Love Your Liver This January!

Thankfully your liver is capable of amazing powers of regeneration, given the chance. Springtime (it’s only around the corner!) is traditionally a time to nurture your liver. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, as winter gives way to spring, your liver’s energy becomes dominant.

Why not try some of these liver-friendly strategies this month?

• Feed Your Liver

Your liver depends on a good supply of B vitamins, and vitamins C, D and E. Vitamin D is scarce in the winter months, so a supplement is advised. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, cabbage and cauliflower contain plant chemicals especially beneficial for your liver. Meanwhile, garlic, onions and turmeric can help your liver to detoxify unwanted substances.

• Go Organic

Switch to organic. This means you’ll be avoiding artificial pesticides and herbicides which all add to your liver’s workload. If you can’t afford to go completely organic, remember certain fruits and vegetables tend to concentrate chemicals more readily than others. These include strawberries, spinach, kale, apples, grapes and peppers.

• Say No to Sugar

Eating foods high in sugar and refined carbohydrates switches on fat production in your liver, contributing to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. According to the British Liver Trust, this condition may affect up to one in five people in the UK.

Fructose is a particularly problematic sugar for your liver to process. Although it forms a natural part of the sugar in fruits, it’s often extracted from corn starch, concentrated and used to sweeten fizzy drinks in the form of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). This is harmful to your liver and can trigger fatty liver disease ¹. Watch out for this ingredient on labels, as it’s found in foods you might not expect. As well as fizzy drinks, biscuits, cakes and pastries, it’s added to some tomato ketchup, salad dressings and BBQ sauces.

• Enjoy Healthy Fats

Eat sources of liver-friendly healthy fats like avocados, oily fish, seeds and nuts, grass-fed butter and coconut oil.

• Avoid Processed Foods

Processed and convenience foods, as well as takeaways, contain a whole array of additives your liver needs to deal with, contributing to its already overloaded work schedule.

• Go Easy on the Alcohol

For many people, alcohol is the number one substance the liver needs to process. Why not give it a proper rest this month by saying no to alcohol? Even as little as three alcohol-free days per week will be appreciated by your liver.

• Pay Attention to Your Environment

Any chemical coming into contact with your skin or breathed into your lungs must be eventually processed by your liver. Reduce its workload by opting for natural household cleaners and personal care products.

• Herbal Help for Your Liver

Milk thistle, artichoke and dandelion are all herbs traditionally used to support and protect the liver. Your practitioner can advise the most suitable combination for you.