The Liver’s Role in Gut Health
If you are like me, you want to know exactly what’s going on in your body especially when you digest food. After all, strong digestion is the cornerstone of good health.
The liver plays a crucial role in supporting the digestive process. It is in constant communication with the other digestive organs, such as the stomach, gallbladder, pancreas and small intestine. It regulates the production and flow of bile to help break down fats into fatty acids so that the body can absorb them, and carry wastes out of the liver that cannot enter the kidneys. It sends the bile to the small intestine which is responsible in breaking down foods into nutrients the body can use. Bile is critical because it informs the colour, consistency and formation of bowel movements.
The liver also purifies the blood and regulates glucose metabolism, amino acid production, utilisation of heomoglobin, clearing of drugs and other toxic substances, and production of cholesterol.
It’s vital to keep your liver clean and functioning well, otherwise it puts pressure on the kidneys and blood, which affects all aspects of your body. The blood is responsible for transporting nutrients into the cells of every tissue of the body. According to Ayurveda the body has seven tissues (known as dhatus) which are lymph/plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, bone marrow and reproductive. You can see how a poorly functioning liver will result in malnourished or toxic tissues when you look at it from this perspective!
If the liver is not functioning well, it puts pressure on its surrounding organs of digestion. So if you suffer from any sort of indigestion such as heartburn, acid reflux, gas, bloating, constipation, frequent loose stools, varied bowel movements, or food intolerances, then it’s worth considering the health of your liver.
TIPS TO SUPPORT LIVER FUNCTIONING:
Eat more whole foods and less processed foods
Consume a wide variety of vegetables, including dark leafy greens and root vegetables such as beetroot
Avoid rancid seed oils and transfatty acids found in highly processed foods
Cook with ghee, coconut oil, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and grass-fed butter
Eat soluble fibre such as oats and flaxseeds to soothe the stomach mucosa
Drink herbal teas such as nettle, milk thistle, hibiscus and dandelion
Move your body! Yoga is my favourite form of exercise because it strengthens and stretches the body whilst activating the parasympathetic nervous system.
You can read more about my Ayurvedic Seasonal Cleanse program which is designed to support and reset your liver functioning here: SEASONAL CLEANSE PROGRAM.