If you’ve been paying attention to any of my social media posts and newsletter articles lately you probably know that I am a big fan of periodic metabolic body detoxification. And I have been just as guilty as most of the other authors out there in dumbing down the reasons why -honestly, I am pretty sure most of the authors out there don’t really know the specifics as to why detoxification is so important and beneficial- just that it works. So I am going to share with you today a few more wonky reasons why a regular, properly designed detox, makes you feel so good and makes your body operate at such a higher capacity than the vast majority of folks are used to.

Here are the 14 reasons:*

1)   The liver converts thyroid hormone thyroxin (T4) into its more active form Triiodothyronine (T3). When your liver is not operating at potential, your thyroid function and thereby your metabolism will not be operating optimally. This can lead to symptoms such as chronic fatigue, weight gain, poor memory and so on.

2)   The liver creates Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF) from chromium, niacin and possibly glutathione. GTF is needed by the hormone insulin to properly regulate blood sugar levels. It is also a necessary co-factor for Growth Hormone to be effective in promoting muscle growth in response to muscular training.

3)   The liver manufactures bile salts. These help you digest and absorb dietary fats. Bile is also a conduit for removing fat soluble toxins from the liver, draining them into the gut for excretion through defecation.

4)   The liver activates B vitamins into their biologically active coenzyme forms. Other active vitamin precursors such as beta carotene, iron, copper, etc. are also converted into biologically active forms in the liver. Without this function, even the most well absorbed supplement will be useless and possibly even mildly toxic. In short, a well functioning liver makes your expensive supplements actually work.

5)   The liver stores various nutrients like vitamins A, D, B12, and iron for release when needed.

6)   The liver manufactures carnitine from lysine and other nutrients. Carnitine is the only known nutrient which can escort fats into the mitochondria where fats are burned to generate ATP (cellular energy). Better liver function gets you more energy! Endurance athletes, like me, can improve both their power as well as their endurance by getting the liver functioning more efficiently.

7)   The liver converts lactic acid from a toxic waste to an important storage food. Lactic acid is a byproduct of cellular energy production and a build up can produce chronic pain and inflammation. The liver converts lactic acid dumped into the bloodstream by hard working muscles into glycogen.

8)   The liver serves as the main glucose buffer, preventing high or low extremes of blood sugar. It is a key regulator of blood sugar between meals, due to its manufacture, storage and release of glycogen. This helps prevent energy and mood swings that get most folks reaching for coffee and sweets mid morning and in the afternoon. This also helps keep endurance athletes chugging along without “bonking”.

9)   The liver can make glucose (used for energy production in the body) from dietary or body derived amino acids. This process is called glucogenesis (glucose making) and it ensures adequate brain and muscle carbohydrate fuel supplies even when the diet provides little are no carbohudrates. The liver produces as much as 20-25% of the blood sugar that endurance athletes during intense training or competition by converting the amino acid alanine (released from muscle tissue) into glucose.

10)  The liver is the chief regulator of protein metabolism. It converts different amino acids into each other as needed. The liver also synthezes creatine from the amino acids glycine, arginine, and methionine. If not for the super high energy biochemical creatine phosphate, sprint- type athletics would be biologically impossible.

11)  The liver produces cholesterol and packages it into different forms for blood transport: HDL, LDL, VLDL. Essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid, GLA, EPA, and DHA, must also be properly packaged by the liver ito appropriate lipoprotein forms (VLDL) to allow transport through the blood to the 50 trillion cells using the fatty acids.

12)  The liver is the main poison-detoxifying organ in the body. It must break down virtually everything toxic to the body- from metabolic wastes, to insecticide residues, drugs, and alcohol, industrial and food processing chemicals, etc. Failure of this liver function will usually cause death in twelve to twenty-four hours.

13)  The liver must dispose of ammonia, an extremely toxic by-product of protein metabolism. The amino acids arginine, and orthinine are used by the liver to control ammonia levels. Ammonia can cause brain irritation and even death- even at low levels.

14)  The liver is the main organ for breaking down hormones after they have served their messenger function to their target cells. For example, if the liver dies not break down insulin quickly enough, hypoglycemia results as the still circulating insulin continues to lower blood sugar. If the liver dies not metabolize estrogen properly, PMS will result. Failure to dispose of adrenaline (the fight or flight hormone) after it has outlived its usefulness may lead to chronic irritability and temper explosions.

In this episode, I interview Katy Bowman, Biomechanist, Author, Blogger, Podcaster and Founder of the Restorative Exercise Institute in Ventura, CA. Katy and I talk about the effects of "living in a human zoo", how to stop using exercise like vitamins, why sleeping surfaces matter, and how to determine an appropriate "movement diet" for your body. We also delve into the intricacies of cellular loading and how the loading of each cellular cytoskeleton impacts cellular health and epigenetic expression of your DNA.

Resources are below the bio

A brief bio:

A biomechanist by training and a problem-solver at heart, Katy’s ability
to blend a scientific approach with straight talk about sensible solutions
and an unwavering sense of humor have earned her legions of followers.
Katy is the founder and director of the Restorative Exercise Institute,
which teaches the biomechanical model of preventative medicine to health
professionals and laypeople worldwide, both online and in live seminars.
She is also the creator of the popular Aligned and Well DVD series, a
step-by-step visual guide to learning the basics of skeletal and body
alignment. Katy’s groundbreaking work in pelvic floor restoration has made
her particularly popular with midwives, OBGYNs, and others concerned with
pelvic mobility, strength, and health. Her award-winning blog and podcast,
Katy Says, reach hundreds of thousands of people every month, and
thousands have taken her live classes. Her books, the bestselling Move
Your DNA (2014), Every Woman’s Guide to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science
of Healthy Feet (2011), and Alignment Matters (2013), have been critically
acclaimed and translated worldwide. In response to great demand for
additional information on foot care, she released a practical exercise
guide Whole Body Barefoot: Transitioning Well to Minimal Footwear in 2015.
In between her book writing efforts, Katy travels the globe to teach the
Restorative Exercise Institute’s courses in person, and spends as much
time outside as possible with her husband and two small children.

Resources:

Katy Says Blog: http://www.katysays.com

Restorative Exercise Institute: http://www.restorativeexercise.com

Katys Books: http://www.restorativeexercise.com/read/

▪   Part II of a two part series on the 5 essentials to holistic healing and how they work synergistically to produce a result greater than the sum of the parts.

Download the guide for free here: Download The Guide

In this episode, I interview Jason Lewis, Author and the first person to circumnavigate the globe by human power. We discuss topics ranging from his ocean crossings, cycling through Europe, rollerblading through America, and Pedaling through the Pacific.

Jason’s Bio:

“Arguably, the most remarkable adventurer in the world today.”

                                                                                         —THE DAILY MAIL

Jason Lewis is an award-winning author, adventurer and sustainability campaigner specializing in human-powered expeditions. He is recognized by Guinness World Records as the first person to circumnavigate the Earth without using motors or sails[1]: walking, cycling, and inline skating five continents, and kayaking, swimming, rowing, and pedalling a boat across the rivers, seas, and oceans. Taking thirteen years to complete, the 46,505-mile journey was hailed “the last great first for circumnavigation” by the London Sunday Times.

RECORDS
Jason has set three additional records: the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean from mainland Europe to North America by human power (February 1995, Lewis and Smith); first crossing of North America on inline skates (September 1996, Lewis); and first crossing of the Pacific Ocean by pedal power (August 2000, Lewis).

MEDIA & HONOURS
He was nominated The Times inGear Man of the Year (2007), the Land Rover Toughest Sportsperson of the Year, and featured as one of Sport Magazine’s Athletes of the Year. A Fellow of London University, the Royal Geographical Society, and The Explorers Club, he has appeared on numerous television and talk shows, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (NBC), CBS This Morning, and Long Way Down with actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman.

CAUSE
Being an adventurer is about much more than just records or firsts for Jason. Visiting more than 900 schools in 37 countries to date, involving thousands of students in a variety of programmes in conjunction with UNESCO’s Associated Schools Program Network, he uses human-powered journeys and his profile as an adventurer to promote world citizenship, zero carbon emission travel, and awareness of individual lifestyle choices on the health of the planet. In addition, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised through his 501(c)(3) non-profit organization for humanitarian causes — orphanages such as The Hope Orphanage in East Timor, and hospices for people living with HIV and AIDS (Rumah Solehah, Kuala Lumpur; Father Joe’s Mercy Centre, Bangkok).

BOOKS & AWARDS
A frequent contributor to outdoor magazines (Men’s Fitness, Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine, Geographical) and travel books (Chicken Soup for the Traveler’s Soul, HCI, 2002; Flightless, Incredible Journeys Without Leaving the Ground, Lonely Planet, 2008; The Modern Explorers, Thames & Hudson, 2013), Jason is the author of The Expedition trilogy (BillyFish Books, 2012/3): Dark Waters*, The Seed Buried Deep, and To The Brink.

* WINNER of the 2013 Benjamin Franklin Award, Eric Hoffer Award, National Indie Excellence Award & 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year.

Jason Lewis- resources

Jason’s book page:

http://www.billyfishbooks.com/Books.html

Jason’s Website:

http://www.jasonexplorer.com

Expedition 360 website- website of The Expedition- with video of The Expedition

 http://www.expedition360.com/