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Holistic Journey - You and Yours

Love Your Liver!

The liver is one of the most amazing organs in your body! It is the largest gland in the body and performs many vital functions. It is situated just below the diaphragm on the right-hand side of the body.

If you feel tired all the time, have headaches, mood swings, PMS, menopausal problems or a number of other health problems then the chances are that your liver is not as healthy as it should be.

Just a few of its essential functions are:

• The liver removes toxins from drugs, alcohol and harmful substances.
• The liver stores vitamins, glycogen, iron and fats.
• The liver produces heat, more than any other organ in our body and is known as the ‘body’s radiator’.
• The liver produces and secretes bile to aid digestion.
• The liver converts saturated fat into cholesterol, glycogen to glucose (& back again) and metabolises protein.

How to keep your liver strong and healthy:

• Limit toxins, such as drugs, alcohol and chemicals from entering your body.
• Cut down on sugary, processed foods and foods high in saturated fats.
• Get plenty of exercise as this helps the liver to contract and stay healthy.
• Eat plenty of liver strengthening foods such as apples, pears, broccoli, garlic, brown rice, barley, wholegrains.
• Drink plenty of good quality low sodium water; about 2 litres a day.
• Don’t overload your system by eating heavy meals or eating when stressed or rushing around.
• Give your liver some time off! Try a detox plan (you may want to speak to your G.P. first), or just make sure you leave a healthy gap between meals and don’t eat too late at night.

Holistic Journey recommends:

Liver Detox Plan
By Xandria Williams

Publisher: Vermilion
Category: Health
ISBN 0-09-181677-7