Your Liver: Hard at Work!

The liver is the largest glandular organ in the bodychemicals and preservatives. Non-organic
and is responsible for the healthy functions of justvegetables and fruits contain pesticides. The liver
about every other organ. Practically, everythingcan become laden with fat and is unable to
we eat and inhale goes through the liver forfunction efficiently.
purification. The liver also has other importantThe liver cannot cope with the excess stress and
functions and it is therefore necessary to makecan become overwhelmed. As a result, toxins can
sure that we are taking care of our liver. In abuild up in the body. The high levels of toxins in
healthy adult, the liver weighs about 3 lbs., about 6the body can lead to the poor function of other
inches thick and about 3.5 inches long.organs in the body. Fatigue, acne, headaches, age
What Does the Liver Do?spots, excessive itching, poor immune health may
The liver basically works as the detoxificationbe associated with poor liver functions.
center in your body but performs other importantConsidering the liver performs so many important
functions as well.functions, taking proper care of it should be a
- Blood flows into the liver. The liver works topriority!
filter the blood of toxins and impurities before it isWays to Care for Your Liver
sent to the other organs. Where do toxins comeThere are several ways to take care of your
from? It comes from the foods we eatliver. Adopt a healthy lifestyle—avoid excessive
(processed and fast food), the medications weintake of saturated fats, alcohol and quit smoking.
take, alcohol intake, the air we breathe and otherEat plenty of fruits and vegetables every day.
environmental pollutants.Cut down on animal fats, caffeine, sugars and
- The liver also serves the digestive system byfried foods. In addition to a healthy diet, several
producing bile (stored in the gall bladder) for theherbs and nutrients, in well-formulated liver
effectual breaking down of fats.vitamins, are popularly known and used to
- The liver is also the body’s storehouse.optimize the functions of the liver.
Many vitamins and minerals, especially iron, are- Milk Thistle. This comes from the daisy family. It
stored in the liver and released to the body asis known to have liver protective and liver
and when required. It also stores immunologic cellsregenerating properties. It aids in detoxification
for the immune system.and also helps to ease mild digestive disorders.
- The liver produces energy for the body through- Psyllium Husk. This is an Food and Drug
the conversion of stored glycogen to glucose.Administration-approved fiber and helps to
- The body’s metabolism largely takes placeproduce nutrients for the liver that it uses to
through the liver. The liver metabolizes lipids,regulate normal cholesterol levels.
carbohydrates and proteins.- Dandelion root extracts help to protect liver cells.
- Liver functions also involve producing bloodThey support blood health and detoxification.
clotting substances to help in the coagulation of- Artichoke powder has liver protective and liver
blood.supporting properties. If you are thinking of
Are You Overtaxing Your Liver?purchasing artichokes for dinner, remember to
A healthy liver is able to filter about 540 gallons ofpurchase the organic ones as they are free from
blood a day, but when the liver is overtaxed bypesticides.
too much alcohol consumption, smoking, saturated- Slippery Elm Bark contains mucilage which helps
fats, environmental pollution or too many foodsin relieving some of the digestive disturbances
that contain chemicals, the liver is not able to filtercaused by poor liver functions.
all the blood that passes through it.moking and- Taurine is an amino acid, which has antioxidant
excess alcohol consumption can heavily tax theproperties. It plays a major role in the removal of
liver. Smoking contains more than 60 chemicals. Ittoxic chemicals from the body.
also weakens the capacity of red blood cells soLiverol, a nutritional liver supplement for the liver,
that they are not able to function fully incontains a well-formulated blend of all the above
transporting oxygen through the blood stream tonutrients and herbs. Stop taxing your liver, and
all other organs.give this hardworking organ of your body a
The standard American diet can also put stresshelping hand—modify your diet and start taking
on the liver. Many fast foods contain a lot ofliver supplements to support detoxification and
saturated fats and processed foods containhealthy liver functions!