Our Magnificent Livers

I read so many books about food. There aren't many times when I come across one with information that I don't already know. So, I picked up Anthony William's Liver Rescue book. Reading his 4 other books, I was fully expecting to hear the same advice. However, I was shocked. I didn't realize that many of my issues might be related to a liver that is struggling. Nor did I realize how important the liver is. In a nutshell, the liver has 5 main functions:

• Bile production and excretion

• Excretion of bilirubin, cholesterol, hormones, and drugs

• Metabolism of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates

• Storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals

• Blood detoxification and purification

When a liver isn't working the way it should, it cannot perform these functions. It can be any number of factors that creates a sick liver....being overweight, heavy metal toxicity, poor nutrition, etc. In the book, he gives a good example of how the standard american diet or even many popular diets of today like paleo and keto, can restrict the live's functioning:

Imagine that you shower and get ready for work and then someone dumps oil on you. You get cleaned up, go to work, and after getting there, someone dumps oil on you. You go home and clean up. This happens throughout the day and you cannot get what you need to get done because you are too busy cleaning up.

If your liver is busy, constantly, creating bile to break down fats, it doesn't have time to do it's other functions. If this was every once in a while, it wouldn't be a problem but this is almost consistent in the SAD as well as the increase of sugar. This way of eating causes the liver to produce 70% more glucose, which could boost blood sugar levels over time. Potentially, this could contribute to insulin sensitivity -- a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Beyond that, it has no time, then, to filter blood of the many environmental toxins you are met with on a daily basis. So, it acts like a sponge, absorbing everything (fats, toxins, etc.) and trying to protect your body from them. It's a recipe for disaster.

He gives the solution to get your liver back on track though, its called the Liver 3-6-9 Cleanse and I plan to do it. If you think you don't have a liver issue, think again. Psoriasis, inflammation, eczema, hormone imbalances, spider veins, dark undereye circles, weight issues, IBS, acne, and food sensitivities are just a few of the conditions pointing to a sluggish liver. I am a vegan who already doesn't eat gluten, dairy, or eggs so if I can have a liver issue, I guarantee most of you do to.

I plan on beginning the cleanse after Thanksgiving. I will be blogging about it as well and giving tips, tools, recipes and foods to work your way through it. If anyone has interest in joining me, please message me at jackieprana@outlook.com for a FREE pdf of the cleanse plan.