With the increasing number of chemicals, especially from cleaning products, it is important that we keep track of our liver health lest this amazing powerhouse organ start to cause us health problems!
The liver is our major detoxification organ and has to filter all the toxins, old hormones, medications, and other items we ingest, smell, or use on our skin. Very simply put, phase I liver detoxification takes these substances and makes them water soluble. Phase II liver detoxification attaches the water soluble molecule to another substance (such as bile from the gallbladder) from the so it can be eliminated from the body. Phase III liver detoxification is the actual removal of the substance from the body.
When our liver doesn’t function properly, it can lead to any number of health issues from the obvious, liver disease or fatty liver, to the not-so-obvious such as type II diabetes or hormone imbalances.
Avoid any detox products claiming to help with liver detoxification; most are a hoax! Our liver just needs gentle help most of the time so it can do the jobs it was designed for!
To support the body in this process, I recommend the following simple tips.
First, drinking dandelion root tea (Traditional Medicinals is a common brand) daily helps support our liver. It doesn’t taste as bad as it sounds! It tastes like green tea, and it blends well with other teas (black, green, chamomile, etc). Milk Thistle tea, if you can find it, is another great addition as well.
Next, soaking your feet and/or taking a bath in Epsom salt as often as you can also helps support the overall detoxification system by helping facilitate the removal of toxins and balancing the body.
Avoiding harsh chemicals, smells, products, sugar, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, vegetable oils, and processed also will make a huge difference for your liver. The less of a burden it has to handle, the better!
Lastly, implementing dry brushing before you shower helps stimulate the lymphatic system to help flush toxins from your body. Looking online for an inexpensive dry brush, and use it in broad, circular strokes towards your heart. We all know what it feels like to have swollen lymph nodes when we are sick; this can help prevent that buildup from happening.
It doesn’t have to be complicated – simple little additions to your daily routine could make a huge difference for your overall health now and in the future.
xoxo Olivia
