Our liver plays an enormous role in our general well-being – ridding the body of toxins, producing bile to breakdown fats and modulating our hormones and so on. When our liver is functioning well, we are more inclined to feel full of vitality and strength.
When our liver is functioning under-par, we may manifest symptoms like headaches, migraines, indigestion – bloating and flatulence, dark circles under our eyes or red rims around the eyes, skin rashes like eczema, psoriasis or hives, hormonal imbalances or a low tolerance to alcohol and the effects of caffeine.
There are many ways we can give our livers an extra boost. Here are a few simple tips for the festive season:
- Start your day drinking a glass of hot water with the juice of half an organic lemon.
- Drink fresh vegetable juices from a slow masticated juicer. Add a little beetroot and greens and aim for three or more juices per week.
- Enjoy some freshly whole steamed organic artichokes. Steam them for 20 minutes, peel off the leaves and eat the flesh in a little olive oil, black pepper and lemon juice. Artichoke leaves stimulate the flow of bile and aid digestion, making them a great starter for those heavy festive dinners!
- Eat your leafy greens. These include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage and brussels sprouts as well as bitter greens such as watercress, rocket and parsley.
- Eat antioxidant foods regularly. Blueberries are a great pick – enjoy a blueberry smoothie with your favorite nut milk and a teaspoon of hemp protein to start your day.
- Load up on potassium-rich foods such as watercress, endive, cabbage, celery, parsley, courgettes, radishes, cauliflower and pumpkin.
- Drink a good quality organic dandelion root tea. It’s a great liver tonic.
- Turmeric is another herb that supports healthy liver function and digestion. Add half a teaspoon of ground turmeric to your smoothie with a pinch of cinnamon and a crack of black pepper.
- Ensure a few good hours sleep before midnight as this supports the circadian rhythm and is very restorative for the liver.
- Limit your intake of alcohol and coffee. You may also want to re-assess any regular medication use such like the contraceptive pill, HRT, paracetamol and other anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids.
- Supplement with vitamin C – at least 1000mg twice daily.
- Try to limit your exposure to and intake of toxins. This includes food additives and pesticides in foods as well as environmental toxins from pollution, petrol, paint and toxic body-care products.
- Try a coffee enema to help your liver with detoxification.
- If you’ve overindulged in fatty foods and alcohol, take silybum marianum, or milk thistle is very protective and restorative to the liver. I recommend Vogel’s St Mary’s thistle tincture. Take 15 drops in a little water morning and night.
If you are experiencing liver distress symptoms or feel you may need more detail or personal assistance, book in for a full naturopathy session with Susan.
