With the holidays coming up, it's actually a really good time to think about self care. Why? It's that time of year when there more parties, more rich foods, more alcohol, and more late nights. More family, more expectations, a little bit more of everything. It's also a really easy time to put to the side the daily healthy habits we tend to focus more on at other times of the year. Don't get me wrong. I love the holiday season. I love gathering people together, breaking bread, spending time in the kitchen, making new memories and celebrating old traditions. I also like to try to continue to be mindful about what's happening around me, the choices I'm making, and what I'm taking in. We digest everything that we take into our bodies, not just the food on our plates. The relationships, situations and events, medications, even the skin care or beauty products we use are all digested by our bodies, our minds, our emotions. Hopefully we're keeping the nourishing stuff in and eliminating the rest out! We have a few organs in our bodies that help with digestion and elimination, but today we're going to love on our livers. Why? The liver in the largest organ we have, coming in at around 2-3 lbs. Yup, that's right. We often think of it as a blood cleaner, but the in reality, the liver has over 200 different functions. Check out this cute and informative video below. In the video the happy little liver states it detoxifies, extracts nutrients and stocks vitamins. Let's dive a little deeper. 1. Detoxify: Yup, your body is working on detox 24/7. There are lots of detox diets and harsh cleanses out there these days, but know that your body is working on detox all. the.time. What does it detox?
In terms of what gets passed on to our liver to process, we know our gut is the first line of defense against pathogens. 70%+ of our immune system is in our gut. Our liver is the second line of defense. Leaky gut is a hot topic lately, and many of us have gut or auto-immune issues, which often result in allowing more things to pass into our bloodstream, which then get processed by our liver. Consider that the average person uses between 3-12 beauty products a day (hand soap, face soap, hair care, make-up, lotion, aftershave, cologne, etc). Also consider that there are more than 80,000 chemicals on the market today, many without safety data. (source) Those are found in our skin care and beauty products, as well as our household cleaners (or those we encounter at restaurants, movie theaters, the bus, light rail or airport). We're eating more processed foods, on the go, and taking more prescriptions than ever. That's a lot for the liver to process! 2. Extract Nutrients: This was a new one for me. I always thought this was the sole responsibility of our stomach and intestines.
3. Stock Vitamins: This was new for me too! Boy our liver is busy. In a country that is seeing the highest instances of diabetes ever, this is a biggie. (source)
You might be wondering, what signs do our bodies give us that our liver might need a little more love? And how can we love on our liver a little more? Here are a few ideas to get your started. Now, these signs and symptoms don't necessarily mean that your liver is the ONLY thing in need of a little love, but it's a darn good place to start! Signs and symptoms related to the liver
Whether you experience any of those, or simply want to be more proactive this holiday season, I've got some suggestions to share with ya. Good Daily Practices
What oil, blend or supplement might you try to practice more self care this holiday season? Comment below and let us know! Want to bring some of these into your home this holiday? Schedule a personal appointment, send me an email, and check out my exclusive Healthy Weight Starter Kit! May you have a lovely holiday season this year. May you feel good about what you're putting in, on, and around your body. May you love on your liver a little bit more, and may you have a healthy and happy holiday!
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Welcome!I'm Tonia, a Midwesterner transplanted to Colorado. I'm a mom of two lovely littles, a yoga instructor, DIY-er, teacher, stay at home mom, and a doTERRA Wellness Advocate. I blog about a little bit of all of these and everything in between! ![]() Are you looking for natural health options, but don't know where to start? Book a 1-on-1 appointment with me! We'll spend about 30 minutes getting to know your health goals and concerns, learn a bit about doTERRA, and go over the most commonly used oils that meet your needs. You don't have to buy anything, but if you see something you like, of course I can help you!
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