Further to discussing the Liver and Gallbladder functions in Part 1: Do You Really Need a Detox?, let’s continue with learning more about the importance of bowel functions and other detox methods.
Imagine you are trying to clean your home, but you never take out the garbage, and you never open the windows, or the doors.
Garbage and dirt would pile up and even if you tried to contain it in one area, it would start to spread. You would be working overtime, but the house would never be clean. This is how your liver feels when your colon isn’t functioning properly, and you are not having enough bowel movements.
Constipation is defined as less than one bowel movement per day, or a transit time of less than 24 hours.
A lot of people go once per day on average, meaning sometimes they skip a day, sometimes they go in the morning, sometimes it’s the evening. These people are chronically constipated.
Ideally you should have 2-3 bowel movements per day. When your bowels are regular, your body can effectively remove waste and toxins. If the bowels are not regular, some of these toxins will become reabsorbed.
A good example of this is cholesterol; excess cholesterol is processed by the liver and excreted through the bowels.
However, if you are backed up, the cholesterol will become reabsorbed, elevating the cholesterol levels in your blood. Something similar can happen with estrogens in the body. This means that it is possible to lower your cholesterol levels and balance hormones, simply by addressing bowel issues. Here’s how to keep your bowels healthy:
Undertaking a diet or cleanse has its merits. While there is no need to fast or take a bunch of supplements, it can be beneficial to give your liver a “break” every now and then, while increasing liver-supporting foods. A good example would be a candida cleanse. However, we believe it is equally important to incorporate these simple detox habits into your daily life. It is equivalent to brushing your teeth everyday and having a routine dental cleaning. Both are important for overall health.
Our liver can handle a lot. In fact, you can remove 60%-75% of the liver and still have it function as normal. It will quietly work away no matter what shape it is in. Many other organs and systems are dependent on the liver to properly function.
So regardless of your age, lifestyle, or current health, it is never too soon or too late to start taking care of your liver.
If you are looking to make changes to your food habits in order to improve your health, we can help. Just reach out to us via text, call, DM or email.
Certified Nutritionist Kirsten Colella incorporates daily cleansing habits to keep her digestive functions humming. Kirsten showcases her new recipes, including those with fibre for a healthy colon. You can find Kirsten’s delicious recipes, colourful food pics and fibre-rich healthy food ideas on our Instagram page at @essentialbalanceholistic.
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