As many of you may know, I’m deeply entrenched in the learnings of my Functional Nutrition course, which is a 10 month course that will teach me how to improve the health of… well, anybody. Especially those dealing with chronic health dysfunctions, and who may not be getting the lifestyle and nutrition help that they need, bridging the gap between holistic - just meaning their connective health management - and allopathic medicine.

A couple of weeks ago I gobbled up our liver lesson which was 4 classes all in one day. Because it fascinated me. And I can think back on dozens of clients I’ve worked with who were undoubtedly struggling with symptoms that could have been helped by paying better attention to care for the liver. So I’d like to share some info with you now.

The liver has hundred of roles in the body. While the main roles are:

filtering blood
disassembling chemical compounds for elimination
and synthesizing and secreting bile

the liver is also responsible for:

releasing vitamins when the body needs them
manufacturing glycogen, helping to stabilize blood sugar
producing enzymes
manufacturing cholesterol as well as bile
is an important source of heat

Two common conditions in which one may want to consider giving their liver some extra love would be when hormones are irregular, or when cholesterol levels are sub optimal. This organ has so many roles, and should not be overlooked when it comes to symptoms of dysfunction elsewhere in the body.

Here are some ways you can tend to your liver with care:

Reduce your toxic load. Start switching to glass containers vs. plastic, to non-toxic cleaning products and personal care, filter your water and choose organic foods whenever possible.
Eat more fibre. Soluble fiber binds to toxins and helps them move on out. Chia, flax, fruits and vegetables, oats and legumes are great sources.
Turmeric and its active bioflavonoid cur cumin promotes bile flow and acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. Include the spice in your meals, and/or take it as a supplement.
Consume choline. Choline helps transport triglycerides from the liver and is critical for normal liver metabolism. Eggs and avocados are great sources.
Sprinkle leafy greens on your meals. Greens like dandelion, arugula, parsley and cilantro are great for your liver. Arugula’s my fave - I top almost any meal with it and it’s delicious.
Chlorophyll clears. It helps to remove toxins such as heavy metals from the body. Chlorella, spirulina, matcha, seaweed and leafy greens can give you this boost.
Milk Thistle has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that support the liver. It may help the liver repair itself by growing new cells.

You can’t go wrong with including these tips into your nutrition and lifestyle approach. Remember, the more we support the broader, interconnected system, the less complicated our health can be for the long haul. Invest a little effort for major long-term AND short-term gains.

I’m Jessica. I’m a certified personal trainer, a student of functional nutrition, a mom of two boys aged 2 & 4, a wife to a tv production / photographer guy, living in the South Bay of Los Angeles.

I’ve been a deeply feeling person all my life, and my childhood was muddied by a lot of bullying. I grew up in the country, and took buses to school - and the hour ride each way there and back was filled with glares, shouted insults, laughing at me. I used to call my mom crying, begging her to pick me up. I was desperate not to get on the bus, or to go to school.

I’ve never really talked about it here, because it was only this year, at age 40, that I realized what parts of me these experiences led to.

I spent a lot of time scared to participate in new things, and always questioning what people thought of me. I have been presented opportunities for being on TV and modelling, and always declined due to self doubt. I still work through some anxiety, except now with a lot of scientific knowledge and psychological understanding. I’ve sold myself short. I have come off as awkward in situations, I have been repeatedly called an overthinker, and in retrospect have always struggled with a dysregulated nervous system. (Until putting in the missing work this year.)

I always yearned to connect with and to help others, and my passion for health and fitness that blossomed at the age of 16 allowed me to do exactly that.

For 23 years now I’ve been training and educating, supporting and laughing with really wonderful clients.

My why and my mission have ALWAYS been to support people to get their bests out of themselves. To not sell themselves short, to make the most of this one life.

When we become strong & healthy, we become unbridled.

We shake off dead skin, we work through past trauma, we dismantle shackles and we MAKE THE MOST of our time here. Best part? It spreads around to others.

My fitness programs and nutrition coaching will help you to disrupt chronic illness, disrupt feeling small, and to disrupt selling yourself short.

Did you have an experience with bullying? Does it affect you in adulthood? Let me know in the comments.