As a Certified Health Coach, I have many of my clients come to me in desperation because they are trying to lose weight and are frustrated because many diets and programs they've tried don't work. The biggest reason for failure is because they are only focusing on Weight Loss Myth #1: Calories In vs. Calories Out.  

The truth is, is that many people often overlook the BIG PICTURE.  In order to achieve your optimal weight, your body and organs must be functioning well, especially the liver, without the impact of inflammation and toxic load that so many of us have. So, one of the first things you need to do when having trouble losing weight is to address the health of this vital organ.  

The liver is the body’s second largest organ after our skin. It sits just behind your right rib cage. Its primary role is detoxification.  While detoxification is a process that goes on inside us, all day every day, toxicity can influence how efficiently the liver is able to do its job.

A well-functioning liver works as our body's fat-burning organ, and converts nutrients from the food we eat into essential blood components, storing vitamins and minerals, and producing proteins and enzymes to maintain hormone balances in our bodies. Our livers also help our immune system fight infections, remove bacteria from the blood and make bile, which is essential for digesting our meals. 

Unfortunately, our livers can become sluggish and function poorly from being overloaded with toxins, chemicals, and other harmful substances.  Imagine a fish tank with a motorized water filter. If the filter is clogged with toxins from the tank, the entire tank becomes filled with the same contaminants. In our system, the filter is the liver, the tank is the body, and the fish that has to live in it is you.

Signs of a toxic liver
How do you know if you have a toxic liver? According to health experts, if you suffer from any of the following on a regular basis, your liver may have a toxic burden: 

• Mood swings
• Depression
• Hormonal imbalance
• Skin problems (such as acne, moles, skin tags)
• Fatigue
• Digestive issues
• Bloating after a meal
• Inability to lose weight
• Hot flashes
• Cysts on Ovaries
• Menopausal problems (such as heavy, clotty, or irregular periods)

1 pound of Brussels sprouts
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 lemon, juiced
Salt and pepper
2-3 cloves minced garlic (optional)
 
Preheat oven to 450°. Cut off the bottom ends of the Brussels sprouts and discard, cut remaining parts in half and place in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper and mix. Add garlic (optional).
 
Place Brussels sprouts on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes making sure to toss them at 15 minutes. During the last five minutes, top the sprouts with lemon juice. Finally remove sprouts from the oven, place in a bowl and top with lemon zest. 

Add a large salad and a healthy protein, and (drum roll please).....You have a delicious detox meal!

Enjoy!

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You see, back then I didn't make the connection between what I ate and how it affected my body but now I know that there is definitely a direct connection. 

If you are struggling with symptoms such as headaches, bloating, fatigue, insomnia, aches and pains, or weight gain, I urge you to take charge of your body.  Many ailments can be corrected through healthy eating, reducing toxins in your body, and adopting a healthy lifestyle.  I know because I've done it for myself and many of my clients are experiencing improved health too!

If you would like to learn more about eating clean, schedule a free strategy session with me today!

Eating with the seasons supports your body's natural detoxification. While winter is a time for conserving energy and turning inward, spring brings with it a feeling of renewal, new life, and expansive energy. In Chinese medicine, in which each organ is associated with a season, the spring is about the liver and the gallbladder.

The liver is the body’s second largest organ after our skin. It sits just behind your right rib cage. Its primary role is detoxification.  While detoxification is a process that goes on inside us, all day every day, toxicity can influence how efficiently the liver is able to do its job.

A functioning liver works as our body's fat-burning organ, and converts nutrients from the food we eat into essential blood components, storing vitamins and minerals, and producing proteins and enzymes to maintain hormone balances in our bodies. Our livers also help our immune system fight infections, remove bacteria from the blood and make bile, which is essential for digesting our meals.

Did you know that the liver filters approximately 2 quarts of your blood every minute? 

Unfortunately, our livers can become sluggish and function poorly from being overloaded with toxins, chemicals, and other harmful substances.  Imagine a fish tank with a motorized water filter. If the filter is clogged with toxins from the tank, the entire tank becomes filled with the same contaminants. In our system, the filter is the liver, the tank is the body, and the fish that has to live in it is you.

Some substances that can sabotage liver function:

• Alcohol
  
• Caffeine
• Trans fats
• Sugars, including fructose and sucrose
• Synthetic substances, e.g. pesticides, medications, skin “care”
• Infections e.g. viruses such as glandular fever (Epstein-Barr virus) 

“The proper functioning of the eyes, the heart, the brain, the gonads, the joints, and the kidneys, are all dependent on good liver activity… If the liver is impaired from constructing even one of the thousands of enzyme systems the body requires, there is an impairment in overall body function and a resultant greater metabolic stress on the individual.” -Dr. Karl Maret, M.D.