Pamper your liver

For the past few weeks I’ve been all wrapped up in liver cleansing ~ both figuratively and literally. The Rejuvenate Spring Cleanse kicked off on Monday and we have over 70 people around the globe collectively detoxing their livers, conquering their cravings and lightening their load for the increasingly warmer days. To be honest, I’m on week two of my own cleanse. I couldn’t help but continue after being reminded (on about day four) of just how good a spring cleanse feels! The fog of winter has lifted, my vision moving forward is more crisp, and I still get to delight in every bite I put in my mouth thanks to the talents of my TrulyFood seasonal cleanse co-creator Andrea Livingston.

And, you know what? It’s not too late for you to start cleansing too! We like to keep our cleanse support system ~ the message board ~ open for two weeks for latecomers to hop on board and for existing cleansers to extend their feel-good experience.

Why cleanse the liver?

Your liver is a powerhouse of activity. It’s the biggest organ in your body and has hundreds of functions. One key role is acting as the gatekeeper in your system, filtering all toxins and foreign substances, breaking them down, and excreting them. Some of those toxic substances are produced right within your body, like excess hormones and neurotransmitters, and many of those substances come from your environment, what you eat, what you breathe and even what you put on your skin. There are both voluntary and involuntary invaders that the liver encounters.

What exactly does the liver have to do with digestion?

When it comes to digestion, the liver creates enzymes and hormones that are critical for metabolism. In fact as soon as you take your first bite of food the liver is triggered to produce enzymes that will break that food down into smaller particles that can more easily move through your gastrointestinal tract and be absorbed into your bloodstream. Each macronutrient ~ carbohydrates, proteins and fats ~ requires different actions from the liver.

carbohydrate digestion & your liver:
Carbohydrates breakdown into glucose in the digestive tract. That glucose moves into your bloodstream where it’s used as your body’s primary source of energy. All blood then moves to the liver for filtration. Any excess glucose, not used for immediate energy, is stored as glycogen in the liver. The liver can then convert the glycogen (the storage form of glucose) back to glucose in times of need.

protein digestion & your liver:
Protein breakdown occurs in the stomach and the small intestine. The end products are amino acids and other byproducts that are converted into enzymes by the liver. These enzymes are responsible for the chemical transformation of the toxic byproducts that come from the breakdown of proteins and prepare them for elimination through the kidneys.

fat digestion & your liver:
The breakdown of your dietary fat depends on the bile created by your liver and stored in your gallbladder. The liver manages fat levels in the blood all day long. Dietary cholesterol and triglycerides are absorbed into the bloodstream and processed by the liver for delivery to the cells.

And natural detoxification and digestion are only some of the jobs of this multi-tasking organ! So it stands to reason that at least once a year you need to pamper your liver. Love it. Give it some extra attention. Say thank you liver for all that you do.

But your liver won’t appreciate a Hallmark card. What will most benefit your liver is a vacation. A vacation that includes time away from some of its workload and daily massages. The way I’ve been literally wrapped up in liver cleansing this past week or so has been with castor oil, washcloths and hot water bottles. These are called castor oil packs and they’re a great way to pamper your liver and boost its productivity.

The castor oil massaged on the skin can penetrate the skin to increase circulation, promote elimination and enhance the healing and rejuvenation of the cells beneath the skin. It’s remarkably effective, though a little sticky.

This week I invite you to give it a try. All you need is some castor oil, an old washcloth and a hot water bottle. It’s a perfect way to love your liver and yourself. You both deserve to get a little wrapped up too.

Eater’s Digest Homework:

Simple Castor Oil pack preparation

1. Put on an old t-shirt or tank top that you don’t care about.
2. Start to heat water for a heating pad.
3. Lift your shirt and locate the placement of your liver by hooking your fingertips under the bottom right rib on your ribcage.
4. Pour some castor oil (stick stuff!) into the palm of your hand and rub it directly on the skin at this location.
5. Drape an old washcloth (one you don’t care much about) or small towel over the oil.
6. Fill your water bottle with the hot water and lay that over the towel on your right side.
7. Pull your shirt down over the water bottle and lie down to relax.

This is best done before bed, while reading and in a restorative position.