How To Look After and Love Your Liver!

10 Sep 2012 4 Comments

by Nikki in Fabulous Food, Healthy Habits Tags: , ,

These simple tips will help your largest and most hardworking organ – your liver, function at it’s peak! 

When we think about our liver, the only thought that usually pops into our head, in relation to it’s function is alcohol! If we drink too much we know it is making our liver’s work overtime to process it.

Our liver does so much more that deal with alcohol, it is our bodies chemical power plant, using the food we consume it converts nutrients into energy, breaks down hormones, produces immune and clotting gactors, releases bile required to digest food, filters the blood, and removes toxins from our body that we are exposed to everyday.

So doesn’t this wonder worker, deserve some TLC for all it’s efforts – YES – and some of these you will actually enjoy, it is not all about detox, starvation and living entirely on greens!

CITRUS TWIST – Including citrus fruits in your diet can help to boost your liver’s detoxifaction power helping it to rid your body of cancer-causing agents. Sliced lemon and orange can be added to your water, makes it taste great and easier to drink more.

COFFEE FIX – We turn to coffee to help sober us up, but in reality whilst this does not speed up the process and help the liver remove the alcohol from our systems more quickly, studies have shown that consuming black coffee can help to counteract the damaging effects of drinking and reduce the risk of cirrhosis. Tea also has a similar benefecial effect. No more than two cups per day though!

PILE THE VEGETABLES ON YOUR PLATE – Many vegetables contain phytochemicals which support the liver in producing enzymes needed for flushing harmful toxins out of our blood. There are lot’s to choose from and include these regularly – Cauliflower, Cabbage, Artichokes, Leafy Greens, Brussel Sprouts, Avocado, Bok Choy, Kale, Broccoli, Pomegranate, Dandelion Greens, Cocoa and Garlic.

GO GREEN (TEA THAT IS) – Green tea is full of antioxidents, great for helping flush away toxins.

DON’T GET DEHYDRATED – Your liver needs lot’s of water to function at it’s peak. Deydration taxes your entire body, and the best thing you can do for your health and everyday energy levels is to drink plenty of water. Around 2 litres per day is a great target to aim for.

ADDING ANTI-OXIDANTS – Eating a well-balanced diet will help damaged liver cells to regenerate and and create healthy new cells, some great additions to help boost this are Flax Seed Oil, Walnuts, Garlic, and very powerful Tumeric.

VITAMIN A OVERLOAD – If you are taking a supplement, be careful of the amount of Vitamin A you consume as excess is stored in the liver and has a toxic effect. No more than 3000 micrograms per day!

THINK ZINC – One of the most vital minerals required for healthy liver function is Zinc. It plays a key role in every energy related function in the body. Found is Oysters, Lean Red Meat, Wholegrains, Legumes, Yoghurt and Eggs.

DECIDE TO DETOX – Try and limit your alcohol consumption, especially during the week, every alcohol free day is a big bonus for your liver.

LOVE YOUR LIVER SUPER SMOOTHIE – Get out your blender and whip up this powerful smoothie that our liver will LOVE!

  • Juice of 1 Grapefruit
  • Juice of 1 Lemon
  • 1/2 cup fresh Parsley
  • 1/2 an Avocado
  • 3 Walnuts
  • 1/4 teaspoon Tumeric powder
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 cup fresh or bottled Apple Juice…………..add a few ice blocks and enjoy!

See, none of those are too hard to incorporate in to your daily life, and your liver will thank you for it!

If you would really like to detoxfiy your life and feel fabulous, my new book “How To Detoxify Your Body – Easily and Painlessly” is full of valuable and simple ways you can clear the clutter both physically and mentally, and for the next 5 days you can download it for FREE here.

Go and grab your copy and please let me know what you think!