SPRING CLEAN YOUR LIVER, NOT JUST YOUR HOME
By Enza Tartaglia
It’s that time of year when patio furniture is put back out, outside water gets turned on and plucking of weeds and cleaning up the yard to prepare for summer occurs. It’s also a time to refresh the inside of your home and put the winter clothes away and make room for the spring and summer collections. For many it means cleaning chandeliers, cupboards, and dusting rooms for that fresh spring clean. Well, as we consider those outside cleaning schedules we need to be mindful to spring clean our internal organs.
YOUR LIVER FIGHTS TOXINS SO KEEP IT HEALTHY! We cannot survive without a healthy liver. It is the largest internal organ of the body, involved in over 500 functions. It is the only internal organ that will regenerate itself if damaged. Simply put, it is the primary organ of nutrient assimilation, production of biochemicals essential for health & detoxification. Most of everything that is consumed (nourishing or toxic) ends up in the liver. As the blood filter of the body, the liver receives about 1.5 litres of blood every minute! Unfortunately, our modern environment & lifestyle have created a hostile atmosphere for this organ. Each year more than 500 billion pounds of industrial toxic wastes are produced in North America. Many of these end up in the food we eat and the water we drink. Ultimately, we have more toxins entering our body right now than at any other time in the entire history of civilization and many end up in the liver. The liver cannot function optimally while being inundated by substances that are trying to damage it. Without a healthy liver, digestion would be impossible and the conversion of food into living cells and energy nonexistent.
THE LIVER’S FUNCTION (only a few important ones listed below)
It is the Blood Filter of the Body: If it becomes sluggish, we can experience poisoned cells, moodiness, weakened kidneys, inadequate bile which is essential for proper digestion and absorption of nutrients & gallstones.
It directs Metabolism and regulates the Thyroid: If it becomes sluggish you can experience body temperature irregularities such as cold hands and feet and you can gain weight easily because the body’s ability to burn calories is reduced. Also, inadequate conversion of thyroid hormones leads to hypo/hyperthyroidism.
It manufactures Glucosamine: Glucosamine helps the body repair & regenerate new cartilage. A sluggish liver leads to osteoarthritis.
It manufactures & balances Hormones: A sluggish liver leads to a variety of hormonal problems & imbalances.
It manufactures Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF): GTF acts with insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. A sluggish liver leads to hypoglycemia & diabetes.
It is involved in Protein Metabolism: A damaged liver leads to muscle wasting. (Remember the heart, veins, arteries, capillaries, intestines and kidneys are all muscular tissue.)
It is involved in Blood Pressure and Cholesterol Regulation: A degenerated liver leads to high blood pressure, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, and high cholesterol levels.
To keep up with even a minimal load of toxins, the liver must replace its 300 billion cells every six months. Eventually, the reproduction of cells is drastically reduced creating a high risk of toxicity. A few symptoms of toxicity include; physical weakness, tiredness, digestive problems, muscle or joint pain, depression or moodiness, headaches and frequent tension in the shoulders and neck.
SPRING IS THE BEST TIME TO CLEANSE THE LIVER. There are many ways to detoxify and almost everyone will benefit from a cleansing program. A simplistic detox program for a period of 3-5 days is to eliminate from your diet, acid forming foods such as meats, milk products, breads, baked goods, refined sugars, and carbohydrate products. A deeper level of a detox program is one consisting exclusively of fresh fruits and vegetables, mostly in their raw state. Including herbs such as garlic, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and dandelion root not only aids in cleansing the liver, but also promotes rebuilding and rejuvenation of cells. Following a liver cleanse one can attain high energy levels, feeling cleansed and rejuvenated, elimination of aches and pains, increased strength and vitality, and overall wellness. It can make you feel 10 years younger. The detox recommendations are not intended as a substitute for the advice and treatment of a physician or other health care professionals. It is recommended to seek the advice of a qualified professional to learn the type of program best suited to your needs.
Enza Tartaglia is a Registered Nutrition Consulting Practitioner and Homeopath www.healthy4lifecentre.com
