Rise and Shine: Love Your Liver

Do you live in a permanent state of being hungover from alcohol, food, pollution, cortisol spikes, cleaning products, medication, scented candles and everything else that the environment throws at us?  The likelihood is, that hangover feeling has become so normal to you that you don’t realise the damage your universe is doing to your liver and, as result, the rest of your body, hormonal balance and mood. The reality is, we have never faced so many environmental toxins - the ever evolving world is making our liver work harder than ever before.

In the modern world, which is so fast paced, riddled with trials and tribulations and pitfalls that are determined to trip us up, more and more people turn to harmful habits and antidepressants as a coping mechanism.  All the while, it’s our liver left facing a toxic battle that is consuming our sense of perspective, perpetuating suffering mental health and throwing our hormone balance out of whack. 

It’s time to debunk the perception that the liver simply detoxes our bodies.  Whilst this is true, the liver is often overlooked and underappreciated. In fact, it is a powerhouse organ that plays a pivotal role in maintaining our health, hormone balance, mental well-being, and overall vitality. Not only this, it is responsible for the metabolism of nutrients, medications and supplements; bile production; regulating blood sugar; cleaning the blood; producing proteins and a million other important jobs that your body needs to do in order to keep you in fine fettle. 

It's time to shed light on this unsung hero and explore how we can nurture it for optimal health. 

So, why is the liver so vital and how can you take care of it? 

• Ketogenesis - Ketones are an alternative fuel made from the breakdown of fats in the liver - meaning, your liver has the ability to fuel you with fat, allowing your body to use fat, rather than carry it around. Our C8 MCT Oil and Keto Creamer is the perfect way to get ketones straight to your liver because it bypasses your digestive system, aiding your fat adaptation (using fat as fuel, rather than carbs). 
• Detoxification Centre: Your liver is your body's primary detoxification hub. It filters toxins, chemicals, and waste products, ensuring they are safely removed from your bloodstream. A healthy liver keeps your entire body clean and toxin-free. A stagnant liver is a clogged filter and detoxification stops when toxins are stored. 
• Hormone Balance: The liver helps regulate hormone levels in your body. It metabolises and excretes excess hormones, maintaining the delicate balance necessary for reproductive health, emotional stability, and overall well-being. 
• Mental Health: Surprisingly, the liver and mental health are intertwined. An impaired liver can lead to the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream, which can negatively impact brain function, potentially contributing to mood disorders and cognitive decline.
• Nutrient Storage and Release: The liver stores and releases glucose, helping to maintain steady energy levels throughout the day. It also stores essential vitamins and minerals, ensuring your body has access to them when needed.

Nutrient dense diet: Consume grass fed, outdoor bred meats, plenty of organic eggs, properly prepared veg and swap regular bread for sourdough to reduce the impact of gluten (bloating and brain fog anyone?) Avoid excessive consumption of ultra processed foods, sugary drinks, and trans fats, which can strain the liver. Remember, not all fats are made equal. Check out our Fats: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly blog for further ‘good’ fat guidance. A stagnant liver can also lead to insulin resistance.  This is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don't respond well to insulin and can't easily take up glucose from your blood. To support your insulin management, give Insulin Support a go and help your liver to keep your fuel stores steady.  

Move more: Physical activity enhances blood flow and helps the liver function optimally. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week. We know that life can often get in the way of an exercise routine, so take the stairs, park the car as far away from the supermarket doors as you can, lunge from room to room, or bash out some sit ups during the adverts.  

Limit alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can harm the liver. Keep a check on how much you’re drinking and make sure you have a couple of days off to allow your liver to take a breath. It takes 5 days for any amount of alcohol to leave the liver, no matter how much you drink; therefore, your sleep and mood are going to be impacted however much you throw back. 

Many processed foods contain vegetable and seed oils, which can adversely affect your liver (as well as the rest of your body). #juststopvegoil

• High Omega-6 Fats: These oils are often high in omega-6 fatty acids, which, when consumed in excess, can promote inflammation and liver damage. Omega 6 fats are rife in our food and it is estimated that we consume omega 6 and omega 3 (good fats) in a ratio of 16:1 to 20:1. To put this in perspective, our consumption should be more like  2:1 to 4:1.  Big Food is to blame.  They don’t care about your liver; they care about their bank balance and they will continue to push these harmful processed oils, sacrificing us as collateral damage. 
• Trans Fats: Hydrogenated vegetable oils contain trans fats, which are known to harm the liver and increase the risk of liver disease.
• Obesity and Fatty Liver: The excessive consumption of these oils can contribute to obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a condition that can progress to more severe liver issues.