Love Your Liver And Live Longer

Your liver is an incredible organ that performs over 500 functions. As your body’s second largest organ, it does so much more than just filter blood; it is tied to all bodily processes. Just a few of the 500 functions include:

  • Manufacturing and balancing hormones
  • Fat digestion
  • Controlling blood sugar
  • Regulating fat storage
  • Regulating menstrual cycles
  • Producing protein
  • Regulating blood flow

Your liver has to chemically break down everything that enters your body. From your multivitamin, to your prescription meds, to a glass of water. Whatever passes through your lips, the liver has to process it. If something you consume is toxic to the body, the liver must distinguish that it’s not beneficial and filter it out of your bloodstream.

Your Fat Burning Organ

A well-functioning liver is a fat burning organ. It plays a very important  role in maintaining a healthy weight. If your liver has become overwhelmed with toxins, it cannot properly breakdown fats and nutrients. As a result, an overworked liver stores fat and nutrient deficiencies.

The liver’s bile is also vitally important. It helps digest fats, but is also where your liver dumps excess hormones, toxins, pesticides, heavy metals and anything else it’s filtering out. If your bile is full of too much toxic waste, it cannot assist in digestion. When this happens, you may begin to gain weight and not be able to lose it through regular diet and exercise.

Signs of Liver Congestion

You don’t have to have yellow eyes or a high liver enzyme count to indicate liver congestion. These are signs of a highly toxic liver, but congestion begins long before those symptoms occur. There are other signs you can begin to look for to see if your liver needs some TLC.

  • Easily angered and frustrated
  • Tension in neck and shoulders
  • Waking up repeatedly between 1-3 am
  • Deep vertical crease between eyebrows
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Acne and oily skin
  • Light colored stools

If you have two or more of these symptoms, you may want to strongly consider a liver cleanse.

4 Herbs For Liver Detoxification

1. Milk Thistle
In my opinion, milk thistle is the most important thing you can take for your liver. Milk thistle actually helps rebuild a damaged liver by stimulating the regeneration of cells. It protects liver cells from incoming toxins and encourages the liver to continue to cleanse itself. It also increases liver bile production and prevents the depletion of glutathione (our master antioxidant).

2. Dandelion
Yes, that pesky weed growing out in your backyard has an amazing medicinal purpose. It cleanses the blood and liver, as well as stimulates the flow of bile.  Dandelion is also a great diuretic.

3. Artichoke
Featured recently on television for its cholesterol reduction properties, this plant stimulates the regeneration of livers cells and bile formation. It is also a powerful antioxidant that has long been used in folk and alternative medicine as a treatment for liver ailments; scientific studies are now proving them to be correct.

4. Turmeric
Studies have shown that turmeric not only stimulates liver cell regeneration, but helps reduce liver inflammation by protecting it from the damaging effects of certain toxins, including alcohol. It also speeds up phase 2 liver detoxification and increases liver bile production.

By incorporating these 4 herbs into a healthy diet and exercise regime, you may begin to see that stubborn fat stored in your liver and weight finally begin to budge. Be patient as it can take time to cleanse and restore your liver. I would personally recommend taking these herbs for at least three months to achieve the best results.

Side effects may also include lower cholesterol and balanced hormones. Yes, those are just two of the many possible benefits that can occur after your liver is rejuvenated. Take some time to love your liver and you can not only lose pounds, but lose your health issues, as well.

Tell us how you have succeeded with your own liver cleanse! Maybe you avoided surgery? Don’t hesitate to share your story!

 

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