Do we need to detox?
New year – new resolutions – dry January?
Many of us decide to take some time off the booze after the festive season but does it do us any good? Let’s explore the facts…
The liver, our body’s detoxification organ
The liver has a role in many biological functions but it’s efficacy reduces as we age; think of a sieve and how it clogs up the more we try to put through it - so it is important to support it especially as we get older.
The main functions of the liver are:
· Processing of nutrients from the intestines to make them more easily absorbed regulating levels of protein, fat and glucose
· Produces blood clotting chemicals, cholesterol & proteins
· Stores minerals such as iron and vitamin A
· Removes toxins from the blood including alcohol, drugs and medications
· Destroys old blood cells & hormones
What affects our liver function?
We know that alcohol and drugs can affect liver function. We don’t sleep as well after a few drinks or a heavy, fatty meal because our liver is very active during the night working on detoxifying and it actually disturbs us, often waking us up.
All chemicals and toxins (bacterial, viral & fungal) in our environment have to pass through the liver and there are 2 phases to this process. Each phase needs specific nutrients and co-factors and if we are missing any of these, this process can be interrupted half-way through resulting in a potentially more toxic compound which can lead to symptoms such as headaches and nausea.
Certain foods also burden our liver causing cirrhosis in extreme cases:
§ Uncooked shellfish containing toxins
§ Large fish e.g. tuna & swordfish containing heavy metals
§ Junk food reduces our nutritional status and we could be missing the necessary vitamins and minerals for detoxification to take place
§ Wild mushrooms – can be very toxic
What are the risk factors for an unhappy liver? What should we be reducing or avoiding as we get older?
o Alcohol – don’t drink everyday
o Drugs – legal & illegal! Even paracetamol adversely affects our liver
o Tatoos – ink has been found in liver cells!
o Environmental chemicals – pesticides, herbicides and industrial
o Plastic wrap & aluminum foil
o Non-stick cookware
o Obesity – our fat cells store toxins
o Saturated animal fat – also stores toxins
o High sugar intake (fatty liver- more about this later)
Some illnesses affect liver function and may need extra nutritional support:
· Viral infections including hepatitis A, B & C
· Gilbert’s Syndrome
· Autoimmune disease
· Gall stones & gallbladder issues
What signs tell us our liver is in trouble?
ØGas & bloating
ØAcid reflux or ‘heartburn’
ØConstipation
ØHeadaches
ØHigh blood pressure
ØFatigue
ØMoodiness, anxiety & depression
ØPoor appetite
ØNausea
ØExcessive sweating
ØDifficulty losing weight
ØJaundice
So, we have all heard of dry January but does avoiding alcohol for just a month really help?
Definitely! When we drink alcohol (sugar) or eat sugary food to excess, over time, our liver cells fill with fat. When there are no more cells to fill, the fat ends around our liver getting thicker over time. This is known as ‘fatty liver’ or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a result of too much sugar. When we reduce sugar intake, the fat dissipates allowing our liver to work better. It might not all disappear during one month’s abstinence but it reduces, improving function.
What can we do to look after our liver?
üLimit alcohol
üLimit sugar & processed foods
üOpt for natural self-care products
üUse natural / ecological house-hold & cleaning products
üChoose organic foods particularly meat & dairy
üInclude protein in every meal – up to 60g daily or 1g/kg body weight
üEat plenty of ‘brassica’ veggies; broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage
üDrink filtered water – 2 liters daily
üExercise – sweat out toxins giving your liver a break
If we feel we need a little extra help, include:
Veggie smoothies with green detox powder
Add ground or soaked flax seeds to diet
Increase B vitamin foods – leafy greens & wholegrains
Make your own fermented foods; kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi
Milk thistle
Antioxidant formulas
If we try to live ‘clean & green’, we can positively impact liver function as it will have a knock on effect in helping the rest of our body function better; we may have a clearer mind, more energy and be healthier overall for longer.
Make your health span equal your lifespan!
And if you missed dry January, there’s always dry Feb!
Susie Thomson-Bowen 2021
Further reading
Look up the ‘dirty dozen/clean 15’ – the EWG’s (Environmental Working Group) yearly chart of which foods we should prioritize eating organically.
Far-infra-red saunas for detox
Coffee enemas & colonics
Skin brushing
Oxygen therapy
If you have a personal issue & feel you might need support or extra information on detoxing please contact susie@nutritionaltherapy.rocks
Refrences:
https://draxe.com/health/liver-function/
https://drhyman.com/blog/2020/10/26/podcast-hc28/
https://www.christinebailey.co.uk/top-signs-you-need-to-detox/
