Many women struggle with painful and irregular periods. Very often, they don’t understand how much the liver has to do with the menstrual cycle. Taking care of your body is vital to having a pleasing quality of life. However, this is sometimes easier said than done, due to the difference in needs and reactions from one person to the next.
Your liver is vital to good health and is the primary organ responsible for detoxifying your body. Everything that you ingest, inhale or absorb through your skin is filtered through this hard-working organ. The nutrients passed through your liver are separated and distributed for use while other substances are prepared for excretion.
Though metabolic waste and toxins are the first things that come to mind that the liver must dispose of, your hormones pass through it as well. A healthy liver will metabolize these hormones and dispose of excess. However, if the liver is not functioning optimally, it can have a negative impact on your hormonal balance and result in a variety of unpleasant symptoms.
You have several endocrine glands in your body that produce hormones and for women, the ovaries also create hormones. The process is complicated and requires healthy fats and the absence of hormone-mimicking toxins. Improving your liver health and regulating your menstrual cycle entails several steps.
In addition to removal of excess or used hormones, the liver is also responsible for balancing blood sugar and converting a particular thyroid hormone. When your sugar levels drop too low, your ability to make progesterone diminishes. Eating natural simple sugars, such as fresh fruit, can help.
To help balance your hormone levels, you need to find effective stress reduction techniques and cut out alcohol and tobacco. Additionally, you need to remove products from your home that mimic estrogens such as, BPA and phthalates. Personal and home care items likely contain phthalates and many plastics leech BPA into the products stored in them.
Upon rising each day, have a large glass of tepid water with the juice of one freshly squeezed lemon. This awakens your digestive system and helps to flush out your liver. In the afternoon, have another serving or a large glass of beet juice to further your cleansing efforts. Consume at least two litres of water daily while cleansing your liver.
Dandelions are fantastic for liver restoration. You can find them at your local health food store or harvest them from your yard if you do not use chemical treatments on it. You can trim fresh greens from them and add to your salads to aid in your detoxification efforts. Burdock root, milk thistle and turmeric are also powerful healing agents for the liver.
Cleansing your lymph system will also help with liver health and hormone regulation. Ayurvedic medicine notes that your lymph drainage is higher during menstruation. This is an important aspect of the detoxification processes of your liver. To boost your lymph functioning, eat more alkalizing foods. An acidic body is more prone to disease.
Additionally, you can practice the art of Garshana or skin brushing to further stimulate your lymph fluids. Do this first thing in the morning, along with your lemon water to increase your energy and promote health at the cellular level.
Regulating your hormone production and detoxifying your liver will help to reduce many of the discomforts associated with your monthly cycle. You will also notice a decrease in PMS and PMDD symptoms and experience greater regularity with your period. Your entire body will feel so much better once you have cleansed your liver and restored the hormonal balance in your body.
Stephany Lehman is a skin care and natural health enthusiast. She helps to run a site that shares her passion and commitment to organic skin and beauty care.
