3 Tips to Love on Your Liver
This is an emotionally-intensive time. Giving yourself space to pause, process, reflect and generally take care allows you to show up for others. There’s no wrong path to self care as long as it works for you. You could take a long bath, sit in a sunny window with a cup of tea, or pamper your liver. Yep, pamper your liver!
The Magnificent Liver
Heavier than the brain, the liver squirrels away vitamins and minerals for a rainy day. It keeps vitamin D for 4 months and can keep vitamins A and B12 for 4 years!
If it’s been awhile since your last meal, your liver’s got your back and supplies you with stored energy in the form of glycogen. Your liver even creates fuel for you when you’re tapped out of glycogen.
Your liver sits just under the right rib cage continuously filtering 2 quarts of blood per minute without complaint. All the while, it neutralizes harmful bacteria, prescription drugs, radioactive substances, pesticides, herbicides, food preservatives, dyes and hormones.
The liver is your main organ of detoxification, that is, if it’s not too overloaded and has all the support it needs. Regularly showing love to your liver is the best way to support its mission to detoxify and perform hundreds of other critical functions.
Tip # 1: Have 1 cup of cruciferous veggies each day
These veggies (i.e. broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussels sprouts, cabbage, arugula, bok choy) supply important compounds that enhance detoxification.
Glucosinolates enhance detoxification by supercharging detox enzymes.
Sulforaphane helps to boost the body’s number one antioxidant and player in the detoxification process, glutathione.
Fiber is beneficial for eliminating any neutralized toxins.
Don’t like broccoli? Look for (or sprout your own!) broccoli sprouts which contain 30-50x the concentration of superpower glucosinolates of the mature plant.
Like salt ‘n vinegar chips? Check out my finger-licking salt ‘n vinegar chip cauliflower recipe below.
Tip # 2: Reduce your toxin exposure
Choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to harmful pesticides and herbicides (especially when buying these foods) and think about your plastic use.
Tip # 3: Allow the digestive system a rest
Space 12-14 hours between dinner and breakfast so that the liver can break from its role in digestion and focus on detoxification or other important tasks. Preferably, have an earlier dinner rather than a late breakfast. Consider finishing dinner by 6:30pm and having breakfast at 8:30am.
Bonus Tip: Some livers can use a lot of love
You may especially consider consider a little extra liver TLC if you’re struggling with:
Fatigue
Digestive issues like bloating, diarrhea, constipation
Estrogen-related hormone imbalances like menopause, PMS and endometriosis
Addiction to coffee or other foods
Mystery skin rashes
Allergies
Acne
Replenish and Reset is a gentle 10 day reset program where we reduce the burden on the liver from processed, inflammatory and toxic foods. All the while nourishing with the most potent healing foods the body needs to power our optimal selves. You’re guided every day throughout the program to ensure the benefits last beyond our time together. Check here to see upcoming session dates or to download the DIY version of the program.
Recipe: Salt ‘n Vinegar Chip Cauliflower
serves 4
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets
2 tablespoons organic extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup raw apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tablespoon dill
sea salt
freshly ground black peppercorn
Preheat oven to 350F.
On a parchment-lined baking sheet, lay cauliflower in a single layer.
Roast for 30-40 minutes, until soft and starting to brown.
Transfer to a heat-proof bowl and toss with remaining ingredients.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
