When you think about the liver, what comes to mind? Probably alcohol metabolism, maybe detoxification. Did you know that it actually has hundreds of functions? That is why taking care of this multi-purpose organ on a daily basis is so important.
You may be tempted to think that all it takes is to reducing drinking and intake of junk food. And yet, the environment inside of the body is just as important.
Here are 5 important reasons to take care of your liver.
Hormonal balance
Your liver makes cholesterol on a daily basis. Cholesterol is a component of many hormones. Because hormones work with each other to stay in the right balance, if one hormone is off, the others can become unbalanced too. For that reason, cholesterol production is essential.
This important organ also helps remove excess hormones. Think of hormones as a messenger in the body. They have a specific message to send from one part of the body to another. Eventually, that message becomes dated. If the hormones continue to make their rounds in the body longer than they should, they communicate outdated information to the cells in the body. This “confuses” the body, which stops working as well as needed.
Reproductive health
When hormones are imbalanced, it becomes difficult for the body to continue its cycles as it should. Conceiving becomes difficult when the body struggles to get through the menstrual cycle as it should, or when sperm production declines.
Also, when the body is imbalanced, be it from hormones, excess toxins, or any other factor, the reproductive system is the first to shut down. Because it is the only system not essential for immediate survival, the body saves its resources for other systems.
Reproductive health isn’t only about making babies. When the liver is burdened, the combo of excess toxins and hormonal imbalance can lead to unpleasant and/or painful menstrual cycles.
Nutrient storage
The liver stockpiles a few nutrients to release as needed, including vitamin A, B12, D, and iron. It also stores glucose, the smallest sugar unit in the body.
When the body needs sugar, such as during exercise or when you haven’t eaten in a while, the liver releases glucose into the blood. When there is too much sugar in the blood, the liver takes in some of the excess (the rest is stored as fat in the body).
If burdened, it can struggle to respond the body’s signals for the release of stored nutrients.
Bile production happens in the liver
When healthy, the liver is so efficient that it uses the muck in the body to make bile (used in digestion to break down fats). It still produces bile when unhealthy, but struggles to do it properly. This can result in toxic bile, which can irritate the gut during digestion. This can also lead to clogged bile ducts, resulting in gallstones.
Clear skin
There are a few organs involved in the detoxification process, including the kidneys, the liver, the gut, and skin. When the liver is burdened, the other organs pick up the slack for releasing toxins. Sweating lots of toxins out can lead to acne, eczema, or rashes.
Ready to address liver health? Shoot me a line and let’s get working!
Leave a Reply