Why You Should Be Loving Your Liver

We all know that our livers are pretty important. But to what extent do you know your liver? To what extent do you support, nourish, love, and appreciate this incredible organ? If you don't, here's why you should.

The liver is the heaviest organ in the body, and without a doubt one of the most crucial for our survival. Especially in these modern times when we are exposed to more toxicity than ever before in history.

What exactly does it do?

The role of the liver can be categorized into three main functions- a storehouse, manufacturing hub, and processing plant.

One of its main roles is to filter the body’s blood, which it receives in two main shipments. One from the heart, through the hepatic artery, and one from the intestines, via the hepatic portal vein. The liver fills with nutrients, which it then has to sort, process and store with the help of thousands of tiny internal processing plants called lobules.

The blood carried to the liver not only contains nutrients from the food we eat, but also contains toxins, excess hormones, and byproducts that the body has no use for. The liver monitors these strictly, and either converts them into substances that are not harmful to the body, or isolates them and whisks them away towards the kidneys and intestines to be eliminated!

This is why it is so important to have your elimination pathways in working order. Being properly hydrated, working on gut health and proper elimination, herbal support, dry brushing and lymphatic massage, sweating, and breathing properly are all ways to ensure that you are showing those toxins the door!

The liver is also a factory that creates substances needed for the body. It is responsible for making blood plasma proteins that help our blood clot when injured, cholesterol that helps the body create hormones and vitamin D, and most importantly it creates bile. The liver uses cells called hepatocytes to convert toxic waste into this bitter green liquid, that is stored just below the liver in the gallbladder. Bile is then squirted into the intestines to help break down fats, destroy microbes, and neutralize excess stomach acid. It is also the vehicle in which a lot of toxic waste is eliminated from the body.

In order for bile to be eliminated properly, and not recirculated and reabsorbed via a press called enterohepatic circulation, it must bind to fibre. This is why consuming enough fibre is mega important for overall health and detoxification.

As you can see, the liver is a powerhouse. It is critical that we take liver health into consideration when we are suffering from pretty much any condition ranging from hormonal or skin issues, to energy levels and proper digestion and elimination.

Liver Loving Lifestyle Adjustments

Reduce your toxic load by reducing the amount of toxins that you voluntarily expose yourself to. This means choosing naturally derived cleaners for your home, switching to non-toxic personal care products and cosmetics, and using fragrance free detergents, soaps, and candles. Also being more conscious of your consumption of pharmaceutical medications, alcohol, drugs, and processed foods that contain chemicals or sketchy ingredients.

Nutrition For Liver Health

Eating more bitter foods, such as arugula, dandelion greens, artichoke, turmeric, and ginger are great for liver health.

Toxic bile, as mentioned above, is the poison-filled substance that we want removed from the body via our stool. In order to be excreted, bile has to bind to fibre, so increasing fibre in the diet is a must. My favourite form of fibre is psyllium husk, a relatively tasteless powder that can be stirred into smoothies, soups, or beverages. Other great sources of fibre are avocados, beans and legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Herbal Support

My Glow Tonic Tincture and Revitaliver herbal infusion blend in the shop will become your best friends. Glow Tonic tincture contains bitter, purifying herbs like dandelion root, turmeric, and yellow dock root that help to clean the blood, remove excess toxins from the body, and stimulate digestion. Burdock, one of the main ingredients in this tincture is used in many traditions for skin health. Revitaliver tea contains nutritive herbs like alfalfa, nettle, and red clover, that benefit liver health and function, improve lymphatic drainage, and provide the body with vitamins and minerals needed to feel its best!

Take a moment to send some love and gratitude to this hard working organ that keeps you vibing and thriving each day.

Take care of yourselves!

Love, Jenna