Ah, the liver. We’ve all got one, but have you ever given much thought to what it actually does?
There are so many reasons to love your liver – not only is it your largest internal organ, but it also hangs out with your stomach to convert what you eat into nutrients and clean out any toxins you’ve ingested.
But, if you’re not careful, these everyday bad habits could be undoing all its hard work…
1. You don’t have a regular sleeping pattern.
Turns out, there’s some truth behind those bedtimes your parents set you! When you’re asleep your body goes through a detoxification process and your liver kicks into action. Not having a regular sleeping pattern not only throws out your circadian rhythm, but it confuses your liver function too.
What can you do?
Get your eight hours in. Set yourself an achievable bedtime and aim to be tucked up with time to spare so you can wind down from the day.
2. You skip brekkie.
The liver is essentially where your body stores its blood glucose supply. When you first wake up (and your blood glucose levels are low), your liver has to work overtime to make its own sugar to keep you going. If you skip brekkie however, you’re putting more strain on your liver than needed.
What can you do?
As soon as you get out of bed, have something to eat to get you going. If you’re not a morning person it doesn’t have to mean bacon and eggs – try something light to start with, or even prep brekkie the night before so you can get munching with ease.
3. You don’t go to the loo when you need too!
Holding in the need to wee can be more harmful than you think. Not only is it uncomfortable, but it backs up the detoxification process and puts extra strain on both your liver and your kidneys.
What can you do?
Use the loo! And in the night, don’t just roll over and go back to sleep. You don’t want to leave it to the last minute, do you?
4. You’re dehydrated.
Not drinking enough water directly affects liver function by preventing its ability to filter out toxins efficiently – increasing your risk of illness and disease. A lil’ water can go a long way.
What can you do?
Boost your water by adding herbs or some zing and have a bottle handy with you at all times. Try setting yourself a water goal like finishing two bottles before lunch rolls around. Your liver, skin and brain will thank you for it!
5. You’re a sugar addict.
Your liver is the only organ that can process sugar, so every little bit of the sweet stuff is backing up in there. If you’re bombarding your liver faster than it can metabolise it, the leftover sugars will be turned into fat which can lead to a whole range of illnesses.
What can you do?
To put it simply, cut back on the crap. The 8-Week Program is the only sugar quitting solution so check it out to show your liver some loving!
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