All About the Liver

Why and how we should give our livers the love they deserve!

Photo by Clea Christakos-Gee

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Spring is the season to attend to our livers. When I was in nutrition school, something that was instilled in me was ‘if you don’t know where to start, work on the gut and/or the liver’. The liver is the largest solid organ inside the body with both endocrine and exocrine functions, meaning that it secretes substances into the GI system through a series of ducts, as well as directly into the bloodstream. It plays a role in more than 500 vital functions in the body! And sadly, at the same time, is usually overtaxed and the most congested organ in the body due to our modern lifestyles. I like to joke with clients that if you had fun in your twenties, your liver most likely needs some love. However, partying aside, our exposure to the numerous environmental chemicals and substances in our world puts a heavy load on our livers. Knowledge is power, and I believe that once we become aware of how incredible our livers are, we will naturally want to live in support of them.