3 Reasons Liver Health is Important for Fertility
When it comes to your fertility, I bet you’re not thinking about your liver much, BUT YOU TOTALLY SHOULD!
Your liver is so so important for a healthy reproductive system and this is why!
Your Liver & Your Fertility
One of the many roles of the liver is to remove excess hormones from the body. If the liver is impaired the ability to perform this role also becomes impaired.
BLOOD SUGAR BALANCE
Your liver plays a big role in blood sugar balance - and I don’t just mean in the diabetes sense. If you’re a stressed out person, running on cortisol, your liver is getting hit hard to maintain homeostasis. One of the first things to get shut down when this happens is the reproductive pathway.
ESTROGEN DETOX
Your liver is the first stop in estrogen’s detoxification path. A sluggish liver can influence estrogen balance throughout your entire cycle causing high estrogen levels or estrogen to progesterone ratios. This can also increase your risk for fibroids, endometriosis, and hard core PMS!
ESTROGEN RECEPTORS
The liver houses estrogen receptors which influence a hormone called IGF-1. IGF-1 speaks directly to the uterus to influence endometrial lining growth. Studies have shown that inadequate protein or caloric intake adversely impacts these receptors and IGF-1 thus decreasing endometrial lining growth. If we don’t have healthy lining, this will impact an embryos ability to implant. Nutrition matters!!
Support Liver Health
What you eat plays an important in liver health. In general, I recommend using the Balanced Plate Method when putting together a plate to optimize liver health - that looks like 1/2 plate of fiberful fruits and vegetables, 1/4 plate of high bioavailable protein, 1/4 plate of whole grains, and 1-2 thumb sizes of healthy fats.
Using this formula as a guide sets you up to get the fiber, fat, protein, and micronutrients that help keep your liver happy and healthy. When you are putting that plate together, here are a few foods/food groups that are especially good for liver health.
Allium veggies, e.g. garlic, onion, + cruciferous veggies, e.g., broccoli, cauliflower: Contain vital phytonutrients to help your liver neutralize toxins.
Bitter, dark leafy greens: Contain high levels of sulfur, which supports your liver in its detoxification process.
Citrus fruit: Contains antioxidants that naturally protect the liver.
Beans: Help the body get rid of waste quickly
Cold water fatty fish: Great source of omega-3s
Your lifestyle influences liver health as well so you want to prioritize habits that support your detoxification pathways like managing stress, sleeping for 7-8 hours each night, moving your bod on the regular, and staying hydrated
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Liver health is complex. If you want to learn more about how you can support your liver and body with nutrition and selfcare for better baby making odds, I highly recommend working with a practitioner to understand YOUR needs in developing a targeted protocol specific to YOU.
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