Imagine that you’re walking through a forest. You’re on a path that weaves you between the lush, green trees quite effortlessly. The ground is even and soft underneath your feet and the light breeze in the air caresses your face. As you walk deeper, your path begins to narrow. You begin to notice that the once easy path is beginning to become a struggle as hills are becoming steeper, rocks are becoming sharper beneath your feet and the trees and vines are starting to tighten around you. If you wish to continue, you know that you’ll have to contort your body to get through the tangling lowered limbs, vines and brush that now surround you. Or, you can choose to give up and turn around.
For a lot of us, this struggle happens every day within our bodies. With some of the choices that we make regarding the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and the products we place on our skin, we continue to introduce toxins and chemicals in our bodies that make them work harder to maintain basic functions. Additionally, there are toxins that surround us that continue to infiltrate our bodies every time we step outside of our homes.
To maintain a healthy body, you need a clean, healthy, fully functioning liver. The liver is the largest internal organ of the body. Weighing in at approximately three pounds, it is responsible for a multitude of vital functions that keep the body running efficiently such as producing bile, producing proteins for blood plasma, storing and releasing glucose, regulating blood clotting, and removing toxins from the body.
Bile is a substance secreted by the liver which aids in the digestion of fats and waste removal. During fat metabolism, bile emulsifies fats so that the body is able to absorb it. Why does the body want to absorb fats? There are vitamins that are fat soluble; therefore, they require fat to be transported throughout the body. Fat soluble vitamins include A, D, E and K, which are necessary for the health of bones, blood vessels, and cancer prevention. Bile not being used for vitamin transportation is used to transport waste out of the body in the form of feces.
Our bodies need energy to function. This energy comes from the liver’s metabolism of fats and carbohydrates in the body. After digestion, fats, most commonly triglycerides, are transported to the liver where they are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. The fatty acids are then either transported into your cells to be used as energy, or they are stored for later use. The glycerol is recycled back into the liver and kidney to form new triglycerides with additional fatty acids.
Glucose, your body’s main source of energy, is stored in the liver as a starch called glycogen. When your blood-glucose levels are too low, the liver breaks down the glycogen to convert it back into glucose, then releases it into the bloodstream. If the liver’s glycogen levels are ever depleted, and the blood glucose level is too low, the liver has the ability to produce glucose from amino acids, glycerol, and other dietary sugars in a process called gluconeogenesis, which can then be released into the bloodstream.
For blood health, the liver assists the body in blood clotting, protects blood vessels, and filters the blood. The body requires Vitamin K to form clots. Vitamin K, as stated above, is a fat soluble vitamin. Bile is used to absorb this vitamin into the system. If the liver is not able to produce enough bile, the blood will not have the ability to form clots when necessary.
The liver also produces a protein for the blood called albumin. This protein transports fatty acids and steroid hormones throughout the blood to strengthen blood vessels so that they don’t become perforated or begin to leak. As a blood filter, the liver removes excess hormones from the blood such as estrogen and aldosterone, as well as other compounds that we eat, breathe or drink like alcohol or other drugs.
In the detoxification process, the liver is essential. Many toxins that enter the body are fat soluble; therefore, the best chance that your body will have in eliminating these toxin is through bile production by the liver. Through this process, the liver is able to convert the fat soluble toxins into water soluble compounds which can then be excreted from the body. The enzymatic process of converting fat soluble toxins into water soluble ones occur in two phases.
Phase 1 – Oxidation, Reduction and Hydrolysis. This first phase is catalyzed by the Mixed Function Oxidase enzymes (MFO) which reside on the liver’s membrane. The toxins are converted into less harmful chemicals through oxidation, reduction and hydrolysis reactions. During this process, free radicals are produced, which can be damaging to the liver if there are too many. With antioxidants, such as glutathione, Vitamin C and E, the damage caused by these free radicals can be reduced. The over-consumption or intake of certain chemicals such as pesticides, alcohol, exhaust fumes, and barbiturates, can result in the disruption of MFO enzymatic system, which could result in the over activity of damaging free radicals in the body.
Phase 2 – Conjugation. During this phase, the liver cells add cysteine, glycine, or a sulphur molecule which results in making the toxin water soluble, so that it can be excreted from the body.
With the tremendous availability of toxins around every corner, your liver may be working overtime to perform the many duties for which it is responsible to keep your body functioning well. Although your body was created to detox itself, mankind has introduced an influx of chemicals into our world that our bodies were not originally intended to handle. As in the forest example above, an abundance of toxins and chemicals in the body can make it much more difficult for the liver to perform its functions. In order to maintain a healthy liver, it’s essential to take care of it by reducing the toxic load on your body.
What are some things you can do to support your liver?
Drink water with lemon juice first thing in the morning. Lemon water stimulates the liver and promotes bile release into your intestinal tract. Because your liver does most of its work overnight, drinking this first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach, helps to eliminate built up toxins from the previous evening. It’s recommended that you squeeze half a lemon into 16oz of lukewarm water. Drink this 30 minutes before eating breakfast.
Reduce or eliminate processed foods from your diet. Processed foods contain many chemicals that your body doesn’t recognize as food. These toxins begin to accumulate in your system, which your overloaded liver may not be able to properly process. Eat real, whole, organic food.
Reduce sugar intake in your diet. Too much sugar in your system causes your liver to overwork as it’s attempting to convert and store glucose. This includes eating excess fruits as well, as fruit contains fructose, which is also metabolized by the liver.
Incorporate turmeric into your diet. Turmeric contains curcumin, an antioxidant and is anti-inflammatory. It helps to reduce the levels of harmful free radicals that may result in the body as part of the detoxification process, helps to prevent or slow the development of liver cirrhosis, repairs damaged fibrotic cells, and reduces blood sugar levels. Turmeric can be sprinkled on your food or your beverages. I like to slice fresh turmeric in my salads and also to juice it in my green vegetable juices.
Add milk thistle to your diet. Silymarin in milk thistle can protect the liver from toxins. With both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, it may be beneficial in helping the liver to repair itself from damage. Milk thistle works by drawing toxins out of the body, and increasing immunity which can result in the reduction of oxidative stress. As a powerful detoxifier, milk thistle works to reverse the harmful effects of alcohol consumption, pesticides, prescription medications, and pollution. Dried seed can be made into a tea or sprinkled on your food. Milk Thistle may also be taken in liquid form.
Eat dandelion root. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that a plant often perceived to be a landscaper’s nuisance can be such a treasure for your health. Dandelion root helps to protect the liver from prescription medications, is used in the treatment of liver disorders like jaundice, helps to balance blood sugar, and increases both red and white cell blood counts. Additionally, it flushes fat deposits from the liver and increases bile production. Dandelion root can be eaten as a salad, or made into a tea.
Additionally, drink plenty of water, remove built-up waste in your body, and increase your sweat production to assist your body’s natural detoxification process. By keeping your body free from excessive toxins, your liver can continue to function optimally.
Because your liver is vital to your health, you can’t live without it; however, if you have to lose or donate the majority of your liver, it is the only organ of the that is able to regenerate. As long as at least 25% of liver tissue is healthy, it can regenerate in a matter of months.
With industrialization and technological advances, it’s very difficult to live in a completely toxin free environment. By supporting your body’s natural detoxification processes, your body will be able to carry out all vital functions with little to no disruption. Disease begins with toxicity. If you want to keep your body clean and healthy, rid your body of any toxin or chemical that could potentially slow it down. By eating foods that aid in the digestion and detoxification processes, you can reduce your risk of encountering disease and chronic illnesses.
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