love thy liver salad

Did you know that the liver is responsible for over 500 functions?  This includes processing digested food from the intestine, controlling levels of fats, amino acids and glucose in the blood, neutralizing and destroying drugs and toxins, storing iron, vitamins and other essential chemicals, manufacturing, breaking down and regulating numerous hormones and making enzymes and proteins which are responsible for most chemical reactions in the body.¹

So, as you can see the liver has many tasks especially when we factor in consuming processed foods, environmental toxins, alcohol and prescription drugs, the liver is quite busy and these toxins can build up.

Every New Year and Spring I always hear people speak of liver detoxing, which most certainly can have its place but is not meant for every body.  Fortunately the body has its own natural detox process built in.  The liver and kidneys do a good job of processing chemicals and eliminating them in sweat, urine and feces.²  We can gently help to improve this process by consuming liver loving foods such as beets and apples.  Pectin, a fiber found in these beets and apples help clean the toxins that have been removed from the liver allowing them to be flushed out of the system instead of reabsorbed by the body.³

Try this delicious, fiber rich salad, it’s like giving your liver a hug!

Love Thy Liver Salad

Ingredients

1/4 raw beet, thinly sliced using mandolin or spiralizer 
1/2 apple, thinly sliced
2 cups baby spinach
2 tbsp walnuts, chopped
1 tbsp hemp seeds
goat cheese (optional)

Dressing

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
juice of 1/4 lemon
salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Using mandolin or spiralizer (or you can use a vegetable peeler) thinly slice beet and set aside
2. Slice apple into thin slices
3. Assemble baby spinach onto 2 plates and top with beets, apple, walnuts, hemp seeds and dressing.  Add goat cheese if desired.

References
1. “A brief summary of the liver’s functions.”  British Liver Trust.  2011.  19 Feb 12.  <http://www.britishlivertrust.org.uk/home/the-liver/summary-of-the-livers-functions.aspx>
2. “Natural Liver Detox Diets (Liver Cleansing).”  WebMD.  2011.  19 Feb 12. <http://www.webmd.com/balance/natural-liver-detox-diets-liver-cleansing?page=2>
3. Nakauchi, Lenette. “Beets detoxify the liver.”  Natural News.  18 Jul 11.  19 Feb 12.  <http://www.naturalnews.com/033025_beets_liver_function.html>