Liver and Digestion – Whole Body Health Connections

Learn about the connection between the liver and digestion, and start drinking Phyllanthus niruri tea (Chanca Piedra).

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As you may know, the liver serves upwards of 500 functions in the body. All day every day, it performs its dynamic job of filtering, converting, storing, and excreting. Below, I’ll discuss the connection between the liver and digestion in the production of bile and the regulation and storage of sugars.

Liver and Digestion – The Bile Files

When you eat meats, poultry, fish, nuts, oils, butter, and some other dairy products, you’re putting hard-to-digest fats in your body. Our stomachs and intestines contain a lot of water, which causes fatty particles to stick together instead of being processed with everything else during digestion. Thankfully, your body has accounted for this tough digestion process.

In other words, the liver creates bile.

Bile is a yellow-green liquid that helps digest fats in the duodenum, the first and shortest section of the small intestine. Bile is a mixture of water, bile salts, bilirubin, and fats (cholesterol, lecithin, and fatty acids). The liver creates this mix continuously. Bile is carried away from the liver via the hepatic duct to the gall bladder for storage via the cystic duct. This joining of the two organs is referred to as the common bile duct. Once in the hepatic duct, bile waits for the signal to head to the small intestine to help with fat digestion.

Think of bile as a translator between water and fat. It has elements that interact with both substances, allowing the intestines to more easily emulsify and absorb fat. This process helps your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. In short, bile is an essential component to digestion, and the liver is responsible for keeping the gall bladder fully stocked.

Give Me Some Sugar

The liver and digestion also rally together when your body takes in excess sugar. When your digestive system absorbs too much sugar in the form of glucose, the liver converts it into a compact carbohydrate called glycogen and stores it for later use. Then, if your blood is low on glucose, your liver can transfer the glycogen back into energy-rich glucose to help balance your blood sugar.

Warning: don’t think you can eat all the sugar you want so it can be stored for energy later. Your liver can store only so much glucose. Too much sugar on a consistent basis can lead to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), which can compromise your liver’s ability to metabolize nutrients, filter toxins, and create vital compounds. You already know about the harmful effects junk food has on on your body. However, a diet high in fat and sugar can also make you highly susceptible to fatty liver disease. Be mindful of the sugar intake for your liver’s sake.

Put the LIVE in Liver

Now that you understand the important connection between the liver and digestion, it’s time to show it. Cut down on sugar, opt for easier-to-digest healthy fats from real foods like nuts and avocados, and support efficient and healthy digestion with a daily supplement like Phyllanthus niruri tea (also known as Chanca Piedra and Stone Breaker). Your liver will thank you for it. Just as importantly, you’ll be well on your way to whole body health.

Phyllanthus is valued for its healing and rejuvenating powers. Therapeutic uses include strengthening and nourishing the joint tissues. It is also used to support the proper function of the colon, lungs, liver, and spleen. Phyllanthus niruri has also been traditionally used to support healthy skin.

A recent study shows potential for Phyllanthus niruri to be a beneficial immunomodulator in Hanson’s disease. In addition, by supporting healthy liver function Phyllanthus can support the body’s healthy cortisol metabolism, modulating the negative effects of “the stress hormone.”

Phyllanthus niruri has been reported to be effective against Hepatitis B and other viral infections. Research in Japan and India has demonstrated its liver-healing properties and positive hepatoprotective effects.

Phyllanthus niruri herbal tea and herbal extract have also been traditionally used to help eliminate kidney stones and gallbladder stones (gallstones). The tea has been used to support a healthy renal system, promote urinary discharge, and promote healthy water elimination.

Phyllanthus niruri Can Support Liver and Digestion Health

Ready to start drinking Phyllanthus niruri tea? Your liver will thank you. You can also learn more about your liver here. Learn about the relationship between your liver and filtration here. Learn about a liver detox cleanse here.

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