Good morning and welcome to the programme.
There is a health/energy questionnaire included and it would be a good idea to complete this early on and then at the end of the programme to monitor any changes.
Remember this programme isn´t about eating LESS, but more about eating in a CLEANER and more ANTI-INFLAMMATORY way.
This will enable the liver to function more effectively.
What Exactly Does the Liver Do AND how does this relate to hormone imbalance?
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 many crucial roles in the body, the liver is responsible for:
- Filtering the blood coming from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body
- Breaking down hormones once they have been used by the body
- Metabolising drugs
- Producing proteins important for blood clotting and other functions
- Processing food nutrients.
Its really important you feed yourself well and eat enough nutrients to support the detoxification. The liver requires a variety of nutrients for this process. It can´t perform it’s jobs well if it’s not provided with the correct “fuel”.
Effective detoxification for human health hinges on the availability of specific nutrients:
- Antioxidants: Nutrients like vitamins C and E, along with minerals such as selenium, act as powerful antioxidants. They shield cells from oxidative damage—a critical function, as oxidative stress can compromise biotransformation/detox and give rise to harmful reactive molecules.
- B Vitamins: B vitamins, including B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), and folic acid (folate), function as indispensable cofactors in various detoxification reactions. They participate in processes like methylation(one detox pathway) and the conversion of homocysteine to methionine.
- Amino Acids: Amino acids, particularly cysteine and glycine, are fundamental in the synthesis of glutathione—a pivotal antioxidant and detoxifying molecule in the body.
- Phytonutrients: Found in fruits, vegetables, and herbs, phytonutrients like flavonoids, polyphenols, and glucosinolates enhance detoxification by promoting the activity of enzymes integral to detoxification.
- Minerals: Essential minerals such as magnesium and zinc act as cofactors for enzymes involved in diverse biotransformation pathways.
- Phospholipids: Nutrients like phosphatidylcholine and choline are crucial components of cell membranes and lipoproteins. They play pivotal roles in the transport and metabolism of lipids (fats) and toxins.
- Sulphur-Containing Compounds: Sulphur-containing amino acids like cysteine and methionine are indispensable for glutathione synthesis—an antioxidant and detoxifier of paramount importance.
For easy to add sulphur compounds to any meal, you can use microgreens. Broccoli greens/sprouts are particularly rich in this nutrient. Simply throw onto any salad, soup, meal, even hummus and crackers.
Watch the presentation with Elsa for more tips on microgreens.
- Detoxifying Enzymes: Nutrients like quercetin and curcumin have the potential to bolster the activity of detoxifying enzymes, particularly in the liver.
- Fibre: Dietary fibres, or non digestible carbohydrates, may support the body’s main detoxification organs, the liver and kidneys. The concept has given rise to terms such as the gut-liver axis and the gut-kidney axis. First, dietary fibre promotes healthy bowel movements and intestinal motility, thereby aiding in eliminating toxins from the body. Second, fibre may support detoxification through its systemic benefits in supporting healthy microbial environments, gut barrier function, healthy inflammatory and immune responses, and by potentially activating detoxifying enzymes in the liver, such as cytochrome P450 enzymes in phase I detoxification
If you are including good protein sources and plenty of vegetables and healthy fats, this will help with the inclusion of the nutrients mentioned.
How does the liver relate to hormone imbalance?
One of the liver’s roles is to help regulate the balance of sex hormones, thyroid hormones, cortisone and other adrenal hormones. The liver transforms or removes any excess hormones from the body.
Like all organs, your liver health can be impacted by a range of factors. Drinking too much, certain medications or diseases, infections, accumulation of fat in the liver and genetic factors can contribute to liver problems.
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
