Treat your liver well and it will treat you well in return. One of our body's largest organs, it's a workhorse, designed to keep the the blood cleansed of toxins and chemicals. The liver breaks down everything – good or bad – that enters your body through air, water, food, medications or supplements. It also breaks down your hormones, that may be in excess, helping to keep body chemistry in balance. Once the liver metabolizes these substances, it prepares them to be more easily utilized or excreted.

The fats, carbohydrates, and proteins you consume are metabolized by the liver for different functions in the body. After you eat carbohydrates, the liver helps maintain blood sugar balance. Fats are broken-down for the production of energy. Amino acids in protein foods are also broken down for energy, or to make more carbohydrates or fats, as the body needs. The liver also facilitates the storage of vitamins A, D, E, K and B12, as well as iron and copper.
Additionally, over half of the body's lymph fluid is produced in the liver. The lymphatic system is responsible for healthy immune function and acts as your body's internal janitor, collecting cellular waste products for elimination. These vital functions make the liver a major organ in metabolism and detoxification.

When the Liver Fails
Dysfunction of the liver can first manifest as symptoms in various body systems, including digestive, metabolic, and immune systems before the root cause is identified. A natural medicine practitioner will work with you to assess symptoms, run appropriate tests, and evaluate the overall functioning of your vital systems to determine the root cause. Here are three diseases and dysfunctions of the liver that can affect your health.

• Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a group of conditions affecting people who drink little to no alcohol but their liver cells store too much fat. This causes liver inflammation, which may progress to scarring and irreversible damage similar to the damage caused by heavy alcohol use. In the United States, it's the most common form of chronic liver disease, affecting an estimated 80 to 100 million people, typically 40 - 50 years old.
• Cirrhosis occurs when fibrous (scar) tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, often leading to cancer, destruction of liver cells and acute liver failure. It can be caused by toxins, alcohol abuse, and hepatitis.
• Hepatitis is commonly caused by viruses, but also by toxins or an autoimmune problem. Hepatitis causes inflammation in the liver, if not addressed, it will result in liver failure.

​Tips for a Healthy Liver

• Eat Whole Foods. The liver has a role in metabolising the major nutrients you take in through diet. A whole foods diet is your best prevention against stressing your liver with too much fat, sugar, or excessive protein. Choose healthy fats, whole grains, and organic sources of fish and meat while avoiding processed and packaged foods.
• Reduce Alcohol Intake. Over time, excess consumption of alcohol causes cirrhosis of the liver. The breakdown of alcohol produces chemicals, such as free radicals, that are toxic to the liver. General health guidelines suggest moderate use of alcohol -- one drink/day for women and two drinks/day for men.
• Don't Mix Drugs. Drug interactions can have serious health consequences. This includes mixing prescription medicine, street drugs, alcohol, herbal or other natural remedies.
• Airborne Chemical Exposure. When using strong or industrial cleaning, painting or gardening chemicals, ventilate the area or wear a mask.
• Protect Against Hepatitis. Viral Hepatitis A is contracted by eating or drinking contaminated water. Hepatitis B and C are spread through blood and body fluids. To cut your risk, don't share personal hygiene items, limit the number of sex partners you have, and always use latex condoms.

Breath in. Breath out. We do it automatically, about 22,000 times per day. Until we can't. For millions of adults and children, taking a deep breath is a struggle; for those who can breathe easily, the power of the breath is often taken for granted. Yet our lungs have a vulnerability not shared by other organs: Along with oxygen, breathing brings in airborne irritants, organisms, and toxins. As these substances increase in the environment, more people are dealing with poor lung and respiratory health.
An unhealthy respiratory system deprives our entire body of oxygen, a nutrient essential to the functioning of all our organs and tissues. A poorly functioning respiratory system compromises the strength of the immune system and puts us at risk for serious illnesses, such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and coronary obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

A Closer Look at the Lungs
The respiratory system includes airways, the lungs and linked blood vessels, and muscles that enable breathing, such as the diaphragm. The lungs sit inside the rib cage and are the central organ in the respiratory system. They are made of spongy, elastic tissue that stretches and constricts as we breathe. The trachea and bronchi bring air into the lungs; they are made of smooth muscle and cartilage, which allows the airways to constrict and expand. The alveoli, tiny sacs deep within the lungs, facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide from the blood. If not cared for, our lungs are prone to infection and illness.

Protect Your Lungs

Exercise. The better your cardiorespiratory fitness, the easier it is for your lungs to keep your heart and muscles supplied with oxygen. It doesn't matter if you dance under the moon, swim at sunrise, or walk through the woods…just get moving to a level that increases your breathing and heart rate.

Puff Off. Smoking is one of the most detrimental things you can do to your lungs. There's no such thing as moderation. Smoking, second-hand smoke in the air, and smoke absorbed by clothes, furniture and car upholstery can damage lung tissue and increase your risk for lung cancer, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses.

Breathe Clean(er). From second-hand smoke to industrial pollution, the levels of toxins in the air are astonishing. This is especially true if you live in, work, or travel to places without environmental protections for air quality. Reduce toxins and improve your air quality by: using air purifiers or whole house air filtration systems; following a schedule for replacing air filters in your heating/cooling system; and keeping plenty of plants in your living areas to remove certain chemicals from indoor air.

Breathe Right. Most of us don't breathe well. Too often, respiration is shallow instead of deep, limiting the amount of oxygen taken into the body. Proper breathing begins with good posture - stand tall through the spine and chest. Additionally, practice abdominal breathing, in which you fill the belly - not just the chest - as you inhale.

April is Cancer Awareness month and it is also the month where a lot of people start to do their spring cleaning.  With a lot of cleaning products containing known probable or possible carcinogens (chemicals that are linked to cancer) it would be smart to switch to some healthier cleaning products. We spend most of our time indoors so take a preventative approach to cancer and clean up the toxic chemicals in your home by making your own cleaners.  Water, vinegar, and baking soda are the foundation for a lot of cleaners and in the right proportions can handle a lot of common every day messes.  Here are some of my favourite recipes to get that clean sparkle.
 
All Purpose Cleaner:
 1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
Juice from one lemon
Baking soda
 
Mix together the water, vinegar and lemon juice in a spray bottle.  On surfaces that need a little more work, dust down some baking soda then spray with the solution.  Wipe away!
 
Window Cleaner:
 ½ teaspoon liquid Castile soap
2 cups of water
Vinegar
 
Mix the Castile soap and water together and use this to wash the dirt off of your window.  Follow this with a spray of even proportions of water and vinegar and squeegee away for a streak-free shine!
 
Tub Paste:
 ½ cup baking soda
1-2 drops Eucalyptus oil
½ teaspoon liquid Castile soap
Water
 
Mix together the baking soda, eucalyptus oil and soap.  Add enough water to form a paste. Scrub the paste into your tub and wash away with warm water. Watch as your bathtub sparkles. Eucalyptus oil is antimicrobial. It leaves a strong scent for some time after, but I’d rather breathe that in than nasty bleach.
 
Now you can get started on a cleaner, greener home!  Follow this up with a long soak in your squeaky-clean tub…Doctor’s orders! If you feel that you can’t make these cleaners yourself and want to opt for purchasing a healthier product, check out the Environmental Working Groups (EWG’s) Updated Guide to Healthy Cleaning, Spring 2016.