The first thing you need to know and understand it that your liver processes absolutely everything you consume, so the cleaner your diet the less stress you place on your liver. The less burden you place on your liver, the less over-all inflammation; the less inflammation, the more time it can spend healing and repairing itself. As stated, the liver must process almost every molecule of food you swallow, so the cleaner your diet, the less oxidative stress your liver must endure. Chemical detoxification by the liver produces reactive molecules, free radicals, and a corresponding immune inflammatory process. Thus, a liver burdened with fewer toxins suffers less micro-damage, spends less energy quenching free radicals, and produces less inflammation. The liver can therefore devote more resources to repairing itself.
According to the NIH, 86% of North Americans are obese. Remember the old slogan, "You are what you eat.” The proper regulation of diet involves three key components: "What to eat, when to eat, and why to eat.” Obesity results when we violate these rules for proper eating or healthy eating habits.
WHAT TO EAT: Most people are clueless about what they should eat. An important principle is making sure your diet includes only Low Glycemic Index carbohydrates (i.e. food with Glycemic Index scores of 50 and under – which includes class 1 and 2 vegetables and fruits – see Glycemic Index Table). Observe your caloric intake with your Daily Caloric Requirements to maintain a stable weight. The diet must meet your body’s daily metabolic needs, and should be customized to your weight and activity level. An optimum diet should include a proper amount of protein, starchy vegetables, non-starchy vegetables, and healthy fats. Make sure your caloric input does not exceed your daily caloric requirements or you will continue to gain weight and stay away from refined sugars and high Glycemic foods to avoid sugar rushes.
WHEN TO EAT: Eating at the wrong time contributes to our obesity. When to eat has baffled, and confused most North Americans for decades, hence the reason we are now at such a high obesity rate. We have all heard that breakfast is the most important meal – still, many people still skip it. Why is breakfast so important? It’s because your brain can only utilize glucose for energy. Glucose is a simple carbohydrate that we get from breaking down starchy foods. We should begin each day with a complex carbohydrate meal to meet the brain’s metabolic needs. In Chronic Liver Disease (where the liver’s ability to store energy has been compromised) or for anyone concerned with their quality of life, the body functions best with a protein and carbohydrate intake every 2.5 - 3 hrs. You should stay in a positive nitrogen balance, which means consuming more protein each day to ensure adequate cellular repair. Any excess ingested protein can be broken down into glucose and used for fuel, thus serving as an energy storage reserve. Thus, a protein rich diet can help stabilize your blood sugar levels, and facilitate maintaining a consistent energy level throughout the day, while also increasing your body’s ability to metabolize stored fat as an energy source.
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