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Maintaining liver health is crucial for our overall wellbeing. As this organ plays essential role in detoxification, producing bile for digestion and supporting metabolic functions. Among the many supplements that are available for liver support, TUDCA is becoming a popular option.
So in today's video, I will be discussing what is TUDCA?
How does TUDCA support liver health?
What are the benefits of TUDCA supplementation?
What are the potential side effects of TUDCA?
What foods help support liver health?
And what are some tips for maintaining a healthy liver?
[Video Transcript Below + Supplement Links Discussed In Video]
Hi, I'm Katie Bailey. I'm a registered dietitian at Flusso Nutrients where we provide supplement education and professional quality supplement options for you to make the world of nutrition supplements a little bit easier to navigate.
As always, be sure to check with your main nutrition literate healthcare provider before starting anything new. As we can't know your full medical history to provide a personalized recommendation. So without further ado, let's jump into today's topic.
So what is TUDCA?
TUDCA is the acronym for Tauroursodeoxycholic acid, and this is a naturally occurring bile acid that is found in small quantities in the body. TUDCA is often referred to as a bile acid or bile salt supplement, and it is known for improving bile flow and supporting healthy liver function. Bile salts are produced by the liver and play a crucial role in the digestion and the absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins in these small intestines. They also aid in the removal of waste products from the body. The production and the regulation of bile salts are complex processes and disruptions in these processes can lead to imbalances in bile salt levels.
How does TUDCA support liver health?
So TUDCA can benefit liver health in various different ways. The first is through improving bile flow and function. So TUDCA helps to improve the flow of bile from the liver to the gallbladder and the intestines, which is in turn going to help improve digestion and absorption of fats.
The second thing is that it supports liver detoxification, so it aids in the removal of harmful substances from the body, which is going to reduce inflammation and cellular damage.
The third thing that it does is it helps reduce liver inflammation. So it has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects reducing the inflammation in the liver, which is going to be beneficial for conditions like fatty liver disease.
The fourth way is that it protects liver cells. So research suggests that TUDCA has a protective effect on liver cells, which is going to protect them from oxidative stress. And then lastly, it improves overall liver function. So by promoting a healthy bile flow and really reducing oxidative stress, tudca helps improve overall liver function.
What are the benefits of TUDCA supplementation?
So the body naturally produces tudca in small amounts. In a healthy individual, about 95% of bile acids are recirculated, but poor diet, decreased liver function, and certain medications can impair this process and this is where supplementation can be helpful.
So supplementation can help support bile flow, which is then going to improve digestion and detoxification.
What are the potential side effects of TUDCA?
While tudca is generally considered safe and well tolerated, there are some potential side effects. So tudca may cause mild GI symptoms like nausea, diarrhea, or abdominal cramping. In some individuals, especially if taken at higher dosages, TUDCA may interact with certain medications like anticoagulants or cholesterol lowering drugs.
So it's important to consult with your healthcare provider if you are on medications and are looking to try TUDCA. To limit the risk of side effects, it's important to follow the dosage recommendations or work with a practitioner that can help determine the right dosage for you and always start at a lower dose and gradually increase as tolerated. Dosages are typically between 250 to 500 milligrams daily. However, individuals with specific liver conditions may need more, which is why it's important to work with a practitioner.
In that case, what foods support our liver health?
So incorporating liver friendly foods into our diet can play a significant role in promoting our overall liver health. So foods that support liver health include our cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. These contain antioxidants and compounds that are supportive for our detoxification pathways.
The second thing is high fiber foods like fruits and vegetables, beans and legumes and whole grains as this can help decrease fatty liver and improve bile production.
Next is our healthy fats like fatty fish and walnuts and flax seeds as these help to reduce inflammation in the liver.
And then lastly, beets, turmeric, leafy greens, cilantro, parsley, and garlic have also been shown to be very beneficial for our liver health.
What are some tips for maintaining liver health?
The first thing would be to avoid excessive alcohol. So excessive intake of alcohol can damage the liver cells and increase the risk for liver disease.
You want to make sure you're getting adequate hydration as well. This is going to help to flush out any toxins and support overall liver function. Avoid any unnecessary medications. So the liver plays a role in metabolizing medications, so medications like Tylenol and NSAIDs and antibiotics taken in excess or for a long period of time can cause liver damage. Minimize toxin exposure so toxins can accumulate in the liver and over time damage the liver and of course manage stress. So we know that stress is going to contribute to inflammation, which can impact our liver health.
And then lastly, you can consider other supplements that are supportive for liver health, like NAC, milk thistle, curcumin, and B vitamins. In conclusion, if you're looking for a natural way to support your liver, TUDCA supplementation may be a great option for you. So TUDCA offers a range of liver health benefits such as improving bile flow, reducing inflammation and supporting detoxification.
Incorporating liver health foods and adopting a healthy lifestyle alongside TUDCA supplementation can further enhance your liver function and decrease the risk of liver disease. If you're interested in trying TUDCA, I'll have a quality option linked below in the description box.
That's it for today's video. If you like this video, please hit the like button and subscribe for more nutrition videos. Let us know in the comments if you've tried TUDCA before or if you have any questions.
If you're interested in working with our clinic, you could click the link here to schedule an appointment. We do take insurance and you can find more information about that on our website.
Thank you for watching. I'll see you next time. Bye.
Check out the high-quality supplements we discussed in this video - links below for your convenience!
1) TUDCA by BodyBio: create an account here, then search the name "TUDCA by BodyBio" - https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/flussonutrients
2) ALL PROFESSIONAL QUALITY SUPPLEMENTS: https://flussonutrients.nutridyn.com & https://us.fullscript.com/welcome/flussonutrients