There is a health/energy questionnaire included with your files and it would be a good idea to complete this early on and then at the end of the programme to monitor any changes.
This programme is about eating more WHOLE, CLEAN FOODS whilst removing those items that ROB the body of nutrients and STEAL our energy to break them down. This will enable the liver to function more effectively.
I´ve included an alkalising broth at the end of today´s post.
The liver is the second largest organ in the body, your skin being the largest. Did you know your liver is even larger than your brain?
Playing more than 500 roles in the body, its really important you feed yourself well and eat enough nutrients to support it. The liver can´t perform it’s jobs well if it’s not provided with the correct “fuel”.
The Liver Is your TOXIN Processing Factory – the Kidneys help remove the toxins.
Our body is designed to excrete toxins via skin, lungs, kidneys, digestive tract and the liver. They are all capable of performing the beautiful job of freeing us from these toxins – the challenge is when the load is higher than what they can handle.
Your liver serves as a sort of “weigh-station” for your blood – inspecting, separating, and processing the compounds floating around in your bloodstream.
Certain nutrients and compounds pass through while others are collected and processed into waste products.
To eliminate these toxins from the body, they have to be processed by the liver to become water-soluble. Our phase 1 detoxification pathway is the process of breaking down these fat-soluble toxins and Phase 2 makes them into water-soluble toxins for excretion (Phase 3)
In Phase One, the liver uses oxygen and enzymes to break up toxins from fat soluble compounds into water soluble ones so they can be more easily excreted from the body by the kidneys and the liver.
Most environmental toxins are fat-soluble to start with, and therefore difficult or impossible to eliminate without the liver’s help.
If your liver is not functioning optimally, then it may not be able to properly remove oestrogen at its normal rate. That means oestrogen can be poorly metabolised and can get reabsorbed in the body, leading to a hormonal imbalance.
Symptoms of hormone imbalance
Hormonal imbalances may occur when there is too much or too little of a hormone in the bloodstream. Hormonal imbalance can affect people with liver conditions, where symptoms can include a loss of libido, fatigue and mood symptoms.
Hormonal imbalances can be associated with symptoms related to:
- Weight – unexplained weight gain or weight loss
- Mood – irritability, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, fatigue
- Physical – unexplained or excessive sweating, changes in sensitivity to cold and heat
- Skin – dry skin or rashes
- Heart – changes in blood pressure or heart rate
- Bones – brittle or weak bones
- Digestion – bloating, changes in blood sugar concentration
- Sex – reduced sex drive
By focusing on clean, fibrous and whole foods, reducing alcohol and additional sugars, you will also be supporting hormone balance in the body.
To support Phase 1 and Phase 2 consider the following:
- Stimulate bile With a tasty salad – Incorporate a side salad with your evening meal: Rocket, Watercress, Endive, Chicory, Radicchio, Lemon, Celery, Apple Cider Vinegar
- Push out toxins With sulphur-rich food Chicken, Brazil nuts, Haddock, Sardines, Cod, Egg, Almonds, Onion, Cabbage, Garlic, Chickpeas, Leek, Beans, Peas.
- Increase Magnesium To aid relaxation Halibut, Almonds, Spinach, Oats, Black-eyed peas, Brown rice, Lentils, Avocado, Pinto beans.
- Increase Cysteine To support detox Egg yolk, Garlic, Onion, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Gluten Free oats, Sprouted lentils.
- Increase Methionine: Egg white, Whole egg, Sesame seeds, Brazil Nuts,, Pinto beans, Brown rice.
- Folate (B9): Egg yolk, Dried beans, Lentils, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Cabbage, Bok choy.
- B12: Chicken, Fish, Eggs, Rainbow trout, Salmon, Haddock
- B6: Tuna, Turkey, Sweet potato, Sunflower seeds, Spinach,
Alkalising Detox Broth for kidneys and Liver
¼ red cabbage & ¼ green cabbage • 8 Brussels sprouts • 4 asparagus spears • 1 parsnip • 1 courgette • 1 handful broccoli • 10 green beans • 2 sticks celery • 3 large carrots • 1 cup shiitake mushrooms • 3 bundles of bok choy • 1 handful fresh parsley and coriander • 1 leek • 2 small white onions • 1 large piece of ginger • 3 cloves garlic • 1 bay leaf • Pinch celtic sea salt and black pepper • 12 cups of water (add more if required)
Chop ingredients finely and place into a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer for one hour with the lid on. Allow to cool for 30 minutes. Strain the vegetables out and pour the liquid into a large container. Place the vegetables in an airtight container and freeze for later use.
