The liver is one of the most amazing organs in our body. Depending on how the functions are broken down, it does between 500 to thousands of actions. A healthy liver can be the core of your health.
It holds about 13% of the body’s blood at any given time. The blood is filtered of poisonous substances – alcohol, drugs, chemicals and food additives. It is one of the keys to our immune system, filtering harmful bacteria from the blood.
The liver regulates nutrients, such as blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of protein, iron and cholesterol in the blood. These are key nutrients required by the body.
Blood sugar levels are regulated in part by the liver, needed for cellular energy. Obviously, too high or too low of blood sugar can cause serious problems. We need to keep the liver healthy, so it can keep us healthy.
Albumin is a protein needed in the bloodstream to keep fluids from leaking out. It also carries essential nutrients such as vitamins, enzymes and hormones. The liver stores vitamins and minerals such as Vitamins A, B12, D, E, K, iron and copper and is instrumental in the use of Vitamin C to transport oxygen. Vitamin C can be helpful in combating fatty liver disease.
The liver, like all organs in the body, is dependent upon minerals, vitamins and protein for health. If you are consuming foods degraded nutritionally or with fake vitamins, you are likely not supporting the health of the liver. Eating a diet of whole, unprocessed foods is key in helping the liver function fully.
Unfortunately, in this toxic world, the liver has more to detoxify than it was meant to do. This can bog down its function, making it less capable of doing its various functions efficiently. Acupuncture treatments can be helpful in kicking the liver into more efficiently detoxifying. Keeping a cleaner diet and doing some detoxification protocols, can really help it out.
Not all detoxification programs are good, however. There are different phases of liver detoxification, and addressing each level is important. Phase I gathers the toxic materials from the fat storages and lymph, liberating it in preparation for elimination. There are key nutrients that are necessary for this to happen.
Phase II micronizes these toxic materials, breaking them down into water soluble elements to be eliminated by the urine, and fat soluble to be eliminated by the bowels. There are a different set of nutrients necessary for this process to happen. Phase III is the actual elimination process. Don’t ever attempt a detoxification program if you are constipated. Handle your bowels first, ensuring that they are moving 2-3 times per day before starting.
As with all detoxification programs, having the right guidance is important. If you have a history of doing a detoxification program and feeling sick, you likely didn’t do the right one for you.
Learn more by attending our upcoming webinar, How to Naturally Improve Liver & Gallbladder Health, Wednesday, May 26th 7:30pm. Learn more and register here: http://bit.ly/livergallbladder2021
©2021 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
