The liver is an incredible organ, with many functions. It is the powerhouse for detoxification and helps keep our bodies feeling rejuvenated and energised.
Liver functions include the control of blood sugars, the regulation of fat storage and detoxifying toxins from the body.
“The liver is the powerhouse for detoxification and helps keep our bodies feeling rejuvenated and energised.”
Let’s take a closer look at these key roles:
1) Detoxification
The liver constantly detoxifies not only toxins produced within the body but also toxins that enter from the environment.
In the modern world, our livers are working extra hard because they are exposed to more toxins from the food we eat, the air we breathe, and even the products we use on our skin.
“Environmental toxins come from the food we eat, the air we breathe, and even the products we use on our skin.”
If your body isn’t able to detoxify these toxins, they will continue to recirculate in the body or get stored as body fat.
2) Energy Stabilisation
The liver plays an important role in stabilising energy levels within our blood. It does this by acting as a buffer for our blood sugar levels by storing excess fats and sugars when our blood sugar levels are high, and when blood sugars are low it uses these stores to mobilise energy.
When the liver works overtime, the ability to stabilise energy slows down, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
“When the liver is working overtime, the ability to stabilise energy slows down, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.”
What happens when our liver is working over time?
“Antioxidants are essential to dealing with oxidative stress.”
As your liver detoxifies molecules, it produces oxidative stress. Antioxidants are essential in dealing with oxidative stress. In particular, glutathione, the master antioxidant, is key to mitigating oxidative stress in the body and is used heavily in the liver.
“Glutathione is your master antioxidant.”
Glutathione is made by the body from three key amino acids: cysteine, glutamine, and glycine. It is an incredibly important molecule designed to defend against damage caused by oxidative stress.
However, our natural ability to produce antioxidants has limitations. When the liver is working overtime, you experience more oxidative stress which leaves your antioxidant stores depleted as your ability to produce antioxidants is not sufficient.
“Our natural ability to produce antioxidants has its limits.”
Without enough glutathione, our body builds up too many oxygen free radicals and environmental toxins, which the liver cannot detoxify.
However, BePure now is able to test your glutathione levels with the BePure Gut and Liver Screening Test. Find out more about testing below.
6 TIPS TO LOVE YOUR LIVER
1) SUPPORT YOUR BODY’S PRODUCTION OF ANTIOXIDANTS
Increasing protein in your diet will help support the production of antioxidants. Protein provides you with essential amino acids which are the building blocks for glutathione.
2) REDUCE REFINED SUGAR AND PROCESS GRAINS
Refined sugars and processed grains put a lot of load on the liver to detoxify. I recommend eating a whole-food nutrient-rich diet where possible.
3) BAD VS GOOD FATS
When we eat the ‘bad’ fats, we damage the liver's ability to buffer and store energy which then leads to a fatty liver.
4) TAKE A BREAK FROM CAFFEINE AND ALCOHOL
These are some of our biggest liver loaders and while your liver is busy detoxifying caffeine and alcohol, it won’t have the nutrients to detoxify other substances. Try this Cacao Hot Chocolate recipe as a great coffee alternative.
5) INCREASE SELENIUM
Glutathione is a selenoprotein (it requires selenium). When selenium is low, your body won’t be able to produce enough glutathione. A good food source of selenium is activated Brazil nuts. Try this Brazil Nut Crusted Chicken recipe.
6) GO NATURAL
Choose natural skincare products. Our exposure to chemicals, toxins and xenoestrogens found in makeup and skincare products contribute to our liver loading.