Sue Hardman

Nourish + Rejuvenate

Liver

Toxins – 5 Ways To Reduce Them In Your Home

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So you’ve heard about detoxing your body to eliminate internal toxins but what about your home?

The common household and body-care products we use are increasingly being found to have negative health effects on the nervous, immune, reproductive systems, endocrine, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

The average home contains 500-1,000 chemicals, many of which we are unable to see, smell or taste. Making your home healthier and greener doesn’t have to be expensive, or overwhelming.

Just a few changes can improve the health of your home and everyone in it.

Taking more care to reduce our exposure to external toxins, by detoxing our living space allows the body’s own detoxification to function more efficiently.

Strengthening your body’s resilience to the daily onslaught of toxins impacts your health.

Here are a few ways you can you cut down your exposure to these chemicals and other potential household risks.

Mistake ♯ 1. Plastic bottles, containers and wrap. Plastic releases chemicals that are hormone disruptors, according to many studies.

What to do instead: If you use a lot of bottled water consider this, they’re no good for the environment and bad for your health. Try replacing your plastic for glassware or heavy duty plastic water bottles which are designed to be safely used, again and again. Avoid putting hot or acidic food in plastic, and never microwave them.

Mistake ♯ 2. Even if you live in a place where drinking water is considered good the following contaminants are not usually removed – chlorine, E. coli, pesticides.

What to do instead: Filtered tap water is a better choice than tap water. Simply filtering your tap water can remove lots of these pollutants. A simple jug water filter system may be all you need for drinkable water. There are also filters that attach to a tap or to the plumbing system.

It’s a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach.” You’ll also cut down on waste in landfills by not buying – and then tossing – plastic bottles.

Mistake ♯ 3. Skip antibacterial soap, new research has also shown that triclosan, the main ingredient in antibacterial soap, has the potential to affect sex hormones and interfere with the nervous system.

Antibacterial products contain harsh chemicals like triclosan, which has been linked to liver toxicity and ends up in water sources.

What to do instead: Studies show washing your hands with plain soap is just as effective or try making your own antibacterial spray using tea tree and lavender essential oils they have powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Some researchers believe that the quest for hyper-cleanliness may have led to weakened immune systems, and possibly to more cases of asthma and allergies.

Mistake ♯ 4. Indoor air quality can be worse than outdoors, let your home “breathe.” Open your windows as often as you can, open your curtains and let in the sunlight, a natural antibacterial agent.

Plants that remove toxins in your homeWhat to do instead: Use natures air purifiers – plants.

While most plants take away oxygen at night, the snake plant (or Mother-In-Laws Tongue) gives off oxygen at night, it is extremely low maintenance, tolerant of irregular watering and less lighting, and has the potential to absorb airborne chemicals.

Mistake ♯ 5. Wearing outdoor shoes around your home, particularly relevant if you have a lot of carpets or small children crawling on the floor.

What to do instead: Leave your shoes at the door so that you’re not spreading outdoor pollutants and additional toxins throughout the house. Go barefoot or wear slippers. Place floor mats vertically by your entryways to wipe your shoes. This way more dirt and residue from your shoes stays on the mat. This is the easiest thing you can do, and costs you nothing.

Something else to consider: Is your body trying to tell you something? Do you often look & feel tired, have dark circles under your eyes, or wake up feeling sluggish?

Because Toxins are unavoidable, maybe your body needs a cleanse. So every once in a while it’s a good idea remove them with the structure and support of a fresh food detox!

 

If you’re struggling with any kind of hormone imbalance, tiredness, low energy or wanting to lose your excess weight. I’ve  put together a FREE guide for you, so you can start to learn how and why specific foods, and drinks, can help you have more energy and lose weight naturally. 

You’ll find it is easy to add these ingredients into your diet on a daily basis – get your downloadable guide here

In fact, at the end, I’m going to share one simple recipe you can make in under five minutes that incorporates all of these foods.

5foods-loss-weight

Get your copy of the FREE guide:
5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally.

HERE

This Love Your Body Detox Program will take you step-by-step through a simple detox that will make a huge difference in how you feel and look – in just 14 days!

Find out more HERE

 

 

Stress, Cortisol & Weight Gain

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Do You Need To Flip Off The Cortisol – Stress Switch?

Over the last 40 years rates of depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia have soared and the World Health Organisation is saying that these problems are the biggest threat to our health.

Stress releases cortisol in your body, and of course cortisol has both a positive and negative effect on your body.  We wouldn’t survive if it wasn’t for the positive effect of cortisol.Reduce stress

Cortisol is the main stress hormone that is made in your adrenal glands and it’s designed to get you out of danger, you feel the positive vibe of cortisol and adrenalin– releasing extra energy, getting you focused, it raises blood sugar (to feed muscles fight or flight), raises blood pressure, and modulates your immune function.

Unfortunately many of us live with chronic daily stresses and so live with constantly high cortisol levels and your body ceases to experience the positive aspects of cortisol and if these high levels are sustained this is when the problems start occurring.

Stress is triggered by a huge range of psychological factors and external events. We can become stressed by relationships, by work, by finances, and by our thoughts of what we think may or may not have happened.

Daily stress of any sort sends your bodies into the “fight or flight” mode, releasing adrenaline and cortisol.

Cortisol releases extra energy for us to deal efficiently with the physical effort involved in fighting or fleeing, but when that effort doesn’t come, the extra energy (in the form of glucose and fat) just gets re-deposited as fat – around the middle.

Why there?  It’s close to the liver where it can quickly be converted back into energy when needed.

A lean man or woman of normal weight can even have to much fat around the centre of their bodies as a result of the stress hormone – cortisol.

Fat cells in the belly have four times more cortisol receptors compared to fat cells elsewhere.

A study done by Nuffield Health found that women with thicker waists are at higher risk of various cancers as well as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

If you have a high level of stress then you will be particularly at risk of the dreaded muffin top and stress keeps feeding the muffin top as your cortisol stays high.How-To-Get-Rid-Of-Muffin-Top-In-2-Weeks

Increased abdominal fat, is associated with more health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body.

There’s another hormone that is released due to stress. High levels of blood sugar released by cortisol, trigger the pancreas to release the hormone insulin.

This tells your body to store fat and triggers a craving for something sweet and fatty like chocolate.  So rest assured that it is
not just weakness that draws you towards the fridge – it’s physical urge.

Abdominal fat cells have many receptors for cortisol, if you’re very stressed and have high levels of cortisol, your abdominal fat cells will be calling out for it, encouraging your body to store more fat there, which explains why fat accumulates so readily in that part of the body.

For a start you can control your blood sugar roller coaster and this will help reduce the amount of stress hormones that are being released and helping you feel calmer in yourself.

High or Excessive cortisol levels can create a broad range of undesirable side effects:

Physical Signs

Emotional 
Signs

Additional

Signs

-Muscle weakness

-Chronic fatigue

-Obesity

–Digestive problems

-Excess belly fat

 – Nervousness
– Anxiety
– Depression
– Irritability
– Craving carbs
– Insomnia
– Difficulty falling asleep

= Emotional over-eaters

– Illness after completing a project
– Sick on vacation
– Mental preoccupation with a  stressful event

6 things you can do straight away to support yourself and balance your cortisol levels

Stress relieving food
1) Eat fresh, healthy food as close as possible to the original source. Loads of veggies. Avoid refined carbs and sugar.

2) Find out which supplements can support you –

Certain nutrients such as the B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and essential fatty acids can be extremely helpful if stress is a problem as they will help boost the functioning of your adrenal glands.

You should be getting these nutrients from your healthy diet but if you are under stress you might want to add in more B vitamins, found in nuts and whole grains, essential fats found in oily fish, nuts and seeds, and plenty of vitamin C found in vimages-15eggies & fruit.

When you’re stressed you use more vitamin C and magnesium than at any other time, and it is vital for keeping your immune system strong.  Women who are deficient in the antioxidant mineral selenium, also experience feelings of depression and anxiety.  Selenium if found in fish and shellfish, whole grains, avocados.

3) Use natures’ own plant medicine –  nervine and adaptogen herbs like Scuttelaria, Passiflora, Ginseng or Rhodiola.

4) Get your cortisol levels tested. Know your levels and measure – where are they to high or to low? These can easily be addressed with the proper support.

5) Exercise –  is good and changes the levels of hormones in the blood and it can elevate the mood, affecting brain chemicals. Find time to do simple exercise daily.

6) Deep, long  and restful sleep is essential for recharging your energy levels. A proper sleep relaxes both your body and the mind. It will improve your mood and give you the ability to deal with daily stress.

7) Spending time in fun, positive environments to boost your ‘feel good’ hormones – with your family and friends, spend some time close to nature.

8) You need to get out of the sympathetic mode (fight or flight and stress) and as often as you can into the parasympathetic mode (rest and digest i.e. calm, relaxed). Try breathing exercises, meditation, pilates, walking in nature, yoga and prayer. There are several scientific studies that provide solid information about the physical and psychological health benefits of meditation and prayer.

Stress and relaxation

Dr. Herbert Benson, a cardiovascular specialist at Harvard Medical School and a pioneer in the field of mind/ body medicine discovered what he calls “the relaxation response,” which occurs during periods of prayer and meditation. At such times, the body’s metabolism decreases, the heart rate slows, blood pressure goes down, and our breath becomes calmer and more regular.

The body responds with slower brain waves, and feelings of control, tranquil alertness and peace of mind. This is significant because Benson estimates that over half of all doctor visits in the U.S. are prompted by illnesses, like depression, high blood pressure, ulcers and migraine headaches, that are caused at least in part by elevated levels of stress and anxiety.

If you are still scratching your head, don’t let it discourage you!!! It can take time to learn and get in the swing of things.

 

If you’re struggling with any kind of hormone imbalance, tiredness, low energy or wanting to lose your excess weight. I’ve  put together a FREE guide for you, so you can start to learn how and why specific foods, and drinks, can help you have more energy and lose weight naturally. 

You’ll find it is easy to add these ingredients into your diet on a daily basis – get your downloadable guide here

In fact, at the end, I’m going to share one simple recipe you can make in under five minutes that incorporates all of these foods.

5foods-loss-weight

Get your copy of the FREE guide:
5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally.

HERE

Broccoli essential for hormones and your liver

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You’re Liver Will Love You If You Eat More Broccoli (and Brassicas)

What’s it with this tradition of having Brussels sprouts ( same family as broccoli) at Christmas? Love them or hate them? It seems you can’t have a traditional Christmas dinner without them, at least in many parts of the world.

There is a reason that they are a great addition to a meal – read on!

So if you’re not partial to Brussel sprouts, include other members of the Brassica family – broccoli, kale, cauliflower, rocket and cabbage (basically means cabbage) family.

So, why eat brassicas anyway?
Brassicas contain good substances (I3Cs – indole-3-carbinols, DIM and glucosinolates) which help boost the liver’s ability to eliminate and deal with unwanted toxins that we consume – including alcohol and chemicals. Even unwanted hormones!

Liver support
Your liver is your waste disposal unit – it works hard to process and metabolise toxins and hormones, thereby making them safe to be eliminated. The liver needs good quality fuel in the form of nutrients to work efficiently.

Brassicas are nearly unrivaled as a food source for activating glutathione (the mother of all antioxidants) and supporting detoxification of many chemical substances through your liver.  Also, be sure to also include plenty of antioxidants from brightly coloured, fruit and vegetables with the brassicas.

What’s The Role of Brassicas in Hormone Balance
For women the reason these veggies are so vital is that they can help do amazing things in for your body. They actually help promote healthy levels of ‘good’ oestrogens and help remove ‘bad’ oestrogens from the body.

It’s the livers critical role to keeping your hormones in balance, by eliminating the excess oestrogens. The liver uses the I3C’s and diindolylmethane (DIM) in this process.

The wrong kind of oestrogen could be the reason you’re having problems like migraines, food cravings, PMS, infertility, heavy periods, fibroids, endometriosis and other issues related to the female reproductive system.

Nutrient Rich
The brassicas are powerhouses of nutrients including vitamin C, vitamin K, all the B vitamins and carotenoids. Those in the know will say that one could hardly consume enough of these veg in one day to reap all the health benefits, with evidence in both cancer research and liver detoxification.

Brassicas are also very beneficial for the immune, digestive and cardiovascular systems due to their high volume of fibre.

Anti-ageing and Metabolism Boost [Hot off the press]
Scientists have discovered a natural compound NMN found in broccoli, cabbage (edamame, avocado, and cucumber) that has “fantastic anti-ageing effects in mice” – and  that could work on humans. (They’ve now started trialing this with humans)

So far, they’ve seen numerous positive effects on mice – their level of physical activity increased, bone density and muscles improved, the immune system and liver performed better, their eyesight improved and they even lost weight.

As animals get older, they produce less NAD which is involved in energy production in the body. They gave mice NMN to see if this would boost levels of NAD and have a rejuvenating effect.

Asked if this worked, lead researcher Professor Shin-ichiro Imai, of Washington University in St Louis, said: “The answer is basically yes. As a matter of fact, NMN has remarkable anti-ageing effects in mice.”

So watch this space and all the more reason to keep eating broccoli!

Try this delicious Red Cabbage Salad Recipe
My suggestion is to have your fill of brassica veg this Christmas and support your liver. It might be working harder than usual.

A Word For If You Have Thyroid Issues

In the past those with thyroid issues may have been told that the goitrogens, found in the brassicas, can do their body more harm than good.

A recent assessment published in Nutrition Review looked at the evidence and found – that the usual daily intake is far lower than what could ever negatively affect your thyroid.

This is especially true if you cook them, as it de-activates the goiterogen.
Many doctors, including the most renowned thyroid experts, would say that it’s nearly impossible to consume enough goitrogens to become a real problem. This is true unless the foods highest in this plant chemical ie. Russian/Siberian kale, some collards, and Brussels sprouts, turnips and rutabagas – are eaten daily, as a staple and in the presence of iodine deficiency.

In fact, you’d have to consume over one kilogram of un-cooked or raw vegetables every day for several months before you developed symptoms.

So, yes you can safely enjoy Brassica vegetables, which is good news for you as they really are associated with a wide range of health benefits.

Coconut Oil – Is It Good For You?

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Coconut Oil and Why It’s a Healthy Choice

South Pacific Islanders and Polynesian communities whose diets are high in fully saturated coconut oil,  were found to be healthy and trim, while heart disease was virtually non-existent. Obviously, coconut oil was benefiting the health of these islanders.

I sure you know by now that saturated fats are bad for your health and can lead to a host of negative consequences – like high cholesterol, obesity, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease. But not all saturated fats are the same!

Why Coconut Oil You May Ask? 

It improves heart health, balances your thyroid, boosts your metabolism, increases lean body mass and supports the immune system. It’s very beneficial for the skin coconut-oil-benefitsand has been found to have anti-aging and regenerative effects.

How does Coconut Oil Work in Your Body?

This is of a type oil rarely found in nature called lauric acid, a “miracle” compound because of its unique health promoting properties and it’s also nature’s richest source of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). These MCFA’s are small, easily digested and are immediately burned by your liver for energy – like carbohydrates, but without the blood sugar spike.


MCFA’s in coconut oil also boost your metabolism and help your body use fat for energy, as opposed to storing it, so it can actually help you become leaner.

Coconut oil has actually been shown to help optimise body weight, it boosts your metabolic rate to improve your energy, accelerates healing and improves your overall immune function and just to top it all – it’s incredibly good for your heart.

The truth is this: it is unsaturated fats that are primarily involved in heart disease and too much sugar and processed foods, not the naturally occurring saturated fats, as you have been led to believe.

How to use Coconut Oil in Your Kitchen
Personally, I mostly use only two oils in my food preparation.

The first, extra-virgin olive oil is the best monounsaturated fat and works best as a salad dressing. However, olive oil and other common vegetable oils such as corn, soy, safflower, sunflower and canola, are absolutely the worst oils to cook with because they oxidise with heat and form trans-fats, that are not good for your at all.

So when it comes to cooking, frying etc., I use mostly coconut oil because it’s the ONLY oil stable enough to withstand the heat of cooking.

So, do yourself a favor and cook with coconut oil.

You can substitute it in most recipes calling for oil; put it in your smoothie or protein powder drink.

A Healthy & Delicious Dessert Using Coconut Oil – even kids would eat

Heat the following together:-

1 TBSP of coconut oil,
1 TBSP coconut milk,coconut banana dessert
1 TBSP cacao or raw chocolate
1 TBSP half teaspoon of honey and

Pour the mixture and coat a frozen banana.

You can roll it in coconut flakes and ground macadamia then freeze for another 30 minutes. It makes a delicious frozen dessert!

Energy Boosting COCONUT POWER BALLS – perfect for when you’re on the go

 

Grain-free protein coconut snack

1/2 cup sunflower or nut butter
2 tablespoons raw honeyor stevia
2 tablespoons cocoa nibs
2 tablespoons shredded coconut
3/4 cup natural, unsweetened hemp/pea protein powder
1 teaspoon organic, alcohol-free vanilla
2 tablespoons hemp seeds

 

 

Mix sunflower seed or nut butter, protein powder, honey, and vanilla until smooth
Then add remainder of ingredients.

Form into 1-inch balls and place in an airtight container . Store in the fridge.

 

If you’re struggling with any kind of hormone imbalance, tiredness, low energy or wanting to lose your excess weight. I’ve  put together a FREE guide for you, so you can start to learn how and why specific foods, and drinks, can help you have more energy and lose weight naturally. 

You’ll find it is easy to add these ingredients into your diet on a daily basis – get your downloadable guide here

In fact, at the end, I’m going to share one simple recipe you can make in under five minutes that incorporates all of these foods.

5foods-loss-weight

Get your copy of the FREE guide:
5 Foods that will help boost Your Energy Levels and Lose Weight Naturally.

 

HERE

Are you allergic, hungover? Does your liver need more support?

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Tips to use to reduce the effects of alcohol.

If you’re one of those people that suffers a little after a drink or two, by following a few of these guidelines and supporting your liver you can reduce the effects of alcohol and make your recovery a lot quicker.

Avoiding alcohol is the obvious recommendation, however there are ways you can include preparation and prevention, especially when it's the holidays and the season for celebrating.

Maybe you're allergic, not hungover?

If you follow all these tips and your hangovers are still terrible then you might find that you’re allergic or sensitive to the yeast in beer, a certain type of grape or the sulphites in wine. 

It’s a good idea to consciously choose which alcohol suits you better and avoid the pain or using a process of elimination!!

Alcohol can cause the stomach lining to feel inflamed, and you can find out more about inflammation, it’s effects and how to mange it.

Before and during the event: -

Avoid drinking on an empty stomach. Plan ahead!! Always eat a meal before drinking to reduce the risk of inflammation from alcohol. 

  • You’ve probably heard this before …. water is essential, have a glass of water with each alcoholic drink it dilutes the alcohol, speeds up elimination and stops dehydration.
    • TOP TIP – take a teaspoon of glutamine in water before a night out to protect your gut it can really make a difference for some. Or you can try slippery elm powder, it’s a traditional herbal remedy that helps protect, soothe and heal inflamed mucous membranes, including those lining the throat, stomach and digestive tract. mix a teaspoon of slippery elm powder with yoghurt, or mash into a banana.  
    • Don’t mix your drinks make it a wine night or a spirit night. In general, the less colourants and additives you add to your drinks the better try and keep it clear i.e. white wine, vodka or gin. It is of course an individual thing so get to know your body and which one has least effect on you.

    • Take the herb Milk thistle it protects and detoxifies the liver. 

    • Take N-Acetyl-Cysteine NAC – is an amino acid that will increase glutathione (the master antioxidant) - helping your liver to break alcohol.  It's found in poultry, oats, dairy, garlic, onions and brussels sprouts, although higher amounts may be needed to provide optimal support following alcohol consumption.  Take 25 – 50mg daily throughout the festive season.  You can also take NAC in higher amounts 30 minutes before you have a drink to help reduce the toxic effects of alcohol.

    • Magnesium - an essential mineral, is easily depleted by alcohol.  It has anti-inflammatory effects thereby helping to reduce symptoms of a heartaches and hangovers.  Supplement daily with 25 – 50mg magnesium to keep sufficient levels.

    • B Vitamins - Alcohol depletes B vitamins, at the same time they're essential to help clear it from the body.  Supplement with a B complex.

    • When you get home: -
      • With a large glass of water – take another milk thistle, Vitamin C, B Complex and either fish oils or evening primrose oil.
      • Eat something to help replace nutrients like mixed fruit juice, smoothies, or a slice of toast with peanut butter.
      • Take a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a glass of water with some lemon juice. This helps to alkalise the acidity in your body caused by drinking, and fight symptoms of your hangover.

    Next Day:-

    • Replace lost electrolytes.  Keep coconut water handy, it rehydrates the body more effectively than water due to the electrolytes in it. Dehydration is one of the primary causes of headaches, especially hangover headaches.

    • Make your own Rehydration ‘morning after’ Drink - ½ lemon, pinch of salt, a teaspoon of honey to water helps replace the sodium and glycogen lost the night before. The likes of tea and coffee will just further dehydrate you. Squeeze in the juice of the lemon and add the salt and honey, with a splash of hot water from the kettle, and mix until the salt and honey are dissolved, top up with cold water and drink immediately.

    Breakfast Cures

    • Avoid the traditional fry up – the cooked fats are difficult to digest and hard on the liver, your body does not need additional work whilst it’s trying to heal itself. Rather, opt for a breakfast which contains foods that will help repair the damage.
    • Poached eggs on wholegrain toast, with onions and beans help support liver pathways, breakdown toxins and elimination. Egg yolks contain large amounts of cysteine, which breaks down acetaldehyde, one of the culprits behind a hangover
    • Porridge with chopped banana is a good hangover food as both contain crucial B vitamins which help reduce the stress your body is under. The banana will also help restore lost potassium.
    • Fruit Smoothie made up from natural yogurt, banana and berries is a great hangover cure because dairy is another good source of cysteine and works well paired with high vitamin C fruit. 
    • A freshly home-made juice containing apple, carrot and beet root with added ginger. Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are a rich source of natural antioxidants, providing your body with a much-needed antioxidant hit.

    Although exercise may be the last thing you want to do, however gentle exercise - like yoga or walking will help stimulate circulation, get your brain functioning and encourage the release of happy endorphins that tend to be low the morning after the night before, also known as the ‘alcohol blues’.

    If you don’t want to miss any future newsletters or blogs please sign up here

    Disclaimer: The advice in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a qualified, licensed professional, please consult your medical doctor if you have persistent symptoms.

     

    Milk thistle – the best liver loving herb!

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    Milk thistle is most often considered a weed, however it’s uses as a medicinal herb far exceed this.

    Although the use of  milk thistle goes back as far as Dioscorides who used it for snake bite (Mills and Bone, 2000 p. 554), the seeds have been used for centuries in mainland Europe in treating mostly liver disorders.

    The Eclectics in the U.S. also used it for the spleen, liver and kidneys and liver diseases in Pakistan and Bulgaria (Morgan, 2005 p.1). The plant is edible and the stalk and young leaves were often eaten as a salad.

    What is milk thistle good for?

    Milk thistle is an excellent antioxidant, has anti-inflammatory properties and is commonly used to detoxify the liver.Milk Thistle

    The active ingredient, silybum marianum is a flavonoid that when used as an extract or in supplement form has cell regenerating benefits. 

    Milk thistle is a true liver tonic and is a powerful detoxifier, and it boosts protective antioxidant levels in your liver cells.

    Milk thistle seeds are especially useful to detoxify and support your liver whenever you are exposed to chemicals in your drinking water or beauty products, alcohol, pesticides in your food, or prescription medications as it has been shown to decrease and even reverse damage to your liver.

    The liver performs many essential functions in your body including:

    – acting as a “blood purifier,” cleaning your blood continuously
    – detoxifying and removing harmful substances
    – it aids in hormone production
    – releases glucose giving your body energy
    – releases bile into your small intestine so fat can be absorbed from foods

    How does milk thistle protect your liver?

    It prevents tissue scarring and toxins from binding to the cells found in your liver membrane. It also stimulates protein synthesis in the liver, helping with the formation and growth of healthy new cells by inhibiting inflammatory chemicals in your liver (Thamsborg et al., 1996).

    When your liver is overwhelmed it can create various symptoms like PMS, irritability, skin itching, heat sensations, digestive problems, bitter taste in the mouth, fatigue, headaches (hangovers) and the tendency to react negatively to some drugs or herbs.

    So if your liver isn’t functioning properly you can see where all the problems can start!

    In European hospitals it has been used when someone has taken the death cap toadstool (Amanita phalloides), due to it’s ability to reverse toxic liver damage and protect against toxic liver agents.

    Milk thistle’s (Silymarin) also has numerous other benefits.

    1. It’s been is associated with decreasing the risk for cancer by boosting the immune system, fighting DNA damage and reversing tumor growth.

    2. Supports heart health and helps to lower cholesterol levels by reducing inflammation, cleaning your blood and preventing oxidative stress in the arteries.

    3. It has been reported through clinical studies that the antioxidants, can help control symptoms of diabetes by decreasing blood sugar levels in insulin-resistant patients.

    4. Helps to purify the body of metabolic waste, thereby regulating the function of the gallbladder, kidney and spleen.

    5. Studies show that phytochemicals, like those found in silymarin of milk thistle, are effective at inhibiting UV stress on the skin.

    6. The antioxidants help prevent free radical damage throughout the body and remove pollutants and waste from the blood and digestive tract, it can actually slow the aging process – on the surface of your skin and within your organs.

    Girl having lunchIn Summary
    Milk thistle is considered a true liver tonic as it is used for treating true liver conditions like hepatitis and cirrhosis.

    The antioxidants in milk thistle are known to protect the liver from toxins, including the effects of chemicals and alcohol.

    Not only has milk thistle (silybum marianum) been found to increase glutathione (a powerful antioxidant that is crucial for liver detoxification), it may reverse liver damage and help to regenerate liver cells by stimulating the growth of healthy new cells.

    Clinical applications of milk thistle include:-

    When clients need liver support I also like to combine milk thistle with other herbs like dandelion root, gotu kola or turmeric root to create a liver tonic which heals, repairs, detoxifies and gently stimulates the liver.

    Serious skin conditions, hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, ischemic injury, radiation toxicity, and viral hepatitis.

    Safety

    Very safe, occasional digestive upset. Use cautiously (consult your physician) if taking specific drugs which require adequate blood levels, such as cardiac glycosides or cyclosporine.

    DOSAGE:

    • Concentrated standardized silymarin capsules (70-210 mg): one to two pills, two to three times per day

    Something else to consider: Is your body trying to tell you something? Do you often look & feel tired, have dark circles under your eyes, or wake up feeling sluggish?

    Because Toxins are unavoidable, maybe your body needs a cleanse. So every once in a while it’s a good idea remove them with the structure and support of a fresh food detox!

    Want to receive more information like this and be the first to know about any programs that you may be interested be sure to sign up to my newsletter, you’ll also receive a free guide to help you on your journey to great health – SIGN UP HERE

    Disclaimer: The advice in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice from a qualified, licensed professional, please consult your medical doctor Consult a qualified herbalist  if you have persistent symptoms.

    If you don’t want to miss any future newsletters or blogs please sign up HERE