Is Liver Cleansing Bullsh*^t? The Pre And Post Blood Test Results of Ben Greenfield’s 7 Day Liver Cleanse (& Exactly How He Did It).

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Today's episode is – after the host of positive feedback I received from my last “solosode” deep dive into how to interpret your own bloodwork – another solosode.

Long story short is this…

…I recently tested my liver enzymes and they were shockingly high…

…so I decided to test whether this whole “liver detox” thing actually works…

…and I walk you through exactly what I did (and the relatively shocking results) in today's show. Enjoy.

In this solosode, you'll hear…

-Why I got my liver tested in the first place…5:48

  • When I got my blood panel done, my liver enzyme numbers were through the roof.
    • High liver stress.
    • Around the levels of non-alcoholic liver disease.
  • My aspartate aminotransferase was 172. It's considered risky if it's above 40.
  • My alanine aminotransferase was 83. Anything above 55 is considered risky.
  • My alkaline phosphatase was also mildly elevated.
  • High albumin levels.
  • Inflammation was low but had signs of significant liver stress.
  • I wanted to test out the liver cleanses on the market.
    • Create a doable detox that I can do at home, I can still work out, and can accomplish in a fairly short period of time.

-About Liver Flushing…9:18

  • A liver is a central processing mechanism that cleanses 1.5 liters of blood per minute.
  • Around 500 different biochemical reactions occur within the liver.
    • Division and breakdown of chemical substances: catabolism
    • Synthesis of protein molecules: anabolism
    • If any of the processes don't work properly, it will affect other processes' ability to work properly.
  • Liver is more or less a purification plant for the blood.
  • Plays a role in excreting both endogenous and exogenous compounds.
  • Regrows rapidly, with around 10% of healthy liver tissue.
  • Myth of Prometheus: Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock and an eagle picks at his liver during the day. His liver would regenerate the same amount at night.
  • Greek physician Hippocrates described “humors”, one of which was yellow bile of the liver.
  • According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver holds your soul. Full of energy and power.
    • Your “ki” is unable to flow when the liver is not functioning properly.
  • Cleansing the liver involves amplifying these processes to work properly.
    • Also assists with bile production; assists with the gallbladder.
    • Bile in the gallbladder can condense and become “stones.”
    • If the bile isn't expelled, you can get congestion in the liver.

-Some more basic terms you should know…15:05

  • Fatty liver: cells in the liver are saturated with fat.
    • Intrahepatic bile ducts are full of bile but have a high concentration of cholesterol in them.
    • The cholesterol in the liver accumulates, and you end up with excess.
  • During a flush, the liver is encouraged to increase its excretory function to eliminate excess bile and allow gallbladder to evacuate the bile.
  • If you know what you're doing, you can regularly go to a liver clinic and maintain the health of your liver.
  • Exercise can elevate liver enzymes to a certain extent, but high levels indicate more than just exercise is the problem.

-The actual results of my lab test, post liver cleanse…19:21

  • In addition to elevated enzymes:
    • Hormones were pretty good: free testosterone = 78. Total testosterone = 880.
    • Sex hormone binding globulin = 84 (lower is better)
    • GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase) is a good proxy for gallbladder health.
  • My alanine aminotransferase dropped from 83 to 33.
  • My aspartate aminotransferase dropped from 172 to 37.
  • GGT was 15. Extremely low risk.
  • Free testosterone jumped from 78 to 115; Total testosterone went from 880 to 1154.

-What I ate for breakfast, lunch, dinner during my liver cleanse…25:10

  • Homemade Kitchari recipe for 3-4 servings.
  • 16 oz. glass of celery juice with each meal.

-Practices I incorporated throughout the cleanse…33:45

Click here for the full written transcript of this podcast episode.

Resources from this episode:

-7-day liver cleanse summary:

  • No coffee, no alcohol, no meat for the entire week
  • Celery juice with one teaspoon organic malic acid powder and 2 scoops Kion Aminos prior to each of the three meals of the day: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • Kitchari Ayurvedic cleansing stew (full recipe below) for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • 2 teaspoons Epsom salts dissolved in warm water each night
  • 1 teaspoon Triphala herbs in hot tea with vanilla stevia each night
  • Three coffee enemas spread out throughout the course of the week
  • Two sessions spread out during the week with 1 hour of castor oil pack placed on liver area, held on with the Hyperice Venom heat/vibration belt

The WellnessFX liver blood test Ben recommends

-Article: The Kion Coffee Enema: Everything You've Always Wanted To Know About Coffee Enemas (But Were Afraid To Ask).

-Article: How to Detox Your Liver: A Complete Guide to Purifying the Body With Liver Flushing

-Podcast: A Deep Dive Into How To Interpret The Results Of Your Blood Testing – Ben Greenfield Reveals & Walks You Through His Laboratory Results From WellnessFX.

-Podcast: The Rain Barrel Effect: How a 6,000 Year Old Secret Holds the Answer to Getting Well, Losing Weight, and Feeling Alive Again.

-Podcast: Radical Metabolism: How To Cleanse Your Gallbladder, Increase Your Metabolism, Burn More Fat Without Exercise & Much More!

-Ben's pre/post test results:

Instagram post: Ben's Celery Juice with Kion Aminos

 

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A post shared by Ben Greenfield (@bengreenfieldfitness) on

Instagram post on Kitchari: the Ayurvedic cleansing dish I used for breakfast, lunches and dinners during my cleanse.

 

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A post shared by Ben Greenfield (@bengreenfieldfitness) on

Kitchari recipe for 3-4 servings:

Ingredients:
½ cup split yellow mung beans
2 tablespoons coconut oil
1-inch stick of kombu (optional – I used organic, non-GMO miso instead)
4 cups homemade Kettle & Fire bone broth
2 tablespoons coconut cream

Spices:
1½ teaspoons cumin seeds
1½ teaspoons fennel seeds
1½ teaspoons coriander powder
1 tablespoon ginger root freshly minced
½ teaspoon turmeric powder
½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
¼ teaspoon black mustard seeds
Pinch of asafoetida

Vegetables:
2 cups of any mixed vegetables. I used bok choy, cilantro and dinosaur kale.

To serve:
Fresh lime
A dollop of GT's Living Foods coconut yogurt
Sea salt to taste

Instructions:

  1. The night before (24 hours earlier), soak the mung beans in ample filtered water.
  2. When you’re ready to cook, drain the mung beans and rinse under running water. Prepare vegetables by peeling and chopping them up, then set all of this aside.
  3. Heat coconut oil over medium heat, in a heavy-bottomed pot. Add cumin, fennel, fenugreek and black mustard seeds and cook for a few minutes to release aromatics, and until the mustard seeds have popped. Add the rest of the spices and stir to combine.
  4. Add a cup of vegetable stock, followed by mung beans, kombu or miso, coconut cream, and vegetables, then add the rest of the stock (or water).
  5. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce to a low heat. Simmer for about 40 minutes. Add more water if you want a soupier consistency, and simmer longer to get a thicker stew.
  6. Serve with fresh coriander chopped and folded through, a drizzle of fresh lime juice, spoon of coconut yogurt and sea salt to taste.

 

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Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for me about how to cleanse your liver? Leave your comments below and I will reply!

Ask Ben a Podcast Question

103 thoughts on “Is Liver Cleansing Bullsh*^t? The Pre And Post Blood Test Results of Ben Greenfield’s 7 Day Liver Cleanse (& Exactly How He Did It).

  1. Kelly Dobbs says:

    I was diagnosed with alcoholic fatty liver disease 4 years ago and it absolutely terrified me. The doctors made it sound like a death sentence and it hit me hard. My life changed dramatically and I suffered terribly unti I found this website: https://www.healthwise101.com/natural-way-to-heal-fatty-liver

    Thanks to this website I lost weight and my liver function improved beyond belief. I feel more energized, happier and the transformation in my health has been nothing short of a miracle. I not only feel 100 times better, but I barely need to take any insulin at all anymore.

  2. Wass says:

    Aren’t the coffee enemas giving the body a pretty substantial hit of caffeine? I would assume as much as the same amount of coffee having gone in the opposite way?

  3. Hendrik T. says:

    Hi Ben, first thanks for your commitment,
    i love your podcast.

    The question is also targeted to everybody,who tried the Liver cleanse.
    How Common is a diarrhea?

    Thanks to everyone.

  4. Marko A. says:

    Hi Ben!

    Really love the work that you do with your podcast, articles, books, etc. – the content you produce is incredibly eye-opening and tremendously helpful. Keep on doing the good work – really amazing stuff!

    I am at Day 3 of the liver cleanse and I was not eating 3 meals of the lentils stew, instead I had only 1 or 2 larger portions per day. Is that still OK in terms of cleansing the liver or is it better to have more regular meals? I also had some macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, brazil and avocado to bring in some taste and satiate my hunger (the lentils really are not that tasty and satiating, even when doubling or tripling the serving size). Am I still OK with this approach or am I hijacking the original recipe too much?

    Thank you,
    Marko

  5. Hey Ben, we’re on day 5. Feeling sluggish, weak, and having some watery diarrhea in the last 24 hours ( day after the coffee enema). Is this normal? And what do you suggest eating for the first few days after the cleanse? Miss you! Mark Divine told me to give you a big hug and kiss!

  6. carol says:

    I have just read an article on Berberine and potential liver risk. It is something that I have been taking consistantly for about 6 months and now I have concerns about its impact on my liver. Could you address that and share any info you may know about that?

    1. I haven't seen a ton on this, and there's even evidence that shows it can help with Fatty Liver. It is probably best to cycle it (4-6 weeks on, then same off for example) if you have these concerns. Also the strategies listed in the above article can have huge benefits on overall liver health.

    2. Larisa says:

      Also — make sure you know the source and quality of what you’re getting. When ‘organic’ produce and dog food from China was found to contain pesticides and even toxins ……….. I started getting really picky about where I order from. If I can’t see where it’s sourced I won’t buy it.

  7. Jeremy Anderson says:

    Hi Ben,

    Did you sub the vegetable stock for bone broth? Getting my ingredients together. Many thanks for everything.

    1. Dale AKA Healthnut says:

      On the podcast Ben mentioned he used Bone Broth. I think the Veggie Broth listed may have been a mistake.
      I think the Kettle and Fire is a very good bone broth. I liked the Beef Bone Broth over the Chicken Bone Broth.

  8. Sue says:

    Hi Ben, I’ve been a big fan of kitchari for years but loved all the extras you added to this cleanse. I did 6 days in November and even got my partner to stick to it too.

    Could you tell me which brand of coconut milk you use to make your coconut yogurt? Ive been using Dr Davis l.reuteri recipe for a while now with cows milk but had a very disappointing result with coconut milk.

    1. I like the Organic Native Forest Coconut Milk… Here's a good general resource for pantry foods (Native Forest linked in article): https://goo.gl/gFrrEu

  9. James Bond says:

    o gosh, you should have just said – “google liver cleanse and do everything you find”
    there is no use of suggesting people do 100 things – you should do some more and longer term experiments and find which part of this ‘protocol’ was most useful and which was detrimental(I’m pretty sure some of the supplements and foods were not going in the right direction)

  10. Joshua Sternlicht says:

    Hello,
    I’m just about to come off the cleanse and I’m curious how you came off it, what you ate etc., and then I’m assuming you went back to a keto diet?

    Thanks!
    Josh

  11. John Brock says:

    Really appreciate this solosode! Thanks, Ben!

  12. Nick says:

    Can you post a link for the miso that you used? I’ve visited my local stores and don’t believe any of it is up to par. Thanks much.

  13. Mr Human says:

    For the Kitchari, your ingredients list calls for bone broth, but your instructions call for vegetable stock. Which is it? I would prefer bone broth, but since this is an Ayurvedic recipe I am wondering if bone broth would work against the cleanse?

  14. Marc says:

    Hi Ben,
    Been on the cleanse for 2 days headaches as not on enmas.
    Meanwhile what types of tests does a person do to check the amount of bile that is produced, and can Sylvia C perhaps tell us how to check the bile ducts if they are blocked? regards
    Marc C

  15. Chuck says:

    Great episode. I’m going to do this between thanksgiving and xmas. Question … any reason why you chose to use powdered triphala instead of capsule?

  16. Shayne says:

    Is there any major differences or benefits between mung beans and sprouted mung beans?

    1. Um…the difference is that the mung beans are sprouted. They have sprouts on them.

    2. Tracy B says:

      The recipe calls for SPLIT yellow mung beans not sprouted. Split yellow my g beans are called moong dal. I couldn’t find them at Whole Foods. I went to an Indian grocery for them.

  17. Rokas K says:

    Hi Ben,

    Don’t you think you could have gotten these results simply because you cut caffein and alcho?

    Amazing results on testosterone, what about DHT? With such levels your DHT could have increase as well? Or didn’t this concern you and why?

    Thanks,

    Rokas

    1. I don't think I measured DHT, but if you listen to podcast the increase in testosterone would be expected with that level of liver adjustment.

  18. Dale says:

    You Rock Ben…
    I want to make sure I have this correct.
    1. Order WellnessFX Premium
    2. Check my markers
    3. Liver Cleanse
    4. Go to Bengreenfieldfitness.com/coaching so you can assist in analyzing
    5. Test again
    I am also looking for guidance on stem cell therapy and other protocols for better fitness and health.

    Thanks for all you do.

  19. Dusty DIal says:

    Ben,
    Your link to the suggested test has several option, which is the least expensive that includes the info we need?
    Dusty

  20. Sylven Claessen says:

    Many other websites recommend drinking 16oz celery juice first thing in the morning. Do you think it might be better to do this? Or perhaps consume it some time before a meal?

  21. Sylven Claessen says:

    I would recommend adding the miso at serving time after cooking so the friendly microorganisms won’t starve due to the high temperatures

  22. Mahalia says:

    Trying a simple Kitchari cleanse right now and it’s the second day eating Kitchari for 2 meals and taking triphala powder in water in the evenings, and I have gotten foul smelling farts and feel full and lazy after eating. Normally I don’t have much gas and when I do it doesn’t smell, I don’t think this is a sign of increasing health but I want to continue because of all the cleansing benefits. Do you know if water fasting can also cleanse the liver?

  23. Richard Henderson says:

    Hi I am an internal medicine doctor. I have lots of patients with elevated LFTs and usually just stopping toxins ie cutting out alcohol Tylenol NSAIDs , and losing weight will improve their labs. If needed can add some supplements milk thistle , NAC , and choline etc. I think it would be better in the future if your LFTs are elevated again would be to eliminate toxins especially alcohol since that seems to be your biggest culprit and repeat your labs and see if they improve if not then do your liver cleanse. How do you know what worked stopping alcohol and coffee or the actual cleanse itself. Also with new research coming out about how their is probably no safe alcohol amount to consume it is associated with increase risk for cancer among other issues why do you want to still consume something that can cause so many problems?
    Anyway I do enjoy your show it helps keep up with some of the latest innovations and bio hacks for leading a healthier life look forward to future episodes.

  24. Jay says:

    How often could one consider doing such a cleanse for maintenance? Also, might it help improve cardiovascular markers?

    1. Hard to say without seeing blood results to know how often, but I think twice a year is good for starters. And yes, this is a great diet for the heart too.

  25. Anthony says:

    In the recipie you mention rice a few times, but its not in the ingredient list. Do you just use mung beans? Or is rice also included?

    1. I did not use the rice. Thanks, I'll update the recipe.

  26. Chad David says:

    Starting your liver cleanse what’s your thoughts on continuing CBD oil during the cleanse?

    1. It is fine, assuming you have clean pesticide/herbicide free source. I recommend Thorne Hemp or BioCBd. Check out these links https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/thorne-hemp and https://bengreenfieldfitness.com/hemp

  27. steve says:

    Hey Ben, I’m trying to get an idea about how much i can eat. When you say you eat 3-4 servings of kitchari a day, how much is that? How do you define serving in this situation? Thanks! steve

    1. Did you look at the recipe? I'm not sure I understand exactly what you're asking. The recipe makes 3/4 servings, so you'd be eating the entire thing throughout the course of the day.

      1. steve says:

        yeah…maybe i had a bit of a brain fart there…i’m good. thanks.

  28. Ron says:

    Would this be safe to do for someone who doesn’t have a gall bladder?

  29. PAULA Molstead says:

    Love all your articles and podcasts. I just want to say that according to all information I have ever heard or read about, you should lay on your right side to do the coffee enemas. (I have heard you several times say left side). And for those thinking that they seem “scary” they aren’t and are great not only for the liver but it’s nice quiet “me time”. I tried the glytamins once on vacation and they didn’t work for me at all!?!

  30. Jay says:

    How often could one consider doing such a cleanse for maintenance? Also, might it help improve cardiovascular markers?

  31. Robin says:

    AUTOIMMUNE ISSUES?

    I JUST BEGAN THE LIVER CLEANSE AND HAD MY FIRST SERVING OF THE MUNG BEAN DISH. I AM NOTICING THAT I AM FEELING A BIT CRAPPY – TIRED AND BODY IS ACHEY. IT JUST OCCURRED TO ME THAT I HAVE AUTOIMMUNE ISSUES AND WONDERING IF THE SPROUTS COULD BE ACTIVATING FOR ME? I KNOW THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY SOMETHING TO BE AVOIDED ON THE AUTOIMMUNE PALEO DIET.

    I AM REALLY BUMMED AND NOT SURE IF I SHOULD DISCONTINUE?

    1. Could be, I would discontinue and check out the Liver Flush Article linked above: https://www.consciouslifestylemag.com/detox-your-…

  32. Monica says:

    I’m allergic (hives/throat swelling) to raw celery. I can have it if I cook it well in my instant pot. Will this cleanse still be effective if I cook the celery and blend it?

    1. Bryan Hardy says:

      I would just leave that aspect out and do the rest as you’ll certainly get benefits.

    2. No, it needs to be raw celery. You could try ginger, turmeric and cucumber instead with a pinch of sea salt.

  33. Robin says:

    I am about to start this cleanse , but since I generally eat mild keto, I usually add 2 TBS of fat to each meal, otherwise I do not feel satiated. Wondering about adding a bit of olive oil, agae, avocado oil to each serving? I’m afraid of not feeling satiated otherwise…

    Thanks!!

    1. The coconut oil, cream and yogurt gives this dish a good amount of fat. I would stick to the recipe!

  34. Jeremiah Thompson says:

    Anyone reason not to combine your liver cleanse protocol with Cytodetox and aim for a general detox in addition to cleaning and repairing the liver?

    1. I see no reason not too, but I was keeping things pretty "simple".

  35. Jeremiah Thompson says:

    Is Green Tea considered ok to drink during the detox? Or should it be avoided like coffee?

  36. Veronica says:

    Did you do the olive oil protocol on the last day as described in the liver flush article? Perhaps I missed it in the podcast. Doesn’t look like you did but just wanted to double check. Thanks!

    1. I did not, as you can see, I did a slightly modified version.

  37. Scott says:

    This podcast is just what I needed, I’ve stopped drinking alcohol for just around a month ( sober October). I wanted to give my body a break and so far I feel great.

    My only question is what are some good options for kidney health and detox ? Do you have any podcasts that talk about the kidneys and how to support optimal kidney health ?

  38. Robin says:

    Is it alright to drink decaf coffee?

    1. Yes, decaf is permitted.

  39. robin says:

    Link to the transcript is not found this morning. Was there yesterday?? Thanks!

    1. It is there now, not sure what happened.

  40. William says:

    Could you use Split Red Lentils rather than yellow mung beans? What is the nutritional difference is it huge?

    1. Mung beans have traditionally been used as an actual liver cleanser, so I would stick to them.

  41. Patrick says:

    Ben…great episode on the Luver Cleanse. What are your thoughts on things like Milk Thistle and Alpha Lipoic Acid for liver health? I’ve been taking for a while now and liver numbers tend to be good despite the abuse it gets! 😳.

    Love Ann Louise Gittleman too. Read her Fat Flush book years ago and refer back to it often.

  42. Amy says:

    Thank you for the great solo podcast!! Def trying the recipe, I love Ayurvedic foods! Been wanting to try Triphala so now you gave me an extra push. From my blood work I know my pancreas is currently “mad at me” and from my body aches I can tell my liver and kidneys aren’t to happy either. My primary ordered a liver ultrasound. I just completed 4 rounds of ozone IV treatments so I’m sure they are being bombarded with dye off and crap. I’m not like the normal patient that is energized afterwards, my second round hit me like a semi truck! Thank goodness I did it prior to rehearsals otherwise there would have been no dancing for me! I didn’t realize you could use epson salt internally, I’ve only used sea salt. Thanks so much!

  43. Taylor says:

    Hey Ben could you please get another blood test in a week or month after this cleanse? Really wanna know if your liver stays that good going back to your normal life. Also I’m definitely gonna try this. Well most of it.

  44. Holly says:

    LOVED this episode. I always appreciate the practical. Can you share more info on the celery juice? How much? What type of juicer? I’ve tried juicing with my Champion juicer but it doesn’t work well. Thanks

  45. Bryan says:

    Does that mean that avoiding animal products is a good method to keep the liver healthy? If you want your liver bio-markers to be up-in-check, shouldn’t you avoid animal products year long?

  46. Doug White says:

    Hello Ben,
    The big pot of kitchari, do you eat each meal cold, or do you re-heat?

  47. Park Firebaugh says:

    Is eliminating coffee from a liver cleanse a good idea given that coffee has been shown to be very hepatoprotective?https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5440772/

  48. Robin says:

    Ben-

    Did you continue taking all fo your supplements while doing this?

    Trying to figure out the exact protocol.

    Also, if you stopped, wondering if that might have contributed as well. Maybe you’re elevated liver enzymes were related to seom interactions with all of the things you take??

    1. Yes, you can keep taking supplements – but remember, my liver enzymes elevated suddenly despite no change in my supplementation protocol, which inspired me to do the detox.

      1. Robin says:

        Interesting, mine did too. Had an ultrasound recently which showed some fat deposits on my liver. :( :(.
        I thought I was eating so ‘clean’, who would have thought!!

        1. The New Neandertalien says:

          Hi Robin, your comment is very interesting. Could you share how you eat “clean”? Is it some type of ketogenic, high fat diet? Your macros, you activity levels, maybe some ideas on what foods could affect liver enzymes negatively? There is more and more negative data on excessive fat consumption in “ketogenic” diets and in general.
          Thank you.

          1. Robin Maisel says:

            Up until recently, I had been eating about 75-85% fat, approx. 55 grams protein and 30-80 grams carbs, depending on the day…Because of my genes, have been cutting back on saturated fats, but still add approx. 3 TBS other fats to meals- olive oil, algae oil, avocado oil, etc…

        2. A Pope says:

          I had an ultrasound that they said showed fat deposits on my liver so my doctor ordered an MRI (which I did without contrast) and it did not show any fat deposits. In the four weeks between the tests I took milk thistle, phosphatidyl choline, liver force mushrooms and did some other teas and liver support drinks. Not sure if that cleared it out but certainly glad there is no fat in my liver. You might see if you can do a further test as I am wondering if ultrasounds are reliable for the liver.

  49. Brian says:

    Ben, the solosodes are great. Thank you for all the information you provide.

  50. Mo says:

    Any thoughts on adapting this liver cleanse to use as a fast mimicking 5 day diet such as prolon? A two birds with one stone kinda thing.

  51. Bill says:

    Great podcast! Thank you so much for compiling this information for everyone. Do you have any idea as to why your liver enzymes were so elevated??

    1. Just like the body responds well to fasting, sometimes organs need breaks and a little bit of tender loving care just from “life“, including travel, alcohol, exposure to toxins, etc.

  52. Laura says:

    Ben, You crack me up! “Tastes like ass” Lmao. Thank you for that. I was really feeling down from a shitty combo of insomnia, joint pain and a sprained wrist that just wont heal, and this solosode really lifted my spirits. I think this cleanse would be good for inflammation, as well as just adding a number of the things you mentioned in this solocast and also in the podcast with Anne Louise Gittleman. Thanks for what you do and the way you do it! Much appreciated.

    1. Ron says:

      I’ve honestly never tasted anything as objectionable as this stuff. “Tastes like ass” doesn’t even begin to do it justice.

  53. Sylvia C. says:

    Hey Ben,

    You are brave for putting this all out there (suppose we should have expected nothing less) but it gives some of us clinical folks a chance to weigh in :)

    First, although the trend of LFT elevations is concerning, elevations less than 5 times the top normal range are considered ‘mild’, 5-10 times normal= ‘moderate’ and over 10 times normal is ‘marked’. Not saying don’t be concerned!- just putting some perspective on interpretation.

    Maybe this is just the obvious but, since I didn’t see it in your labs, have you had a hepatitis work up? IgM ATB to hep A and B core virus, Hep B surface antigen & hep C virus? You travel, you have had things injected…you just don’t know. Worth a liver/gallbladder ultrasound probably. Check EPV and CMV virus loads as well.

    No alcohol or Tylenol for at least 6-8 weeks then could recheck the levels. You have genetics for poor saturated fat metabolism but your recipe here with all the coconut seems to indicate you are still eating a fair amount. Do a diet log and see what your sat. fat levels look like. Strive for that <7% you were advised to follow.

    Drug induced enzyme elevation is possible- edibles and all :) Good thing is your bilirubin looked ok. Hormone use can cause this. Normally we think of men using exogenous testosterone (T) but with all you're doing to boost endogenous T, I don't think there are studies on this effect on the liver, but it could be similar. Noticed your SHBG is increasing as your T does, so maybe your overshooting the T goal? Perhaps a little less Joove? None of us know all the substances, the peptides, Asian herb blends etc. that could be a factor in your case. Might want to ask the sources of these if any are known to elevate LFTs. Although LFT elevation is associated with stem cell transplants (for cancer patients etc.), I don't know if we have data on stem cell 'makeovers'. Suspect the risk is much smaller for autologous donation but maybe you had stem cells from another donor? Might be worth investigation.

    Your reverse T3 (RT3) is up a bit. Didn't see another cortisol level but last time I think it was a bit high. Stress can elevate RT3 as can high T3 but your level looked ok.

    Your WBC's trending up slightly- still normal but watch them on next test. Optimally, we like to see them stay below 8.

    Consider a nutrient panel like Spectracell. Your zinc is a bit low and could mean your copper is high and elevations in LFT can follow B6 deficiencies.

    I've probably bored you to tears so, I'll stop here. Good luck and love the show!

    1. The New Neandertalien says:

      Sylvia C, Ben’s reverse T3 was remarkably low the last time he measured it in Sept 2018, 11ng/dL. Ben’s reverse T3 was high in Aug 2017 at 36ng/dL, probably due to an over training or a competition before the test. Ben’s other thyroid hormones hint that in Aug 2017, his carb consumption was sufficient, but something signaled his metabolism to slow.
      Also, Ben’s SHBG does not increase as his T increases, as you put it. In fact, SHBG went down from 84nmol/L in Sep 2018 to 66nmol/L in Oct 2018, after his “liver cleanse”, just as his his total testosterone went up from 881 to 1154.
      Your other comments are interesting, notably on liver toxicity of testosterone replacement. Do you write in a blog or on social media about this?
      Thank you.

  54. Komal Kanth says:

    I thought someone would have corrected you about pronouncing Kitchari (Khichadi) by now, but I guess not. It’s pronounced as Khi-chuh-ree or Khi-chuh-dee. watch?v=I1dBso20Yh8

  55. ANTHONY VIGGIANO says:

    Ben, did you continue taking any other supplements during this cleanse? I currently take several, including Multi-vitamins, fish oil, etc. Thanks

    1. spencer gibson says:

      I am also curious about this…

  56. Steve says:

    Ben,

    Can you check the https://amzn.to/2CSuFLK link, as I get an error

  57. Ron Morie says:

    Just to be clear…you made your Kitchari with the above recipe, but just omitted the rice?

  58. Magen says:

    Great episode. This and the Deep Dive Blood “solosode” have been some of your best podcasts. Deep dive Dutch Test solosode next?

  59. Ron K says:

    Hey Ben! You think this cleanse would be as effective without the coffee enema? I’m not sure I’m ready for that just yet.

    Thanks!

    1. You can use these as an alternative: https://amzn.to/2yOHAJT

  60. Robin says:

    Hi ben,

    I too have been struggling with elevated liver enzymes , a little lower than yours, but still mildy elevated. I recently had an Ultrasound which showed mild fatty liver. i could actually see the globs of fat in the lvier!

    I am eager to try what you did, but wondering two things.

    1) Did you take all of your other supplements as well? I am currently on protocols for LYme and a parasite as well. Not sure if I should continue with everything.

    2. Also, I have mild Crohn’ s Colitus and gut inflammation. I was always told I should avoid coffee enemas. Thoughts? Anything I might do that would have similar effects as the coffee enemas?

    Much appreciated!! Love your podcasts and all you do. Look forward to joining you in Switzerland!!

    1. For all of you asking me about alternatives to coffee enemas, these Glytamins work very well and far less…mess.. https://amzn.to/2CSuFLK

    2. The New Neandertalien says:

      Fatty liver: I checked a study of subjects with 30% liver fat content. Above 5.5%, you have the fatty liver disease. And ALT, AST and y-GT in them were all within the WellnessFX “low risk” limits. The study did not use other liver markers.
      I wonder what is the diet in commentators who report they have a fatty liver? Are you, guys, low carbs – ketogenic, vegans for years? There are claims about keto diets and low carb diets but do they work for fatty liver?

  61. A Pope says:

    My ALT and AST numbers have always been low. Last time both were 18. But I was have some upper abdominal fleeting pain so my doc sent me for an ultrasound which observed some potential signs of fatty liver. I’m going for an MRI tomorrow to look ok further. You might want to have a deeper look since the blood work doesn’t always give the complete picture.

    1. Chris says:

      Gadolinium is a toxic metal used as contrast agent used with MRI.

      …”the pregnant women exposed to gadolinium had a 270 percent higher increase risk of stillbirths and neonatal deaths. This study makes it clear that gadolinium should never be given to a pregnant woman. How could anyone think injecting a toxic metal into a pregnant woman is safe?”

      “Over the years, patients have told me their lives changed for the worse after a contrast-based MR1. Every one of those patients had high gadolinium levels. And I have seen many more patients with high gadolinium levels who have no symptoms.”

      Extracted from: Dr. Brownstein’s newsletter on “Risky Medical Tests You Should Avoid” with comments on MRI.

      …”many facilities can’t (or don’t want to) pay for key safety experts like physicists and engineers to keep these machines properly calibrated and maintained to avoid over-exposure, since they do not contribute directly to the financial bottom line.

      see also: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Gadolinium/

      1. A Pope says:

        My doctor ordered it with and without contrast and I have told them I do not want the contrast so I won’t be taking it.

    2. A Pope says:

      After being told my ultrasound showed a mass in my liver which looked like fatty liver my follow up MRI showed “the mass like lesions on the recent ultrasound are not correlated on this non contrast MRI. Diffusion weighted imaging of the liver is normal.” Same radiologist reviewed both tests. Either my 4 week regimen of milk thistle, phosphytidal choline, liver force mushrooms and other liver support efforts between the tests cured me or this guy read the ultrasound wrong. Thank God I refused the contrast which would have loaded me with more toxins to deal with.

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