PART 1
When people want to slow down the aging process maintaining a healthy liver is not something they think about. Usually the heart, skin and brain come to mind first. It may come up in the news when someone famous, like Walter Payton dies of liver disease.
Respect Your Liver – Your liver is critical to how well you age. It is an amazing organ. Located in the upper right quadrant of the abdomen, the liver is the largest and most complex organ of the body. It is responsible for:
• Cleansing and filtering the blood stream.
• The production of bile, which is stored in the gallbladder. When released, bile aids in the digestion of fats while helping to rid the body of harmful substances.
• Producing other important chemical compounds such as albumin, blood clotting factors, cholesterol and vitamin E.
• Converting amino acids and lipids into glucose, a simple sugar. This requires a complex process catalyzed by a series of enzymes.
• Storing glucose in the form of glycogen, playing a critical role in maintaining normal blood sugar levels.
• Proper metabolism of proteins and fats.
• Metabolizing many medications, alcohol, and other ingested chemicals such as caffeine.
• The storage of vitamins A, B12, D, several of the other B vitamins, and minerals like copper and iron.
• Detoxifying the body from numerous substances like ammonia and metabolic wastes.
Over 500 chemical and metabolic functions take place in a healthy liver. It filters about 2 quarts of blood per minute making it the “garbage disposal” of the body. A healthy liver is involved in diet, metabolism, blood sugar control, digestion, detoxification and elimination. It is critically important to understand how the liver works and what you can do to support the liver properly. Your overall health and wellness, as well as how you age and fight disease, will be impacted by a healthy liver.
In Our Overly Medicated and Chemical World!
We live in an environment that has seen an increased use of chemicals and medication to process foods and treat symptoms. It is estimated that 80 percent of U.S. livestock and poultry receive some form of drugs/hormones/antibiotics during their lifetime. Pesticides, herbicides and other chemical storage methods are commonly used in food production. Add environmental toxins, chemical additives, certain processing and refining practices, coupled with substance abuse and you can see why today’s liver is under so much stress.
Additionally, the typical American diet creates an acidic environment. This acidic environment stresses a healthy liver, as well as other systems in the body. Is it any wonder why we are seeing so many people living lives compromised by degenerative diseases?
Part 2 will be continued in the May issue….
References:
1. http://www.aging-no-more.com/healthy-liver.html
2. http://maxenergy4ever.com
For more info, contact Tonja Park with Max GXL at (775) 848-8083.
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