NOURISH
Help your Liver HELP YOU
by Cathy Clements, Nutritionist & Life Coach, NASM CNC, CPT, FNS, WFS
O
ur bodies are a wonder and function in some amazing ways. All of our systems work together in one way or another. Our
gut health relies on the function of our digestive system, and all of the organs that support are directly a part of it. The liver is an amazing organ that removes toxins from our bodies. Then
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breaks them down and excretes them in bile through the intestines and out as stool; or breaks them down and excretes in the circulatory system and out as urine. The liver also aids in the excretion of cholesterol, hormones and drugs. It metabolizes fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and stores glycogen (energy), vitamins and minerals, just to name a few of the functions. Keeping our livers functioning properly aids our digestive system in its ability to eliminate waste effectively. Our liver can get overwhelmed by the foods and liquids we put into our bodies and not work as effectively as we need. Highfat foods,
alcohol and environmental chemicals all add to the workload of the liver, making it work harder. A periodic cleanse or detox will help take the overload off of our livers. An effective way to cleanse the liver is to eliminate or reduce white sugars, alcohol and fattier proteins. I have a couple of detoxes I like because I still eat whole foods, but I “eat lighter.” After five days of detoxing my liver, I then work on my intestines. A five-day detox of my intestines then ensures my digestive system and liver are both removing toxins and wastes effectively from my body, allowing my body to function in a productive, healthy manner. Even if your eating habits are productive and healthy for you, doing these cleanses/ detoxes is beneficial in removing some of the environmental toxins we are exposed to. If you’ve never cleansed your body this way, find a detox/ cleanse that is not too harsh but works for you.
