Support for Dry January
As the holidays come to an end, many of us (me included) feel like we could use a little Rest and Repair ecpecially when it comes to our Liver and Gut. I fully enjoyed myself from October-December….good food, good wine and good friends. No regrets! Since all good things must come to an end (as they say), Dry January (and beyond) feels like a very good idea. Here are some tips on how to support yourself, your liver and your gut health during this transition.
Our Liver is the epitome of a multitasker. It filters and clears metabolic waste and environmental toxins from everything that enters our bodies. It makes bile which helps us to digest fats, It synthesizes, stores and manages glucose, proteins, fats and vitamins AND it makes Cholesterol which is used in making hormones (hello hormone balance!). So it’s pretty clear that keeping our Liver (and Gut) healthy is critical to living and aging well. Drinking alcohol for extended periods of time does real number on the Liver and our Gut…I know there’s a lot of information out there about what that looks like, but the best and most “sobering” delivery of facts is this podcast from Andrew Hubberman.
Supplement and LifeStyle Suggestions:
NAC - Precursor to Glutathione, a powerful antioxidant for the Liver.
Milk Thistle - Another powerful antioxidant for the liver and promotes the growth of liver cells.
Dandelion Root - Supports Liver/gut health (bitter) and aids in detoxification
Artichoke Leaf - Supports liver health, aids in liver detox and is also a bitter.
Turmeric - Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and liver/gut supporter
L-Glutamine - To repair gut lining
I like these: Pure Encapsulations Liver Formula & GI Fortify (take as directed) and Roasted Dandelion Root Tea 2x/day (Traditional Medicinals)
Food/Nutrition/Lifestyle Suggestions:
Warm & Spicy Foods to stoke the digestive fire: Ginger, garlic, cayenne, CCF tea, ferments
Bitter Foods to stimulate bile: Leafy greens, bitter foods, bitters before eating. I like Urban Moonshine Healthy Liver or Original Bitters.
Bone broths, marshmallow root or Licorice root* in tea to help repair mucosal lining in gut. I like Throat Coat tea (Traditional Medicinals), Licorice Root tea(Traditional Medicinals)*
Cooked veg vs raw veg to stoke digestive fire.
Limit or exclude processed foods, stay hydrated, eat at least 30g fiber/day.
Detox: Sweat, pee, poop every day!
*Licorice Root is contraindicated in people with High Blood Pressure
In Traditional Chinese Medicine they say the Liver is associated with Springtime and new growth, creativity, abundance and clarity. In Western Herbalism a congested liver is known to cause skin issues like dry skin or acne, hormonal issues like PMS or painful periods and systemic inflammation like joint pain and more. All reasons to give your liver some lovin’! CHEERS to a happy, healthy liver as we head into 2024!