Your Liver: Fat Burning & Overall Health

REPOST FROM BUTTERNUTRITION:
http://butternutrition.com/the-liver-your-most-important-fat-burning-organ/

Proper liver function is critical for a healthy body. The liver performs over 400 functions, but the most important job being to filter toxins and waste from the blood. After the liver filters the blood, it transforms the toxins into substances to be excreted out of the body via the kidneys (urine) or dumps them in the bile duct to flow into the digestive system and out the body in feces (in a healthy liver with good bile flow).

If our liver does not have the nutrients to do its job of filtering the blood, and transforming toxins into safe substances to send out of the body, it gets backed up and sluggish. Toxins are NOT able to leave the body, and are stored in adipose tissue (fat tissue) where they will stay until liver function improves, and they can be released safely! Another common problem is sluggish/stagnant bile flow. The liver dumps toxins into the bile (bile duct is a river for toxins to move out of the body) and when it gets too thick, the toxic matter can’t flow out of the body quick enough (leading to fatigue, low energy, constipation, PMS, toxicity & disease)!

So how is your liver functioning supporting your body’s fat burning abilities? If you suffer from any of the following, your liver & gallbladder might be trying to tell you something!

• History of alcohol/drug use or hepatitis
• Long term prescription drug use
• Sensitive to chemicals (tobacco smoke, fumes, perfume, cleaning agents, etc.)
• Pain between the shoulder blades
• Stomach upset by greasy foods
• Greasy or shiny stools
• History of nausea, motion sickness, or morning sickness
• Light or pale colored stools
• Headache over the eyes
• Gallbladder attacks
• Bitter taste in the mouth (especially after meals)
• Become sick or easily intoxicated if drinking wine
• Easily hung over
• Pain under right side of rib cage
• Hemorrhoids or varicose veins
• NutraSweet (aspartame) consumption
• Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
  ***Most often liver stress is a result of a protein deficiency, poor digestion, low nutrient diet, that allows an increased toxic burden to build up.

Fat burning is not a priority for a liver under stress. Strengthen your liver to support your body’s fat burning abilities through proper nutrition of whole, unprocessed foods! 

ANOTHER OPTION TO HELP: The 3 Day Refresh

References:
Liver Clipart: Altered and used with permission from Microsoft.
Weatherby,  Dicken. “Liver and Gallbladder.” Signs and Symptoms Analysis from a Functional Perspective. Nutritional Therapy Association, 2004. Print.