industrial chemicals, phenolics (compounds derived from benzene, commonly used in plastics, disinfectants, and pharmaceuticals) and especially toxins from intestinal bacteria and the environment.

The peptide conjugation method relies mostly on Glycine which is the most important for the neutralization of toxins.

Act Now!
Hopefully you won’t wait until the symptoms appear before taking matters in hand and actively doing something about healing the damage your liver has likely assuredly suffered from alcohol abuse. Anyone who abuses alcohol for even a short time has done some extent of damage. Genes, lifestyle and intensity of alcohol abuse and the type of drinking (binge with a bad diet or heavy drinker with a good diet and eats sufficient amounts) all play a role in determining the extent of the damage. Also, keep in mind that most drug / alcohol combinations damage the liver more profoundly and faster than just alcohol consumption alone. If you have been abusing alcohol for any length of time I strongly suggest you study this newsletter closely and begin a healthy detox such as that of The 101 Program and begin healing and rejuvenating your liver now. The longer you wait the harder it will be to get the favorable results that could save you from many health issues. One of the most pleasing and satisfying aspects of the work I do is seeing the looks on people’s faces when they receive their blood / urine test results after the 7 week withdrawal, detox and repair phase of The 101 Program. We test while the client is preparing to quit drinking just before the withdrawal / detox and at week 7 and the results never fail to show profound progress toward healing the liver and successful detoxification. These results are often the bedrock that keeps my clients going throughout entire 9 – 24 month program because it is so inspiring to find that you can heal and you can do something about dry drunk symptoms. It is those dry drunk symptoms that are primarily responsible for driving people in 12 step programs back to drinking unhealthfully so when those are cured your success is that much more inevitable.

Also keep in mind that a taxed, dis-eased liver can “out picture” itself as many other ailments and illnesses including depression! Unless it is a life threatening condition that needs immediate attention I recommend that you start your healing process with you liver… you will be surprised how many illnesses and discomforts can go away just by detoxing and repairing this remarkable organ.

The 101 Program’s first 8 weeks focuses primarily on properly detoxing the liver and repairing it so that it may function at it best. Our program reflects the latest in liver cleaning, healing and detoxing research available and stresses healing the conditions and damage created by long term alcohol abuse.

Please note that the following is just a “snapshot” of some key ingredients of a good liver detox regiment. Be sure to employ the whole picture from Alcoholism: The Cause & The Cure. We provide this info to exhibit the science behind the healing process that can be accomplished when you approach truly curing your addiction.

Nutrients that support phase 1 liver detoxification
NAC – N-acetylcysteine restores glutathione levels

Vit C helps prevent glutathione from being destroyed and is an excellent free radical scavenger

Milk Thistle

Flaxseed oil / – other sources of EFAs: sunflower seeds, walnuts and seseme seeds; wheat germ; and supplements of black currant seed, borage (with 2400 mg of GLA), or evening primrose oil

Nutrients that support phase 2 liver detoxification
Broccoli sprout extract is an excellent facilitator for both phase 1 and 2 detoxification pathways.

Cysteine (precursor to glutathione) These should be taken during the detox as well as supplemented in your daily diet after detox for added protection and liver assist.

Nutrients that support general good liver function
Lipotropic Agents: (responsible for breaking down fats)

Methionine (most abundant Lipotropic agent in humans) When estrogen levels are high the body requires more Methionine to break it down. Estrogen accumulation causes a reduction of bile flowing through the liver and increases bile cholesterol levels. Methionine also regulates the amount of sulphur-containing compounds, such as glutathione in the liver. Glutathione plays a critical role in detoxing the liver and is one of the major detoxification pathways as it is responsible for detoxing approx. 60% of toxic assaults on the body.

Choline (from phosphatidyl choline complex) which is one of this month’s featured nutrients it’s benefits are fully covered in the therapeutic supplement and link of the month sections.

Alpha Lipoic Acid

NAC

C

B1

Foods that facilitate and inhibit detoxification
The proper foods are a vital source for efficient and healthy detoxification. There are foods that aid in stimulating liver enzymes that assist detoxification such as veggies from the cabbage family and there are foods that inhibit detoxification such as grapefruit and capsicum found in hot peppers. Know what you are doing before going into a liver cleanse! It is a delicate science with tremendous results in breaking the addiction to alcohol as well as general health when done properly!

In the Link of the Month section we have provided a couple of links in powerpoint and acrobat slides and info for details on the functioning and detoxing of the liver as well.

How Alcohol Damages The Liver

From the NIAAA – National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism

Alcohol and the Liver

Alcohol-induced liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of illness and death in the United States. Fatty liver, the most common form of ALD, is reversible with abstinence. More serious ALD includes alcoholic hepatitis, characterized by persistent inflammation of the liver, and cirrhosis, characterized by progressive scarring of liver tissue. Either condition can be fatal, and treatment options are limited. During the past 5 years, research has significantly increased our understanding of the mechanisms by which alcohol consumption damages the liver. This Alcohol Alert highlights recent research on the mechanisms and treatment of ALD, updating a previous Alcohol Alert on ALD published in 1993 and available from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

The Prevalence of ALD

Approximately 10 to 35 percent of heavy drinkers1 develop alcoholic hepatitis, and 10 to 20 percent develop cirrhosis . In the United States, cirrhosis is the seventh leading cause of death among young and middle-age adults. Approximately 10,000 to 24,000 deaths from cirrhosis may be attributable to alcohol consumption each year.

How Does Alcohol Damage the Liver?

Normal liver function is essential to life. Alcohol-induced liver damage disrupts the body’s metabolism, eventually impairing the function of other organs. Multiple physiological mechanisms, discussed in the following sections, interact to influence the progression of ALD. Medications that affect these mechanisms may help prevent some of the medical complications of ALD or reduce the severity of the illness.

Alcohol Metabolism. Most of the alcohol a person drinks is eventually broken down by the liver. However, some products generated during alcohol metabolism (e.g., acetaldehyde) are more toxic than alcohol itself. In addition, a group of metabolic products called free radicals can damage liver cells and promote inflammation, impairing vital functions such as energy production. The body’s natural defenses against free radicals (e.g., antioxidants) can be inhibited by alcohol consumption, leading to increased liver damage (3).

The Inflammatory Response. Inflammation is the body’s response to local tissue damage or infection. Inflammation prevents the spread of injury and mobilizes the defense mechanisms of the immune system. One such defense mechanism is the generation of free radicals that can destroy disease-causing microorganisms. Long-term alcohol consumption prolongs the inflammatory process, leading to excessive production of free radicals, which can destroy healthy liver tissue.

Bacteria that live in the human intestine play a key role in the initiation of ALD. Alcohol consumption increases the passage of a noxious bacterial product called endotoxin through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Upon reaching the liver, endotoxin activates specialized cells (i.e., Kupffer cells) that monitor the blood for signs of infection. These cells respond to the presence of endotoxin by releasing substances called cytokines that regulate the inflammatory process.

Cytokines. Cytokines are produced by cells of the liver and immune system in response to infection or cell damage. Alcohol consumption increases cytokine levels, and cytokines in humans produce symptoms similar to those of alcoholic hepatitis . Recent studies implicate cytokines in scar formation and in the depletion of oxygen within liver cells, processes that are associated with cirrhosis. Each of the disease mechanisms described above contributes to the death of liver cells. The presence of damaged cells triggers the body’s defensive responses, including the release of additional cytokines, resulting in a vicious cycle of inflammation, cell death, and scarring.

Scar Formation. Normal scar formation is part of the wound-healing process. Alcohol-induced cell death and inflammation can result in scarring that distorts the liver’s internal structure and impairs its function. This scarring is the hallmark of cirrhosis. The process by which cirrhosis develops involves the interaction of certain cytokines and specialized liver cells (i.e., stellate cells). In the normal liver, stellate cells function as storage depots for vitamin A. Upon activation by cytokines, stellate cells proliferate, lose their vitamin A stores, and begin to produce scar tissue. In addition, activated stellate cells constrict blood vessels, impeding the delivery of oxygen to liver cells.

Acetaldehyde may activate stellate cells directly, promoting liver scarring in the absence of inflammation. This finding is consistent with the observation that heavy drinkers can develop cirrhosis insidiously, without preexisting hepatitis.

Factors That Influence Vulnerability to ALD

Susceptibility to ALD differs considerably among individuals, so that even among people drinking similar amounts of alcohol, only some develop cirrhosis. Understanding the mechanisms of these differences may help clinicians identify and treat patients at increased risk for advanced liver damage.

Genetic Factors. Structural or functional variability in any of the cell types and biochemical substances discussed above could influence a person’s susceptibility to ALD. Researchers are seeking genetic factors that may underlie this variability. Results of this research may provide the basis for future gene-based therapies.

Dietary Factors. Nutritional factors influence the progression of ALD. For example, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet promotes liver damage in alcohol-fed rats, and high amounts of polyunsaturated fats may promote the development of cirrhosis in animals.

Gender. Women develop ALD after consuming lower levels of alcohol over a shorter period of time compared with men. In addition, women have a higher incidence of alcoholic hepatitis and a higher mortality rate from cirrhosis than men. The mechanisms that underlie gender-related differences are unknown.

Hepatitis C. Many patients with ALD are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), which causes a chronic, potentially fatal liver disease. The presence of HCV may increase a person’s susceptibility to ALD and influence the severity of alcoholic cirrhosis. For example, alcohol-dependent patients infected with HCV develop liver injury at a younger age and after consuming a lower cumulative dose of alcohol than do those without HCV. Patients with HCV are often treated with an antiviral substance called interferon. However, interferon is less effective in patients with chronic HCV who are heavy drinkers, compared with those who are not.

Therapeutic Supplements

This month’s nutrients are phosphatidyl choline complex and Cysteine (a glutithione precursor) for their tremendous effectiveness in detoxing and healing the liver.

The primary detoxification mechanism for scavenging unmetabolized acetaldehyde is sulfur-containing antioxidants [see Figure A]. The two most important are cysteine, a conditionally essential amino acid, and glutathione, a cysteine-containing tripeptide (a three-amino-acid polymer) [see Figure B]. Cysteine and glutathione are active against acetaldehyde (and formaldehyde) because they contain a reduced (unoxidized) form of sulfur called a sulfhydryl group, which contains a sulfur atom bonded to a hydrogen atom (abreviated SH).

Sulfhydryl groups interact with aldehydes to render them incapable of forming cross links. This “mops up” or scavenges any stray acetaldehyde that is not properly metabolized into acetate (acetic acid) [see Figure A]. Although this is a powerful aldehyde detoxification mechanism, it is easily overwhelmed by the relatively large amounts of alcohol that are typically consumed with alcoholic beverages as compared to the amounts of alcohol and acetaldehyde that are produced through normal metabolism. Fortunately, sulfhydryl antioxidants can easily be fortified through dietary supplementation.

In one experiment with rodents [Sprince et al., 1974], a LD-90 dose of acetaldehyde (the dose that would normally kill 90% of the animals) was completely blocked by pretreatment of the animals with cysteine and vitamins B-1 and C. In other words, none of the cysteine-treated animals succumbed to the lethal dose of acetaldehyde! N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) protected almost as well as cysteine.

Typical doses of cysteine that are sufficient to block a major portion of the toxic effect of alcohol/acetaldehyde are about 200 mg per ounce of alcohol consumed. However, the rapid assimilation and metabolism of alcohol requires both prior and concurrent dosing of cysteine to maintain protection. Furthermore, a multifold excess of vitamin C is required to keep the cysteine in it’s reduced state and “on the job” against acetaldehyde. Steven Wm. Fowkes – link to CERI

Cysteine & Cystine

L-Cysteine, L-Cystine, NAC

2-Amino-3-Mercaptopropionic Acid and 3,3-Dithiobis(2-Aminopropionic Acid), Dicysteine

Description

Cysteine and cystine are closely related. One cystine molecule is composed of two bonded cysteine molecules and each can convert to the other as required. Both amino acids contain sulfur (via free sulfhydryl groups) which makes them powerful antioxidants.

The acetylated form of cysteine is N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and contains a bonded acetyl group. In this form, NAC is more easily absorbed, more stable, and safer to use than cysteine on its own, which can be neurotoxic in very high doses.

NAC is effective at promoting glutathione synthesis. This amino acid “combo” incorporates cysteine, glutamic acid, and glycine and has powerful antioxidant and immune stimulating properties. Some studies have shown that supplementing with NAC yields higher glutathione levels than supplementing with cysteine or glutathione directly.

Ailments/Situations Where Used

Cysteine and cystine can be used to help prevent or treat alcoholism, heart disease, liver disease (cirrhosis, hepatitis, etc.), Wilson’s disease (copper toxicity), and bronchopulmonary diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, and sinusitis. Cysteine also aids collagen production and facilitates proper skin elasticity and texture.

Cysteine, cystine, and NAC possess powerful antioxidant properties and work best when taken in combination with selenium and vitamin E. They promote liver detoxification by binding toxins and heavy metals such as mercury and lead and facilitating their removal from the body. These amino acids also reduce free radical damage and, in combination with their “liver repair” services, are ideal in treating substance abuse.

NAC can help prevent side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It may also prevent cancer by reducing the number of chemical adducts that cancer-causing compounds use to attach to DNA and cause damage. As mentioned above, the antioxidant properties of these amino acids helps reduce free radical damage, often associated with DNA mutation and cancer development.

NAC’s mucolytic (mucus thinning) properties help remedy chronic bronchitis and other respiratory disorders. Its “sulfur stores” break down the disulfide bonds that make mucus thick.

NAC supplementation increases glutathione levels, particularly in the lungs, kidneys, liver, and bone marrow, resulting in an anti-aging effect. AIDS patients can also benefit from NAC supplementation via increased immune-building glutathione levels. When dealing with the common cold, some studies show success with NAC supplementation—symptoms were reduced and the duration of infection decreased.

Source

Good natural sources of cysteine/cystine include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, egg yolks, garlic, oats, onions, poultry, red peppers, wheat germ, and yogurt.

Optimal Absorption

Cysteine is more soluble than cystine, with L-cysteine being the most absorbable form. If supplementing, take 500mg three times daily. This dosage can go as high as 1,000mg three times daily for one month at a time. NOTE: High levels of L-cysteine supplementation should be for acute situations only and you must be under the supervision of a naturopath or other health practitioner.

NAC supplementation is considered extremely safe. Dosage can range from 500 to 1,200mg daily, with 600mg being a typical dosage.

Vitamin E and selenium work well with cysteine’s antioxidant actions. Vitamin B6 is necessary for cysteine synthesis. Ensure your intake is adequate and supplement as required.

Contraindications/Precautions/Warnings

It is not recommended to take a single amino acid for an extended period of time without supplementing with other amino acids as well. Long-term isolated amino acid supplementation can create an imbalance in the body.

Diabetics should take caution when supplementing with cysteine, as it can interfere with and inactivate insulin.

Do not supplement with cysteine if you are susceptible to cystine kidney stones.

Additional Nutrients
There are several other nutrients which may synergize with cysteine and vitamin C. Glutathione, the predominant sulfhydryl antioxidant in the human body, should be considered. Although it is probably quite effective, it is many times more expensive than cysteine and it is not as concentrated; it contains only 10% sulfur compared to 26% sulfur in cysteine. Much larger doses of glutathione must be taken to get the same sulfhydryl concentration, and a significant but unknown amount of glutathione is broken down in the stomach into its component amino acids (glutamate, cysteine and glycine). So while glutathione is a great idea, it’s an expensive great idea.

Thiamine (vitamin B-1) and lipoic (thioctic) acid are key sulfur-containing nutrients that may be depleted by alcohol and/or may help with acetaldehyde detoxification. Thiamine was tested by Sprince and colleagues [1974] and found to offer protective benefit to acetaldehyde toxicity when combined with C and cysteine. Whether this is due to a direct interaction between acetaldehyde and the thiamine-bound sulfur or an enhancement of cellular energy production by the active thiamine cofactor (thiamine pyrophosphate) is not known. Alcoholics are known to be thiamine depleted, but whether this depletion is caused by diminished intestinal absorption of thiamine by alcohol or by destruction of thiamine by acetaldehyde is not known. Even under normal circumstances, intestinal absorption of thiamine is not very efficient.

In its reduced form, lipoic acid is a powerful sulfhydryl antioxidant. Due to lipoic acid’s twin sulfhydryl groups, it should scavenge aldehydes even more effectively that either cysteine or glutathione (see Figure B). However, supplemental lipoic acid is commercially available only in its oxidized form which contains no sulfhydryl sulfur. It is converted into the reduced form within the mitochondria after absorption from the bloodstream into the cell. So while lipoic acid may be a good cellular protector, it is not as efficient at scavenging acetaldehyde from the bloodstream as cysteine and glutathione. Lipoic acid is also fairly expensive.

Within the cells of the liver, however, lipoic acid and acetaldehyde may be readily interacting. The liver metabolizes the largest percentage of ingested alcohol and acetaldehyde levels may be quite high in liver cells. Acetaldehyde may bind to reduced lipoamide (the active lipoic acid factor) to render it inactive (see Figure B). Due to this potential problem, it may be a good idea not to take one’s regular dose of lipoic acid near when one drinks alcohol but rather several hours before and after. - Steven Fowles- excerpts from CERI

Looking for an alternative doctor to assist you through

The 101 Program?

These two links will help you find an innovative doctor in your area. There are MDs, Phds and NDs listed here. We suggest that you interview them carefully before signing on with them to assist you through your program if you are looking for professional assistance. We have provided these links because these doctors are friendly to and associated with holistic medical practice and are educated in various degrees in therapeutic supplementation so it is a good place to start. However, it is best to find a holistic professional who is educated in addictive biochemistry so if the one you contact isn’t they may know someone who is.

Great Smokies Diagnostic Labs (800-522-4762) http://www.gsdl.com/

Great Smokies provides an excellent resource of integrative health care providers as well as holistic health care providers who specialize in liver detoxification.

You can get your blood / urine testing done without a doctor’s referral at

http://directlabs.com however you will have to pay for them. With a doctor’s request your insurance will cover the testing.

The Life Extension link to holistic health care providers is:

Life Extension’s Directory of innovative doctors

Link of the month

This is an excellent thorough presentation of the function of the liver and the detoxification process. Lots of pictures and is well organized. http://cheersbook.com/monthly_link/liver_and_detox.ppt

This acrobat file on the benefits of phosphatidyl choline in healing and protecting the liver is a must read. There are also clinical research statistics on the progress of healing those with alcohol induced liver disease. http://cheersbook.com/monthly_link/phosphatidyl_choline.pdf

We are going to progress in successes and research tremendously by incorporating the EAT RIGHT 4 YOUR TYPE with The 101 Program. It has lit a new fire of research that is sure to produce some groundbreaking discoveries that will aid people in curing the addiction to alcohol.

To give yourself a head start on December’s feature article and get the most of our initial presentation which I’m sure is going to lead to some lively reading monthly thereafter as well as accelerated recovery times – get yourself a copy.

Sugar Blues

The addiction to alcohol is closely related to the addiction of sugar. Sugar Blues is an excellent book to help your conviction to stay away from it and reclaim your sanity and energy. Do yourself a favor and educate yourself about this common mood altering, health robbing extremely addictive menace. Go to our website to find the links to the WHO’s (World Health Organization) recent report on sugar and our health.

Click here to read excerpts from Sugar Blues

NAT

Here is a useful free software program to analyze the nutritional content of your diet.

Nutritional Analysis Tool (NAT)

Glycemic Index of foods

If you are new to blood sugar management and are on the program, this is a very useful tool for checking the glycemic index of what you are eating – or would like to add to your diet. During the healing process in The 101 Program which is 9 to 24 months depending on the extent of damage done to your body and mind, you need to strictly stay in the low area.

Glycemic Food Index

Genita Petralli

Author

Alcoholism: The Cause & The Cure

Please read carefully

All content within this newsletter is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor / holistic health care professional. AAAA nor the author is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content of the Alcoholism: The Cause & The Cure website, book or newsletter.

AAAA is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites. Always consult your own Holistic Health Care Provider if you’re in any way concerned about your health.

Note: If you are a heavy drinker who suffers from seizures or any other kind of intense symptoms that could jeopardize your life or discomfort you to extreme please check with a holistic friendly physician, homoeopathist or naturopath and be cleared to do this on your own. As I said earlier, if you need to be hospitalized for the withdrawal make sure you find an institution that will provide you the freedom to use your nutritional support. Please refer to our website: http://cheersbook.com for the naturopathic references of doctors and institutions that support holistic means of withdrawal and support.