Gillian McKeith's Food Bible (158 page)

Sugar, margarine, heated fats, fried foods, processed meats, pastries, dairy products, chips, caffeine, refined carbohydrates, and foods containing additives.

Alcohol. If you carry on drinking, your liver function will just deteriorate further. If necessary, seek help. It is easier to give up alcohol if the rest of the diet is nutritious, so work on this as well.

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS

Sprinkle turmeric on food to help to regenerate liver tissue and aid liver function. It can also get the bile flowing.

Other useful herbs and spices include ginger, rosemary, and cayenne pepper in small amounts.

Take milk thistle, which has excellent liver rejuvenating properties.

Supplement your diet with green superfoods. Blue-green algae, spirulina, and wheat and barley grasses all contain an abundance of nutrients needed for detoxification and cell renewal.

Supplement meals with digestive enzymes. Look for those containing lipase, as this will aid fat digestion.

COLD SORES

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus, which is related to the herpes virus that causes chicken pox and shingles. It can remain dormant in the body for years. Many people carry the virus but do not suffer from cold sores. They usually appear on the lips, around the mouth or nose, and sometimes the eyes.

Early symptoms include burning or tingling, then a blister usually forms from which pus may emerge. Cold sores can be extremely painful and may last two to three weeks.

CAUSES MAY INCLUDE

Bright sunlight.

Stress.

Compromised immune function.

Poor diet.

Hypothyroidism.

Low iron levels.