It should become more and more apparent that the liver is one of our most important organs and needs to be kept functioning properly

Since the liver does not send out alarm signals, a disorder can sometimes make considerable progressbefore it is noticed. It is to our advantage to be especially aware of certain symptoms which can serve as early warnings. If we recognise a symptom in its early stages, we will be in a good position to take precautionary measures to overcome the problem long before it reaches serious proportions.

A pure, unadulterated diet of natural foods contributes to maintaining a healthy liver. Where this diet has been substituted by modern prepared foods, the liver suffers. Almost 50 per cent of people living in Switzerland are ill because they are overfed with rich foods that they crave to satisfy their palate.

Overindulgence is largely responsible for these disorders in our ‘civilised’ society, whereas the opposite is true in the Far East where malnutrition is the cause of liver ailments. It is astonishing to find that even in countries where rice is grown and is the staple food, only white rice appears on the market. The only exceptions are in rural areas where the farmers prepare their own natural rice.

Most people are totally ignorant of the nutritional value of rice and of the many benefits that it can offer in its natural state. If certain existing eating habits in Japan, Korea and China are not adhered to, the resulting deficiency of elements would be disastrous. One habit contributing to good health is the eating in abundance of the marine plant known as seaweed or kelp as part of their daily meals. This plant is so rich in the many minerals the body requires that it counterbalances whatever existing deficiency might exist.
In the west, the herb Milk Thistle is commonly used to help build a strong and healthy liver. Many scientific tests have shown that not only has Milk Thistle the ability to strengthen the liver, it also helps the detoxification process that is so very necessary in keeping healthy in our polluted world.

Sometimes the liver actually goes on strike even though we are applying the basic principles of nutrition or observing an occasional day of fasting. This can happen if we are subjected to constant worries, despair and annoyances. Living in tension and fear aggravates the problem too.

In this case, a sensible approach to nutrition pays off only if we have the proper emotional disposition to go with it. Granted, it is not always easy to remain calm and collected in our modern, confused times where so many things seem to go wrong.

It is of benefit to stop every once in a while and take stock of ourselves and contemplate the best avenues open to us. Keeping cool emotionally may be the best service we could offer to our liver.

Thus, we have to combine a sensible diet with emotional control, a philosophy that governs sound health principles if we want to keep our bodies and minds at their peak.