The functions of this organ is so vast that it alone, is a testament to the ingenuity of the body.
The Major Abdominal Organs
Taking Care of Your Liver
The liver is the most hard-working organ in the human body. It performs over 500 functions that are vital to life, as well as vital for detoxification. It plays an important role in digestion (breaking nutrients down) and assimilation (building up body tissues). Aside from the role it plays in digestion, it stores red blood cells and important nutrients like iron, copper, B12, vitamins A, D, E and K. It also has the unique ability to regenerate itself. You want to take really good care of this organ!
We are constantly being bombarded with toxins, and this organ is trying to take care of the issue. For example, people do not realize that when they eat large amounts of sugar, the liver has to stop detoxifying and deal with the sugar. Think about this for a minute: when you eat sugar and your liver cannot process the toxins you may be exposed to, what is happening to those toxins? They are not leaving your body. That is something to think about the next time you go for that sugar high.
Fifty percent of people over the age of 50 have what is termed a “fatty liver.” It literally means too much fat has accumulated in the liver. Contributors to fatty liver are triglycerides (carbohydrates and sugar), alcohol, toxic chemicals, and adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals. Many people don’t realize that when they take large amounts of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine, they are taxing their liver.
The liver is responsible for balancing many processes in our body. All of our hormones are converted in the liver. Women who struggle with irregular cycles find improvements when they cleanse their liver. As the detoxifier, it has to distinguish between what is toxic and needs eliminated from the body or what is beneficial and needs to be kept. In this capacity, it filters everything: toxins, chemicals, organisms (parasites, fungus, bacteria, etc.), pharmaceuticals, and many more.
The functions of this organ is so vast that it alone, is a testament to the ingenuity of the body. The liver clears the body of poisonous substances, converts excess glucose into glycogen for future, stores iron and processes hemoglobin for the use of this iron, produces bile which carries some waste away, helps to regulate blood clotting, produces certain blood plasma proteins, produces some immune factors to get rid of bacteria thereby resisting infection - and much more! Malfunction of the liver can translate to serious conditions that may be life threatening.
Did you know that your liver is the only organ in your body cabable of regeneration? It only needs 4 months to regain its initial weight. A liver in good health works as effeciently at 80 years of age as it did at the age of 20. But when the liver is taxed—becomes overworked and overloaded—it can’t process toxins and fat in an efficient way.
Dr. Rohit Satoskar, of the MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute says, “The liver is a vital organ and not something you can live without. It’s an organ you could easily trash if you don’t take good care of it, and once you trash it, it’s gone.”
As the second-largest organ in your body—the skin is the largest—It's about the size of a football and sits under your lower ribcage on the right side. Yep! Take a football and hold it close to your chest. That’s about how large your liver is. Amazing, huh? It filters chemicals like drugs and alcohol from the blood; regulates your hormones and blood sugar levels; stores energy from the nutrients you take in; and makes blood proteins, bile, and several enzymes that the body needs.
“There’s nothing tricky about keeping your liver in good shape. It’s all about a healthy lifestyle.”, says Ray Chung, MD, of the Liver Center at Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Taking care of your liver is far more about avoiding what’s bad than it is about eating or drinking things that are particularly nourishing to the liver,” he says.
For sure you’ve taken OTCs like Tylenol (nothing more than a trade name for acetaminophen), right? Well, do you know why they give a warning about not taking too much of this poisen? It’s because it really is toxic to the liver if too much is taken over time or at once. It is a synthetic, nonopiate, centrally acting analgesic derived from p-aminophenol. Guess what p-aminophenol is? It is a synthetic dye used in hair coloring–produced from coal tar. And, you may be taking more acetaminophen than you realize; it's found in hundreds of drugs like cold medicines and prescription pain medicines. Certain combinations of drugs can be toxic to the liver; so can taking some medicines while drinking alcohol. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what medicines shouldn’t be combined with each other or alcohol. And always follow dosage information.
Wash your hands
Now, let’s talk about something that you probably think is remotely related. It’s the importance of washing your hands. Good grief, is that so hard to do? After a bowel movement, for example, that paper you use to clean up with is thinner than a politician's election promise (LOL!). Do you really think the tissue keeps you hands squeaky clean? To put it another way, do you think it keeps someone else's hands clean enough for you? No? Then wash your hands with soap and very warm water! I read once that over half of all physicians don't wash their mitts after using the toilet. I hope this is not true. My supposition is that it is, however. When heads of state, billionaires, or doctors use the toilet, they are about as likely as you to do what you do. Think about that in your spare time today. And wash.
Filters
When we think of a filter, we know that they have to be cleaned. After you finish vacuuming you clean the machine’s filter; after you dry your clothes you clean the lint from the dryer’s filter, and the liver is no different. A toxic liver can lead to inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and autoimmune diseases. Without a healthy liver, you may suffer from hormonal imbalances that can cause headaches, mood swings, and depression. It's time to nurture this amazing organ!
Because water flushes toxins and waste products from your body, you feel more energized and alert when your body is fully hydrated (which most of us usually aren't!). Usually eight to 10 8-ounce glasses will do the trick.
Foods that support healthy liver function are: crucifer vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, broccoli), artichoke, asparagus, chard, cilantro, mustard greens, beets, parsley, kale, celery, watercress, collards, dandelion greens, mustard greens, lemon, limes, oranges, garlic, onions, eggs, daikon, radish, nutritional yeast flakes, dandelion root tea, and whey.
Here are liver cleansers you should be including in your meals throughout the week:
1. Garlic
Just a small amount of this pungent white bulb has the ability to activate liver enzymes that help your body flush out toxins. Garlic also holds high amounts of allicin and selenium, two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing.
2. Herbs
Ginger—Gingerol antioxidants possess anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. Ginger supports detoxification by nourishing your liver, promoting circulation, unclogging blocked arteries, and lowering blood cholesterol by as much as 30 percent.
Turmeric—The curcumin compounds in turmeric have been shown to heal your liver, aiding in detoxification and strengthening your whole body.
3. Beets and Carrots
Both are extremely high in plant-flavonoids and beta-carotene; eating beets and carrots can help stimulate and improve overall liver function.
4. Leafy Green Vegetables
One of our most powerful allies in cleansing the liver, leafy greens can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. Extremely high in plant chlorophylls, greens suck up environmental toxins from the blood stream. With their distinct ability to neutralize heavy metals, chemicals and pesticides, these cleansing foods offer a powerful protective mechanism for the liver.
Try incorporating leafy greens such as bitter gourd, arugula, dandelion greens, spinach, mustard greens, and chicory into your diet. This will help increase the creation and flow of bile, the substance that removes waste from the organs and blood.
5. Avocados
This nutrient-dense super-food helps the body produce glutathione, a compound that is necessary for the liver to cleanse harmful toxins.
6. Apples
High in pectin, apples hold the chemical constituents necessary for the body to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract. This, in turn, makes it easier for the liver to handle the toxic load during the cleansing process.
7. Olive Oil
Cold-pressed organic oils such as olive, hemp and flax-seed are great for the liver, when used in moderation. They help the body by providing a lipid base that can suck up harmful toxins in the body. In this way, it takes some of the burden off the liver in terms of the toxic overload many of us suffer from.
8. Alternative Grains
It’s not only that you need alternative grains like quinoa, millet, and buckwheat in your diet, it’s that if you’ve got wheat, flour, or other whole grains in your diet, it’s time to make changes. Your liver is your body’s filter for toxins, and grains that contain gluten are full of them. A study last year found that persons who experienced gluten sensitivities also had abnormal liver enzyme test results, and that’s just one of many.
9. Cruciferous Vegetables
Eating broccoli and cauliflower will increase the amount of glucosinolate in your system, adding to enzyme production in the liver. These natural enzymes help flush out carcinogens, and other toxins, out of our body which may significantly lower risks associated with cancer.
10. Lemons & Limes
These citrus fruits contain very high amounts of vitamin C, which aids the body in synthesizing toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water. Drinking freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice in the morning helps stimulate the liver.
11. Walnuts
Holding high amounts of the amino acid arginine, walnuts aid the liver in detoxifying ammonia. Walnuts are also high in glutathione and omega-3 fatty acids, which support normal liver cleansing actions. Make sure you chew the nuts well (until they are liquefied) before swallowing.
12. Cabbage
Much like broccoli and cauliflower, eating cabbage helps stimulate the activation of two crucial liver detoxifying enzymes that help flush out toxins. Try eating more kimchi, coleslaw, cabbage soup and sauerkraut.
It is your liver health that is responsible for processing virtually everything you consume -- protein, fat or carbohydrate -- and turning it into glucose that is used as fuel. But, since everything you consume passes through your liver it means your liver is subjected to an array of toxins -- pesticides, hormones, food additives, alcohol, medications, microorganisms, and more -- on a regular basis.
Your liver health will either convert these harmful toxins into less harmful ones or ensure they’re eliminated from your body entirely. However, inevitably some toxins get left behind, hiding in certain liver cells or creating free radicals that can damage your liver & your overall health. This is why it’s important to support your liver health in every way you can.
The foods you eat, the medications you take, the drinks you consume … all of these take a toll on your liver health, but you can help keep your liver in top working order by following the simple steps below.
Some Tips to Protect Your Liver Health
1. Eat organic foods as much as possible
Your diet represents one of the biggest potential burdens on your liver, as many foods are contaminated with pesticides, growth hormones and chemical additives.
By eating organic you are opting for the purest foods possible, which means you’re saving your liver from a slew of toxins. By definition, organic foods must be free from genetically modified organisms, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones and other drugs.
2. Limit fructose, fried foods and processed foods containing trans fats or hydrogenated oils
Two more dietary burdens to your liver are hidden in many processed foods on your supermarket shelves: trans fats and fructose. Trans fats are common in fried foods like French fries and doughnuts and are also found in cookies, crackers and many other processed foods. If the ingredient list contains “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” oil, it will contain some amount of trans fat. Fructose is also found in numerous processed foods as well as in soda and fruit juice.
According to one study in the journal Hepatology, a diet high in fructose and trans fats leads to obesity and fatty liver.
3. Exercise
Exercise is one straightforward way to lower your risk of fatty liver health disease, not only by helping you to maintain a healthy body weight (obesity increases your risk of fatty liver disease) but also by leading to liver health improvements independent of weight loss.
One study published in Hepatology even found that staying active for at least 150 minutes a week improved liver enzymes and other indices of liver health function.
4. Avoid smoking
Smoking may harm your liver’s ability to effectively process and remove toxins from your body. It can also make alcohol-induced liver health disease worse.
5. Drink lots of water. Detoxify your liver and flush toxins out by drinking at least 2 quarts of water every day. Drinking lots of water will keep you hydrated, which naturally encourages cell regeneration. It will also allow the liver to filter out more toxins and residue, letting it work faster and increasing your energy level.
Avoid foods that will do damage to your liver. Foods that are processed and contain lots of preservatives, fats and cholesterol can cause the liver to become congested and clogged with fat residue. Clean out your liver by avoiding processed or fatty foods to allow the liver to unblock itself and regenerate cells.
6. De-stress your life. Stressful situations release hormones and endorphins in the bloodstream, which, in turn, deposit toxins in the liver and slow it down. Eliminate stress in any areas of your life that you can. Consider anti-stress activities like Qigong and Tai Chi.
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