Liver Health and Fertility
What does your liver have to do with your fertility?
Honestly, A LOT!
The liver is our body’s primary filtration system and is responsible for metabolizing hormones and nutrients, cleansing the blood and converting toxins into waste.
Elimination
With all of the hormone disrupting chemicals such as xenoestrogens, phthalates, parabens, and pesticides we are exposed to on a daily basis, it is important to take care of our liver for optimal health and fertility.
When we don’t eliminate excess hormones and toxins effectively, our body can become burdened and unbalanced. Hormones that are not metabolized and eliminated can be reabsorbed into the body causing hormonal imbalances and fertility problems.
Metabolizing Hormones
Results from a study conducted in Milan, Italy suggested that the highest estrogen receptor activity is in the liver. The activation of those receptors is controlled by amino acids, the building blocks of protein. The mice in the study who were put on a low calorie diet had less activation in their estrogen receptors and a decline in fertility. The level of estrogen in the blood was not high enough to build an appropriate uterine lining for implantation. When they added protein to the deficient diet, estrogen increased to adequate levels for fertility. The addition of carbohydrates and fats did not have the same result.
“‘This is the first time it has been demonstrated how important the liver is in fertility,' said Professor Adriana Maggi from the Pharmacology and Biotechnology unit and Director of the Centre of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases at the University of Milan. 'The idea that diet may have an impact on fertility isn't totally new of course, but this explains how diet, and especially a diet poor in protein, can have a direct influence.’"
To sum it up, liver health is extremely important for fertility!
These are a few tips to support your liver for optimal hormone balance and fertility:
Eat plenty of high quality, organic, grass-fed protein. Wild caught cold water fish like salmon, sardines, oysters, pastured eggs, grass-fed beef, shellfish and liver are great options. If you are not a fan of liver, you can find liver pate in speciality food stores that is delicious with crackers or veggies.
Eat a lot of cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens like broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, spinach and collard greens. These contain folate, B vitamins, iron, zinc, magnesium, selenium and a phytonutrient called DIM which helps metabolize hormones through the liver.
Eat foods high in vitamin C such as lemons, limes, grapefruit, red bell peppers and strawberries. Add some fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to your salad dressings and water throughout the day.
Limit your intake of alcohol to 2 drinks per week.
Do a castor oil pack over your liver a few times a week. You can add a castor oil pack to your Reflexology or Reiki session!
Exercise! Sweating every day supports your detoxification systems. You don’t have to be doing CrossFit or marathon training to reap the benefits. Walking, biking, yoga and Pilates are all great low impact options.
Take an epsom salt bath. Epsom salts are high in magnesium which you can absorb through your skin. It is also very relaxing and detoxifying.
You may enjoy this blog post: 3 Ways to Support Your Fertility
References:
https://cordis.europa.eu/article/id/33080-study-suggests-liver-plays-key-role-in-fertility