How to detox your liver naturally.
Your liver is an important organ that has so many jobs and responsibilities. For one, it can be compared to a rubbish shute that clears out unwanted substances, like expired hormones and toxins. Secondly, it must balance out your blood sugar levels and convert your fat into energy. Thirdly, the liver is a filter clearing out fatty toxins and along with bile, breaks down the remaining fat. Additionally, bile is created in the liver and this regulates glucose, insulin, blood pressure, estrogen, testosterone, immunity, blood cholesterol production and its removal.
Your liver is also a storage facility and has certain vitamins A, D, E, K & B12 in its backup program. In addition, your liver backs up Iron in the form of ferritin in preparation to create new blood cells.
I’m exhausted reading all of that! Just like when you feel busy, your liver can also become overwhelmed and sometimes does not preform at its best. Some signs that your liver is under pressure includes:
A slight yellowing in your eyes
Pain or discomfort on your right side of your stomach
Holding onto body weight even when dieting
A pot belly (abdominal fat)
Digestion issues after consuming fatty foods
Swelling in your ankles
Acne, irritated or itchy skin and
Fatigue.
What is Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)?
‘Fatty liver disease’ is the build-up of excess fat in the liver cells and is a common disorder that now affects up to one-third of adults in Australia and is becoming increasingly common in children (Health Direct, 2019).
What causes fatty liver?
Fatty liver is not a result of eating fatty foods. However, it is associated with health problems such as obesity, high blood cholesterol and triglycerides, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, and heavy alcohol consumption. In addition, less common causes include an under-active thyroid, certain medications, Polycystic ovary syndrome and complications that arise late in pregnancy. Some of these conditions are linked with insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that the body produces to maintain blood sugar, but when your insulin-resistant, your body does not respond to the effects of insulin, so blood sugar levels remain high. Yet, by losing some weight and increasing physical activity, you can reduce and reverse the effects of insulin resistance.
Five ways to naturally cleanse your liver with food.
Eating walnuts: Walnuts contain an abundance of L-arginine an amino acid, and glutathione a sulphur containing antioxidant that helps detoxify the liver.
Consuming Turmeric: Turmeric has so many health benefits to mention including anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and antidepressant properties. For example, turmeric protects the liver against toxins which help prevents damage to liver cells. You can add turmeric to so many kinds of dishes, like curries and pasta sauces, and now even drinks like lattes. You can purchase turmeric in a powder or liquid extract, or you can buy it fresh or grow your own. You just need to add a little bit of fat and black pepper to it to release its goodness.
Drinking green tea. Green tea helps prevent fat accumulation and aids in liver function. Green tea contains antioxidants which helps prevent fat accumulation.
Eating blueberries and cranberries.
Both berries contain anthocyanins antioxidants that gives berries their colours and are also protective to keeping your liver healthy.
Eating foods containing fatty acids.
Omega 3 fatty acids are the healthy fats that reduce inflammation. Omega 3’s has also been shown to prevent the build up of fats in the liver, keeping enzyme levels normal and improve insulin sensitivity. Food rich in omega 3 fatty acids include oily fish like salmon, anchovies, mussels, tuna, grain fed beef, and free-range eggs, nuts, flaxseed, seaweed & soy beans like tofu products.
Do you want to know more about healthy eating?
Do you want to change your ways but you don’t know how?
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