What does the liver do?
The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. It has over 500 functions that it performs, many of which are vital to the body’s health. First and foremost the liver is responsible for producing red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout the body. It is also responsible for the digestive process of breaking down nutrients, and storing many essential vitamins and minerals. And it is even responsible for filtering the blood and getting rid of foreign substances or toxins. In fact many people feel there is no organ more important when it comes to detoxing.
The liver plays several important roles in detoxification: it filters the blood to remove large toxins, synthesizes and secretes bile full of cholesterol and other fat-soluble toxins, and disassembles unwanted chemicals.
Proper function of the liver’s detoxification system is important to preventing disease. But when the liver is bombarded with too many toxins that are introduced through the food we eat, and the air we breathe it becomes overwhelmed and can’t do its job effectively. The organ then begins to operate less efficiently, accumulating harmful substances that it just can’t get rid of. Overtime this results in lasting damage to the liver.
The liver is the largest internal organ in the body. It has over 500 functions that it performs, many of which are vital to the body’s health. First and foremost the liver is responsible for producing red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout the body. It is also responsible for the digestive process of breaking down nutrients, and storing many essential vitamins and minerals. And it is even responsible for filtering the blood and getting rid of foreign substances or toxins. In fact many people feel there is no organ more important when it comes to detoxing.
The liver plays several important roles in detoxification: it filters the blood to remove large toxins, synthesizes and secretes bile full of cholesterol and other fat-soluble toxins, and disassembles unwanted chemicals.
Proper function of the liver’s detoxification system is important to preventing disease. But when the liver is bombarded with too many toxins that are introduced through the food we eat, and the air we breathe it becomes overwhelmed and can’t do its job effectively. The organ then begins to operate less efficiently, accumulating harmful substances that it just can’t get rid of. Overtime this results in lasting damage to the liver.
When in proper working order the liver effectively clears 99% of toxins and bacteria that pass its way. When it is damaged, however, a significant amount of these harmful substances are unable to be cleared, thus collecting in the organ.
The liver also produces and secretes bile which is important to the transportation of the harmful toxins from the liver to the intestines. When not functioning efficiently bile excretion is inhibited and there is limited transportation for this waste. Thus toxins stay in the liver for longer and cause unpleasant health issues such as gallstones.
Not to worry if your liver is in bad condition right now. It can be fixed. In fact the liver is the body’s single organ that can regenerate itself overtime. To start this cleansing process, many experts recommend a detox regime.
Tips to detoxing your liver
If you have never detoxed your liver before, you can probably safely say that your liver is in desperate need of some outside help. Embarking on a detox regime will not only help your liver function better, it will help you to feel healthier and more energetic as well.
While any detox will inevitably benefit your liver’s functioning, there are special detoxing guidelines that focus on the specific cleansing of this vital organ. Here are a few tips to start you off:
- Reduce consumption of hydrogenated vegetable oils, which contain trans-fatty acids.
- Reduce consumption of sugar and processed foods.
- Incorporate the Milk Thistle herb into your daily diet. It is a strong antioxidant with proven ability to repair liver damage.
- Boost the intake of foods high in anti-oxidants such as citrus fruits, raw vegetables and raw juices.
- Detect and avoid food allergies.
- Use natural antibiotics to reduce unfriendly germs in the bowel (such as onions, garlic, horseradish, olive leaf extract) and take in probiotics by eating acidophilus yogurt.
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