The Liver

Keeping your liver healthy is key in keeping the rest of you healthy! One of the liver’s jobs is to assist in fat metabolism.

Be careful how often you ask it to add an extra task, like alcohol metabolism. If you are looking to drop excess weight, you aren’t doing yourself or your liver any favors.

What else does the liver do? More than 500 chemical and metabolic functions. The following is a list of just a few:

• Filtering the blood stream
• Producing bile
• Producing albumin, blood clotting factors, cholesterol, Vitamin E and other important chemical compounds
• Converting amino acids and lipids into glucose for your body to use as energy
• Metabolize medications, alcohol caffeine and any other chemical substances
• Store vitamins A, B12 (+other Bs), D, and minerals
• Detox from substances like ammonia and metabolic wastes from things like artificial sweeteners.

Some other tips for overall liver health include:

1) Reduce processed foods – especially those with artificial ingredients, colorings and preservatives – they all directly impact your liver so take time to read labels and find alternatives.

2) Reduce spicy foods – this will increase the absorption of calcium.

3) Eat more fruits & veggies – cabbage and oranges are especially good for liver health.

4) Eat more fiber – 25-30 grams of fiber each day is recommended. Fiber absorbs the bile which otherwise can be absorbed back into your system, taking toxins with it.

5) Drink more water – water is effective in getting the toxins and waste out of your body. It is especially essential for people who exercise, fast, or diet because fat-soluble toxins that were stored in your fat cells are going to be back in your blood stream and then filtering through your liver.

6) Good vitamin supply – B vitamins, vitamin C and vitamin E are especially beneficial.

7) Good mineral supply – zinc, copper, magnesium, and selenium should be considered through supplementation since most of our soil is depleted. Never pass up the potato skins – most of the mineral content is in the skin of your food.

8) Chew your food properly – let your enzymes do their job.

9) In case the obvious needs to be stated, avoid smoking and drinking.