A Guide To Liver Care

Nimbus Wellness

November 16, 2022

BY PHOEBE ACKLAND

In traditional naturopathic medicine, it is deemed that you could judge the health of the whole body by assessing the state of one’s liver. Our liver performs many vital functions within the

body;

Bile production to assist with fat digestion
Processing and clearing hormones, medications and pharmaceutical drugs
Storing and releasing glucose
Cholesterol production
Enzyme activation
And a lot more.

An Alternative to Coffee

Oh coffee, coffee, coffee. Our friend, but also often our foe. Many of us live for coffee, but at the same time, many also don’t realise the impacts it’s having on your health. There are lots of alternatives now on the market, be it decaffinated or otherwise. A dandelion root coffee (or tea) has a deep, earthy flavour that can either be drunk black or mixed with your favourite warmed nut milk - so it’s not a major shift when you go to change. Bonvit is a great product to help with this transition. Dandelion root, or Taraxacum officinale radix, as it is sometimes referred to by us naturopaths, has excellent research supporting its benefits to the liver.

8 easy swaps

Use glass storage containers in the fridge rather than plastic Tupperware. Take them with you to cafes and restaurants if you’re getting takeaway.
Opt for Beeswax wraps rather than glad wrap. • Avoid microwaving in plastic.
Use a keep cup. Plastic coffee cups, aside from their environmental impact, are a melting pot of plastic and chemicals that are dripping straight into your beverage. Try loose leaf tea to avoid the microplastics in tea bags that disperse into the hot water you

are sipping.

Drink pure, filtered water. There are some incredible home filtration systems out there, but even just a simple standalone water jug with an inbuilt filter will reduce your chemical

exposure.

Carry a glass water bottle with you wherever you go to avoid needing to buy plastic bottled

water.

It can be a daunting prospect when considering going organic with skincare and makeup. My advice is as each of your current products run out, make a conscious choice to replace them with a natural brand.
Swap your household cleaning products for low-tox brands.
Avoid air fresheners, rather try to burn incense or candles with essential oils over using

synthetic fragrances.

4 ways Bitters aid the body:

Stimulate the appetite.
Release digestive enzymes from the liver, gallbladder and intestines
Encourage blood flow to digestive organs.
Stimulate the liver to release bile and support the liver’s detoxification process. Bitters are best consumed 10-15 minutes prior to meals to prime digestion and get those juices flowing.

4 bitters to consume are;

Apple cider vinegar.
A small green salad of roquette, dandelion greens, radicchio and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Melon.
A liquid herbal bitter tonic from your naturopath that includes the likes of Gentian (the main ingredient in Angostura bitters), Wormwood and Andrographis dropped into a small glass of water.

Cruciferous Vegetables

This family of vegetables include broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, broccoli, bok choy, turnip, radish, watercress, cabbage, cauliflower and dandelion greens. Cruciferous vegetables induce both phase one and phase two liver detoxification enzymes, effectively helping the body to convert toxins into smaller substances - which are then able to be safely excreted out of the body.

Sweat it Out in an Infrared Sauna

Infrared saunas are thought to help unburden the liver. During an infrared sauna, we eliminate toxins through the skin which essentially takes the load off of our kidneys and liver. If you’ve had a big or indulgent weekend, your liver will undoubtedly be under the pump and a relaxing infrared sauna could help to share some of the workload. Visit any one of Nimbus’s locations in Bondi, Byron or Melbourne.

Fresh from the Garden

A trip to see your local naturopath can take your liver-loving to the next level. We have so many herbs in our toolkits that are specific for supporting the liver, for example: