Your liver is a primary producer of hormones, including IGF-1, or insulin-like growth factor 1. Growth hormone, produced by the pituitary gland, tells the liver to make IGF-1. Then, IGF-1 carries out growth-promoting actions as an extension of growth hormone, such as fat burning, muscle building, and protein synthesis. It also helps you use stored sugar and fat as energy for your body.
Plus, your liver processes steroid hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and vitamin D3 (which acts like a hormone in the body).
Another important hormone produced by your liver is cortisol, the primary anti-inflammatory hormone that helps your body deal with stress. Without enough cortisol, you will feel more stressed. Eighty percent of the cortisol circulating in your bloodstream is made from HDL cholesterol secreted by your liver.
Your liver needs to produce the correct amounts of HDL and LDL so that enough cholesterol can be delivered to the locations where it is needed to make steroid hormones and cell membranes. Every single cell in your body—and there are trillions of them—is lined on the outside with cholesterol.
If your diet is high in sugar, it will cause your liver to produce more LDL, which when oxidized, can lead to cholesterol buildup in your arteries. Research has shown that NAFLD is strongly associated with clogged arteries.
NutritionWhat is interesting is that people who take statins to lower cholesterol may end up not making hormones efficiently, and they may have all sorts of issues.
So these are just some of the 500 functions of your liver.
Now, before we get to the food, let’s go through the different symptoms that occur when you have damage to the liver.
Skin itchiness, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes), lethargy, swollen legs and abdomen, and achy joints are some common symptoms that may indicate liver issues.
Many people who experience stiffness and joint inflammation might be dealing with an underlying liver problem.
Nausea is another major symptom associated with liver dysfunction. And, a decline in cognitive function could also be linked to liver damage.
Gallstones are a likely indicator of liver problems because a deficiency of bile and an excess of cholesterol can cause them to form.
So, now let’s get into the best foods to cleanse and detox your liver.
At the top of the list is Number 8. “Cruciferous Vegetables”.
Cruciferous vegetables, such as kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, radish, arugula, and mustard greens, are incredibly beneficial for liver health.
HealthThese vegetables are rich in a natural phytonutrient called sulforaphane, which plays a vital role in boosting your liver’s detoxification enzymes and reducing inflammation.
Inflammation, can lead to insulin resistance, high insulin levels, diabetes, and even cancer. So, incorporating sulforaphane into your diet is essential for liver protection