Supercharge Your Liver
Liver love.. power your plate
Remember the image of the liver as a drainage funnel I mentioned in our previous posts?
So, just like any funnel, it needs regular maintenance and love to keep things flowing smoothly and to prevent unwanted clogging (think of the disaster that comes with a clogged sink). Luckily, this maintenance doesn't involve any harsh chemicals or complicated procedures – it's all about the power of your plate!
What tasks does your liver perform daily?
Let's take a peek into it’s many functions:
1. Filtration: It filters blood coming from your digestive tract, removing toxins, waste products, and even harmful bacteria. This ensures clean, purified blood circulates throughout your body. I will dive into the concept of “dirty blood” in future posts (yes, this is actually a bigger issue then most people realize).
2. Storage: Not just a filter, your liver also acts as a storage unit. It holds essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and iron, releasing them into your bloodstream when your body needs them. Additionally, it stores glucose (sugar) for quick energy bursts and helps regulate blood sugar levels.
3. Digestion: The liver plays a crucial role in breaking down and utilizing nutrients from your food. It converts proteins into usable amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), helps digest fats, and manufactures bile, a substance that aids in fat absorption. Fun Fact: We have over 2,000 miles of bile ducts in our livers (that is crazy!).
4. Waste: Your body produces waste products as it processes food, bacteria, viruses, parasites, and medications. Your liver acts as a garbage collector, breaking down these waste products and preparing them for elimination through the kidneys and colon (hopefully, you are having 2-3 bowel movements per day).
5. Hormones: The liver plays a key role in managing hormones. It helps regulate the levels of hormones such as estrogen, thyroid hormones, and insulin, ensuring your body functions smoothly. The key player in this process is cholesterol!
6. Energy: When you eat carbohydrates, your liver converts them into glucose, the primary fuel source for your cells. It also stores glucose as glycogen for later use, ensuring you have steady energy throughout the day.
7. Fat Management: Your liver plays a key role in managing fats in your body. It breaks down fats from your diet, manufactures certain fats like cholesterol, and helps regulate overall fat levels in your blood.
What do I “crowd in” to support my liver?
Instead of searching for quick fixes or "detox" gimmicks, let's focus on nourishing your liver with foods that naturally support these functions.
Our top liver-loving foods:
Glutathione: Avocados, okra, spinach, and asparagus are rich in glutathione, a potent antioxidant that helps your liver neutralize toxins and free radicals. Think of it as a built-in bodyguard for your cellular health (again, consider the importance of the drainage funnel).
Sulfur: Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, bok choy, arugula, and collard greens are loaded with sulfur, a mineral crucial for detoxification processes. Imagine them as tiny brooms sweeping away unwanted debris.
Sulforaphane: Broccoli sprouts deserve a special shoutout for their high concentration of sulforaphane, a phytochemical that neutralizes toxins, reduces inflammation, protects your DNA, and may prevent tumor growth.
What should I “crowd out” to prevent a clogged liver?
While adding beneficial foods is important, limiting harmful ones is equally critical.
Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption is a major stressor for your liver and can lead to fatty liver disease, liver cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, and liver cancer. Aim for moderation or add in mocktails, such as
Hibiscus Iced Tea the next time you are enjoying a meal with friends or family (your liver will love you).Refined Sugar: Sugar overload can contribute to fatty liver disease, blood sugar imbalances, weight gain, and cardiovascular diseases. Opt for whole, unprocessed foods and incorporate The Golden Goddess Plate.
Over-the-Counter Medications: Consult your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications regularly, as some can burden your liver. Tylenol, for example is is responsible for 56,000 emergency department visits, 2,600 hospitalizations, and 500 deaths per year in the United States. In addition, Tylenol depletes our master antioxidant, glutathione which is synthesized in the liver. Glutathione is important for immune function, metabolism of toxins, prevention of oxidative damage, and protein synthesis. So.. we really want our liver producing glutathione!
Remember:
This is not an exhaustive list, and it's important to consult a healthcare professional (I am your gal!) before making any major dietary changes, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions.
Product of the Week:
Let’s not overlook your skin: Your skin also plays a major role in detoxification, working hand-in-hand with your liver. What you put on your skin can impact your liver's ability to do its many tasks.
Primally Pure’s Fancy Face Serum blends vitamin-rich oils to address multiple skin concerns. This formula helps diminish fine lines, scarring, age spots, and discolorations, leaving your skin visibly smoother, brighter, and more even-toned. Perfect for all skin types, it's your key to unlocking your golden glow.
It’s ingredients pack a punch in such a small bottle:
Tamanu oil, revered in Southeast Asia as a sacred gift of nature, is known for its powerful healing properties. Research shows it is effective in addressing various skin concerns, including scars, minor wounds, acne, rashes, and more.
Hazelnut oil, with its astringent properties, acts as a natural purifier for your complexion. It balances oil production, making it an ideal choice for acne-prone skin. Rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids, it nourishes and clarifies, leaving your skin feeling refreshed and balanced.
Neem oil is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids. This oil promotes skin cell rejuvenation, shields against environmental damage, combats visible signs of aging, reduces inflammation, and fades the appearance of scars.
Pumpkin seed oil is rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins A and C, and zinc. This oil works in reducing inflammation, preventing and reversing damage, fighting free radicals, promoting anti-aging benefits, and supporting clear, healthy skin.
Sea Buckthorn Oil is packed with 12 times more vitamin C than an orange. It prevents and reverses signs of aging, heals burns, cuts, and inflammation, and promotes skin cell regeneration and hydration.
Argan oil combats acne, under-eye circles, fine lines, and sun damage while deeply moisturizing and nourishing your skin.
Baobab oil is rich in vitamins A, E, and F, and deeply hydrates and nourishes your skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple, and revitalized.
Jojoba oil balances oil production and combats acne, leaving your skin feeling soothed and balanced.
Pomegranate oil has a high antioxidant content and promotes healthy skin cell regeneration, and is a powerful ally against aging. This oil combats free radicals that damage skin cells and contribute to aging, revealing a youthful, radiant complexion.
Elemi oil reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This versatile oil promotes a smoother, more youthful complexion.
Cypress essential oil is known for its tightening and circulation-boosting properties. This oil revitalizes your skin, allowing it to function and detoxify optimally, revealing a healthy, toned appearance.
Lavender essential oil is one of the most versatile oils used in skincare and can assist in treating conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, wrinkles, wounds, and more.
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