Our liver is a work horse. Daily life overloads the liver and this can lead to poor health and disease. The liver is responsible for numerous functions including
- Helping your body fight infection by removing bacteria from the blood
- Converts inactive thyroid hormone (T4) to active T3 which our cells can use
- Metabolizes or breaks down nutrients from food to produce energy
- Creates ketones for energy
- Produces substances that help with blood clotting
- Produces most proteins needed by the body
- Creates Cholesterol for hormone production and tissue healing
- Produces bile
- Removes toxic substances from the body
Our daily life activities can affect liver health including
- Alcohol consumption
- Energy drinks
- Prescription and over the counter medications
- Excessive stress and workload
- Infections
- Processed foods including sugar, white flour
- Environmental toxins
- Poor nutrition
- Soil deficient of nutrients
- Allergies
When there is toxin that enters the body the liver filters this. The liver has three phases of detoxification and all have to be working properly in order for toxins to be filtered and become less toxic
Phase 1 has a fancy name called Cytochrome P50 enzyme and is the first step in converting toxins. Many medications can affect this phase. This phase requires nutrients such as amino acids, Vitamin A, B2, B3, C,E, folate, iron, calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium and selenium to work properly.
Phase 2 converts toxins from phase 1 into water soluble form that are easier to eliminate. This phase requires glutathione, Vitamin B 12, Magnesium and sulfur and molybdenum.
Phase 3 is where toxins are diverted for excretion in either the bile or urine. This phase not only requires nutrients as above but need healthy bile flow along with sources of fiber.
There are numerous foods that help in these phases of detoxification including, wild caught salmon, avocado, leaky greens, berries, green tea, coffee, nuts, olive oil, eggs, garlic, beets and cruciferous vegetables. Besides consuming these foods there are some activities that can help to promote detoxification and improve liver function including:
- Epsom salt baths
- Coffee enemas
- Oil pulling
- Dry brushing
- Intermittent fasting
- Infrared Sauna
Incorporating foods plus some of the above regular activities done weekly can promote healthy liver function and detoxification.
So keep your liver healthy not only this holiday season but into the New Year and a lifetime.
