The liver is one of the most important organs when it comes to achieving peak physical and mental health. When the liver becomes stressed and overburdened due to our fast paced and often toxic lifestyles many health problems can begin to creep in.
The liver has many important functions such as producing bile, several roles in carbohydrate metabolism, manufacturing, breaking down and regulating numerous hormones, protein and fat metabolism, breaks down and modifies toxic substances, clears the blood of particles and infections, synthesizing enzymes and proteins which are responsible for most reactions in the body such as blood clotting and repairing damaged tissues.
Signs & Symptoms Of Liver Stress
There are many symptoms and conditions which can be attributed to an over stressed liver. Here are some of the most common ailments such as acne, adrenal gland dysfunction, allergies and chemical sensitivities, cystic breast and ovaries, indigestion or digestive problems, chronic fatigue, thyroid disorders, hormonal imbalances, constipation, mental and emotional disorders, headaches/migraines, fluid retention, vision problems, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, fatty liver, premenstrual syndrome and fat malabsorption are just some of the common symptoms attributed to liver stress.
These symptoms obviously don't include the many liver diseases which can occur from prolonged liver stress such as hepatitis, fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, cancer of the liver, gilberts syndrome, primary biliary cirrhosis and many more.
Natural Methods For Supporting Liver Health
Bitter Herbs
Bitter herbs are one of the best tools for cleansing the liver and supporting digestion. Bitters must come in contact with the back of the tongue where the bitter receptors are located to get the digestive and liver flushing benefits. Thus it is essential bitters come in liquid or powder form so that they activate these receptors rather than capsule form which is of no use. Of all the 5 tastes bitterness is one we tend to avoid, however it is one of the most important of all when it comes to optimal health.
Examples of herbs with bitter properties are gentian, bupleurum, dandelion, andrographis, milk thistle, schizandra, mugwort etc. If you are purchasing bitter formulas such as swedish bitters it is best to check that they don't contain stimulant laxative herbs such as rhubarb root, senna etc which can weaken bowel function. You don't need massive amounts to get the liver cleansing benefits of bitters, half-1 teaspoon pre-meal is enough.
Liver Support Herbs
There are many herbs which can support, protect and regenerate the liver. Many of these herbs also have bitter properties so as always its best to consume these in powder form so you can get the liver cleansing benefits as described above. It would take an article in itself to list the many benefits of each liver herb so for now we will just list some of our favorite liver support herbs. Good examples of liver support herbs are milk thistle, dandelion, bupleurum, schizandra berry, turmeric, andrographis and artichoke leaf.
Foods That Support Liver Function
There are many foods which have been shown to support and increase the livers ability to detox. Foods rich in sulfur containing compounds such as garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables etc are beneficial to aid the liver in detoxing various toxins. Research has shown broccoli contains a phyto-nutrient known as Sulforaphane, which enhances the phase two-detoxification pathway in the liver.
Many spices have liver support benefits such as turmeric, licorice root, cinnamon, saffron and cumin.
Diet and lifestyle are major factors in relation to the health of your liver. A diet rich in raw fruits and vegetables is very beneficial in protecting and supporting liver health. Overindulgence can take its toll on the liver, which is why its a good idea to support the liver with any of the tips above when overindulging in food and alcohol. Diets high in fat and fructose corn syrup can adversely effect liver health and lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Alcohol consumption should be limited or not consumed at all, alcohol puts a massive strain on the liver. As with any healthy lifestyle cigarettes and recreational drugs should be avoided.
There are many herbal teas which have specific liver healing benefits such as nettle leaf, dandelion, licorice root etc. Other herbal teas such as green, white and rooibos(caffeine free) which are rich in antioxidants are also a great addition to a healthy lifestyle.
Other Tips/Notes
The common liver flush which consists of epsom salt and olive oil is a scam. Even with the dilation of the bile ducts from the magnesium, real gallstones wouldn't be able to pass through. The pseudo stones that people pass through there bowel movements are a byproduct of the mixture of olive oil and the epsom salts. There is no way people are passing 100's of stones each time they do the liver flush. The liver flush can in fact also be very dangerous many who have attempted the flush have ended up needing there gallbladders removed. If you wish to cleanse your liver the tips from above are much safer and more helpful long term.
A vegan diet is beneficial due to not including foods which contain strong animal hormones such as dairy and meat. Choosing organic produce is also helpful in that it doesn't contain pesticides and other chemicals which can be detrimental to the liver.
Cooking fresh is also a good idea so you can stay away from as many un-needed chemicals found in processed foods such as flavor enhancers, preservatives, colors and artificial agents.
