There are over 86,000 chemicals to date registered as of this year. That number is only projected to rise. What else is on the rise? Chronic illness, obesity, digestive complaints, auto immunity, Lyme, IBS, mental illness, anxiety, depression and more.
God designed our bodies with the capacity to naturally filter and detox incoming toxins–but there’s only so much our bodies can filter and eliminate at once. If toxicity coming is greater than toxicity going out there is a big problem. Things often bottleneck in one of our drainage pathways and the liver often takes the brunt of this.
Supporting the liver, which is responsible for over 500 vital functions, is an ongoing process and not a one-and-done deal either. Weaving just one or two of these into your day or week can make an impact!
The Primary Functions Of The Liver Include:
Production of bile
Enzyme activation
Production of proteins for blood plasma
Production of cholesterol + proteins to help carry fats through the body
Processing of hemoglobin for use of iron content
Storage of iron
Conversion of toxin ammonia to urea
Regulating blood clotting
Clearance of bilirubin
Removing bacteria from blood
Conversion of excess glucose to glycogen
Problems with the liver present in the following symptoms:
Acne
Allergies
Histamine Intolerance
Hormone Imbalances
Bloating
Congestion
Weight Gain
Yellowing of eyes/skin
Candida/Yeast Infections
Parasites that won't go away
Eczema
Fibrocystic breasts
Hypertension
Kidney problems
Headaches
Bad breath
Constipation
Sensitivity to environment
Digestive problems
Leaky gut
Joint pain
Hives
The list goes on and on and as you can see is extensive. Went the liver is overburdened with toxicity it cannot allocate it resources to all it's other important tasks as easily and the body begins to struggle. Things like liver flukes (a parasite_ are notorious with causing issues with the liver and bile ducts. Keep in mind that parasites, similar to a sponge, hold their weight in Lyme, glyphosate, metals, toxins, molds, and chemicals and this further stresses the liver.
Some of my favorite ways to support the liver:
Epsom Salt Bath: Taking a 20-40 min epsom salt bath allows the body to absorb the minerals through the skin, and these minerals then "draw out" toxins from the body.
Binders: Binders do exactly as their names implies and “Bind” to toxins throughout the body. In today's day and age I think everyone should be on a binder. It’s even more important for those chronically ill or those with Mold/Lyme. My favorites are Cellcore's binder and Supreme Nutrition Takesumi
Castor Oil Pack: Castor oil packs placed over the liver promote detoxification, improve nervous system function, improve liver health, increase bowel regularity and reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. My favorite is Queen of Thrones Castor oil pack. She makes the whole process so easy with her bundle that comes with premium castor oil and a nice lined cloth with bands to tie around your waist
Reduce Incoming Toxins: Reducing incoming is the best way to take control of what you can. Swap out personal care products, cleaning products and improve your indoor air with air filtration. All take a huge load off the liver.
Sauna: Sauna therapy is the most effective way to decrease your toxic load fast! Second to this would be a coffee enema (not on this list but another great tool). Certain toxins have an affinity for elimination through the skin. Considering our skin is our largest organ this makes it very effective. Sauna therapy improves liver health by decreasing toxicity. In addition it helps mitochondrial function, collagen production, imm-you-ne function and more. I use Therasage portable sauna. Great for those who don't want to invest in a large bulky and hard to transport sauna. Use Code: HOLISTICHB to save.
Beef Liver. Eat live to love your liver. Liver is one of the most nutrient dense foods. Because of this it supplies the liver all it needs to do it’s job well. Beef liver has the most bioavailable form of copper our bodies need. In addition it has vitamins A, D, E, K, B12 and folate, and minerals such as zinc and iron. The very nature of detoxification is hard work and requires the proper minerals and vitamins to do it’s job well. Perfect Supplements (use code HOLISTICHB) is by far my favorite well sourced brand. All my clients notice a big difference when they take this.
TUDCA: Tudca or Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid is a water soluble bile salt and has a detergent like effect with the bile acids in the liver. It has the ability to lower liver enzymes, improve liver function and bile production (packaging and shipping center for your toxins). I prefer the BodyBio brand. Available in my Fullscript for 25% off
Bitter Foods: Foods like dandelion, spinach, kale, collards, and cruciferous veggies along with milk thistle (often in supplemental form) are excellent for cleansing the liver.
Minerals: While minerals make up around 4% of total body weight they have numerous functions and play an important role in your body and liver health is one of them. In order for the liver to work well it requires minerals and enzymes. Copious amounts of chemicals + metals increase the amount of detoxification our liver needs and that very process of detoxification takes nutrients. Quinton Isotonic is the only brand I've used and noticed a significant benefit from. Available in my Fullscript account for 25% off
Increase Hydration: We’ve all heard the saying…the solution to pollution is dilution. Need I say more? Our bodies need more hydration with the proper minerals needed for adequate cellular hydration so this is where minerals added to water can really help.
Note: One thing that I'll add on top of this list is the need for routine parasite cleansing- something that was traditionally the norm in our culture but we have gotten away from. If you'd like to learn more about parasite cleansing and the importance of addressing it you can read so here.
The liver is a workhorse and the body's primary filtration system where it works hard to convert toxins into waste products, cleanses your blood, metabolizes compounds, and produces proteins and bile. When you implement the above suggestion you relieve the liver of the hard work of filtering toxins and allow it to do all the other important tasks assigned to it which results in balance, vitality, energy and the ability to thrive.
My clients have noticed marked improvement when supporting and detoxing the liver. It's made a drastic improvement in their energy levels, stamina, and digestion!
Let’s show it some love today! Which one of these do you do or want to do? Comment below.
Stefanie is a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, Bioenergetic Practitioner & Holistic Nutritionist who specializes in whole body detoxification, improving digestion, fatigue, autoimmunity, overcoming chronic illness, functional nutrition, Lyme Disease & mold illness and more.
She is available for one-on-one appointments to support you throughout your entire healing journey.
If you are interested in working with Stefanie reach out to learn more about how partnering with me can help you along your healing journey.
Want to learn more about my services and how I can help you? You can browse my website to learn more!
Together we thrive!