The holiday season has arrived!
It’s a busy time filled by celebrations with friends and family, eating loads and getting a little silly in general. Sometimes we are so busy that we can forget the effect we are having on one of our most important organs – the liver!
How to love your Liver
Milk Thistle
Milk Thistle or Silybum marianum, is an impressive herb that has been associated with liver function for thousands of years. Silymarin supports healthy liver function and antioxidant production. Silymarin exhibits its own antioxidant properties and has ability to stimulate the activity of the body’s natural antioxidants, such as glutathione peroxidase.
Food & Drink
We think it may be a little naïve to expect perfect behaviour from everyone when it comes to their food and drink decisions during the holidays. Luckily there are some foods to include in those choices that help support your liver naturally and deliciously!
- Turkey & Seafood - Protein-rich foods are one of the better food sources of N-Acetyl-Cysteine or NAC. NAC is one of the amino acids in glutathione – our master antioxidant.
- Cruciferous vegetables include the loveable broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, kale and (the not-as-popular) Brussels sprouts. They contain glycosinolates which influence phase 1 and phase 2 liver detoxification processes.
- Beetroot is a delicious high-antioxidant vegetable that is one of our main dietary sources of betaine. It acts as a methyl donor and helps support liver health, particularly if you have had a wine or two…
- Rosemary researchers have indicated that including rosemary in the diet could increase glutathione activity in the liver, as well as the detoxification pathways it is involved in.
- Water – staying hydrated is absolutely essential! It can help reduce the toll that alcohol places on the body. Alcohol is a diuretic, which can cause dehydration. Ensuring that you stay well hydrated is not necessarily going to improve your liver function, however you’ll feel a lot better come New Year’s Day!
