The Liver
The human body is a marvelous contraption. It is perfectly created, an ecosystem of its own, prepared to maintain a level of homeostasis that keeps us alive and well-- even when we aren’t being helpful with this process. Many of us know all too well the temptation of a margarita.. or three.. at our favorite restaurant. Sometimes it’s easier to handle a pint of ice cream than the overwhelming feelings we’ve been holding back in the face of a devastating break-up. And sometimes, through no fault of our own, we come into contact with toxins that our bodies simply cannot handle, without a little help. In today’s world we are constantly bombarded by more and more chemicals each day, and many of these consist of unknown ingredients that have equally unknown effects on the body. We know that they are bad, and we also know that we can’t do anything to stop their production on a large scale. What we can do, however, is to provide our bodies with the support needed to flush out all the extra toxins we receive on a daily basis. And much of that process begins with a simple understanding of how we can do it.
Meet the liver. It is a commonly known, yet misunderstood and under-appreciated organ in the human body. While we are all familiar with the intestines, the lungs, maybe even the pancreas (and this might be a tell-tale sign of just how common diabetes has become in recent years), not many of us have a great understanding of all that the liver is responsible for. It is an absolute powerhouse in detoxification! Before food even reaches your intestines to be “digested” as we think of it, it must first undergo an intricate process of transformation that originates in the liver. The moment you eat something, your body has to comprehend exactly what has been consumed, so that it can be broken down appropriately and used in all the right places as fuel or energy storage. Your liver is responsible for storing a lot of these codes, in the form of enzymes. They sit in the membrane of the liver and wait to be released, in perfect sync with the foods you eat. If you eat one type of toxin found on the surface of unwashed food, for example, the liver will release the enzyme needed to protect your body from that specific toxin.
How does this protection take place? In a two-step process that we casually refer to as “Phase 1” and “Phase 2.” In Phase 1, we see the oxidation reaction take place, where the chemical structure of the toxin is changed completely. This is where the enzymes come into play! The toxin is broken down or converted into a water-soluble state (rather than a fat-soluble state), so that your body can either excrete the toxin as waste or send it along to the next phase. Phase 2 is a process we call a conjugation reaction, which basically means that something is added to the toxin in order to make it less toxic. It can then be expelled from the body in your sweat or urine, instead of floating around causing harm.
Phase 1 can be tricky, because oxidizing the toxins can also potentially make them MORE harmful than they were to begin with. Now that they have become water soluble, they can now permeate cell membranes of places where we don’t exactly want them to go! The oxidation process itself also produces a type of by-products that we refer to as “free radicals.” These are totally normal to have in the body, as a result of this metabolic process, but they are harmful because they cause illness, aging, and cell damage. We need to release these!
Again, we are reminded of how perfectly formed the human body is, because we thankfully have the ability to utilize certain foods to neutralize these dangers! Nature lovingly provides us with foods that are high in antioxidants, which are exactly what the body needs to combat the production of free radicals. Coincidentally, many of these foods are also rich in specific vitamins and nutrients that help maintain an alkaline environment, which lowers the risk of cancer, and also helps to restore the levels of antioxidants in the body, thereby creating a happy domino effect of health and well-being that allows your liver (and the rest of your organs) to thrive.
There are many important nutrients that aid the liver in detoxification, the most important of these being glutathione (a powerful antioxidant that is absolutely crucial, particularly for phase 2 processes), carotenoids and flavonoids (which help neutralize free radicals and are found in yellow, red, and purple fruits), vitamins C and E, and selenium (found in Brazil nuts, and helps to recycle the ever-important glutathione), and many of the “-ine” nutrients which are found in eggs and non-GMO soy, as well as in cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts and cauliflower. By eating a varied diet that includes many fruits and vegetables, you are helping your body maintain a level of antioxidants that will effectively fight free radicals and help the liver in its detox process simultaneously.
It is possible to have discrepancies in how your liver detoxifies your body, meaning that your Phase 1 processes might be running at an overactive or underactive rate. If you have an underactive Phase 1, you might find that you are sensitive to smells and to the effects of caffeine. This could be genetic, or it could be from long term exposure to toxins. This puts you at increased risk for liver disease or liver impairment. You would highly benefit from frequent liver cleanses and utilizing liver enhancing supplements, and you might find that the spice cardamom can be added into your diet, to help you detox your body from the effects of the caffeine so that you aren’t quite as overwhelmed by it. If you have an overactive Phase 1, you have probably been excessively exposed to toxic chemicals like pesticides. Mercury, heavy metals, prescription medicines including antidepressants, high levels of saturated fats or omega 6 fatty acids, even exposure to paint fumes and exhaust fumes can all play a role in this build up of toxins. The important liver enzymes needed for detoxification can be functioning on a higher level due to this chemical disruption. Anything that has been exposed to pesticides-- dairy products of all kinds, and meat that is not organic-- can be stored in the fat cells in your body and become stuck. Your liver is constantly trying to remove these toxins, resulting in a higher level of free radicals being produced. This causes faster aging in the body, even at a cellular level. You would definitely benefit from coffee enemas to help your liver have less work to do, and it would be wise to try to limit your toxin exposure as much as possible.
Even with a “normally” functioning liver, it is still beneficial to limit your exposure to toxins, as this is our first round of protection in this war between our bodies and the environment. Think of it as a preemptive strike-- the less chemicals you ingest or come into contact with, the less toxins your liver will have to neutralize, the less free radicals produced, and the less stress on your organs to expel these wastes and use more of your precious energy. You can see that eating a well balanced, moderately varied diet that is rich in vitamins and nutrients is your second round of protection. The good news is, fruits and vegetables offer all of these things in abundance! Simply by trusting nature to provide your miraculous body with all of the things it needs to thrive, you are staying one step ahead and actively taking a role in protecting your health and wellbeing. Now that you understand how simple it can be to love your liver and support your body, you can be well on your way to a healthier and more comfortable life.
