We often take for granted that our bodies will continue to function regardless of what we put into them. It's easy to fall into the trap of justifying a poor quality meal by spending a little more time in the gym or by starting a new diet, etc. We've all been there. Let's face it, sometimes we need to indulge a little...this doesn't mean daily though! :) It is important that we build a nutritional foundation of nutrient dense whole foods that can support our bodies and its many daily functions. In addition, there are ways that you can support specific organs and pathways in your body through the use of certain foods. Today I'd like to discuss a few ways you can support your liver and gallbladder naturally.
The liver is one of the most dynamic organs in your body. It is responsible for over 500 different functions including participating in energy metabolism, cholesterol production, and detoxification. In optimal conditions, the liver is able to plug along and meet the demands of the body. However, this is not typically the case for most of us. Because we tend to live in that stressed (sympathetic) state, this puts an extra load on the liver and disrupts it ability to filter, breakdown, and recycle the increase wastes floating around the body. Next, layer on a poor diet loaded with inadequate nutrients and toxins from pesticides & other petrochemicals...and on top of THAT, continue to layer on the toxins from our skin products, air pollutions, medications, synthetic additives in food...the list goes on. The poor liver is forced to prioritize functions for survival and will put other functions (the ones that wont kill you today but can accumulate into very serious situations over time) for another less stressful day. This whole cycle contributes to a less than optimal functioning liver and the liver's neighbor & (bile) storage center, the gallbladder.
One of the ways the liver removes toxins from the body is through the production of bile. The liver uses good quality fats and other nutrients in order to produce bile. The bile serves several purposes including the removal of wastes and toxic materials, and it emulsifies fats that are digested from food. After the liver produces bile, it is stored inside the bladder of the gallbladder so that it may be released 'on-demand' as needed during the digestive process. There is one caveat to the gallbladder's function - if you consume a low-fat or no-fat diet, your gallbladder will not properly release bile in necessary amounts! This results in your body's inability to properly digest and absorb fats...Take that full circle and if your body can't digest fats, your body wont have the building blocks needed for healthy bile production (and hundreds of other precious body functions). All the while, the bile that is in the gallbladder, becomes viscous and can form stones. This can cause a lot of pain in many people and sometimes results in having their gallbladders completely removed! Without a gallbladder, you body will not be able to release sufficient bile on demand and the whole cycle is disrupted.
So what can you do to break the cycle? Here are a few strategies:
1. Always start with a NUTRIENT DENSE, whole foods diet. Eating a variety of high quality fats, vegetables and meats will provide you body with the building blocks it needs for every bodily function.
2. AVOID trans, hydrogenated, and partially hydrogenated fats. These poor quality fats wreck havoc on the body. In addition, these poor quality fats can result in poor quality bile production.
3. HYDRATE. Supply your body with clean pure water. Aim for half your body weight in ounces per day. Even consider adding a little sea salt or trace minerals for better absorption. Your body is over 60% water and requires daily intake in order to flush our toxins and perform many metabolic functions.
4. EAT FAT!! Consume healthy fats daily in order to 'exercise' your gallbladder. Try adding a little avocado, pastured eggs, ghee, or coconut daily. Restricting or eliminating fats from your diet will result in poor bile production and can lead to painful gallstones!
5. Add a few organ supporting TONICS like Beet Kvass and water w/lemon. Beet Kvass is a fermented beet juice that helps to thin the bile and breakup stones. This tonic can be prepared at home and taken daily in the morning and night. Water with lemon first thing in the morning will also support liver function and detoxification.
I personally love beet kvass! It is a simple and easy way to support the liver and gallbladder at home. Please find a recipe below from Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions
Beet Kvass
3 medium or 3 large organic beets, peeled and chopped up coarsely (do not shred)
1/4 cup whey
1 tablespoon sea salt
filtered water
Place the beets, whey and sale in a 2 quart glass jar. Add filtered water to fill the container. Stir well and cover securely. Keep at room temperature for 2 days before transferring to the refrigerator.
Start by consuming 1 oz once a day. Increase to 2 oz twice a day.
When most of the liquid has been consumed, you may fill up the container with water and keep at room temperature another 2 days. The resulting brew will be slightly less strong than the first. After the second brew, discard the beets and start again.
Do you have any liver supporting tips strategies that you use??
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