Healthy Liver Function

Your lovely liver: It's an under-valued vital organ that regulates many processes in your body. However, at this time of the year it’s starting to complain. Battered and bruised its been fighting a little too hard.

But why is your liver so important?

The liver has various functions within the body the main one being DETOXIFICATION. That’s right! The liver helps to purify the blood by removing toxins such as alcohol and drugs from the body. But did you know it also helps regulate hormone levels? Can you imagine what happens when it can perform this duty well? Hormones regulate everything from sleep to mood, metabolism, reproduction and immunity (to mention a few!)

The liver also works to DIGEST all your food. Fats are digested by bile in the stomach, which is a product secreted by your happy hepatic (liver) cells and transported to the gall bladder. Carbohydrates and proteins are broken down so that these nutrients can eventually be converted to ATP (energy) for use within the body.

Also wondering why when your liver has been under the pump you are more likely to come down with some mysterious flu? Well the liver is also responsible for your IMMUNITY. It plays an important role in capturing and digesting nasties such as bacterial, parasites, worn out blood cells and fungi.

So let's focus on some liver regeneration so your liver can function as best it can…

Number 1: Reduce your alcohol intake.

Limit alcohol to weekends only or if you can, commit to a month off. Alcohol is empty calories and contains basically no nutrients. Focus on an average 2L of water daily, which can include herbal teas such as chamomile during the day to re-hydrate and filter the blood.

Number 2: Reduce highly processed foods.

Particularly ones that are not only high in saturated fat but also salt and sugar. For example: processed meats and fatty meats (sausages, salami, bacon), deep fried take out and fast foods, cakes and biscuits, pastries and chocolate.

Number 3: Increase your intake of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fat.

This will aid in reducing liver inflammation. Include nuts, seeds (flaxseed particularly) and oils (e.g extra virgin olive oil) as a part of your daily diet.

Number 4: Be smart with your selection of fruits.

Berries, pomegranate and grapes (I know you are already thinking wine again but the alcohol content outweighs the benefits here people!) contain ellagic acid and resveratrol, which can help to regenerate liver cells. The bitter in lemon and limes can also break down stagnant material.

After following this for a good month you liver should start to improve all its functions. Hopefully a lot of what I have recommended also becomes habitual!