By Stephanie Ray, BCN, CNHP
There is a lot of discussion and opposing opinions about what proper pH balance is. Our pH is constantly changing due to emotions, diet, hydration, etc, and this is normal. To have a working understanding of it, the urine pH represents what is leaving the body as waste. Optimal first morning urine pH range is 5.5-6.2. When the first morning urine is acidic it shows us the liver is able to filter acidic waste efficiently. Urine pH naturally rises as we go through the day.
The saliva represents what the body is holding onto. When the saliva is in the alkaline range it shows us the state of the body overall, barring the digestive tract. A healthy first morning saliva pH is 6.8-7.2.
The Liver and Healthy pH
The liver handles over 500 tasks daily. It is charged with breaking down food and absorbing nutrients, removing organic and non-organic waste, and manufacturing and regulating hormones. Since WWII, exposure to toxins has occurred at levels never seen before. These toxins turn into acidic waste in the body. The liver determines if they are water-soluble and can be removed via the kidneys or oil-based and can be turned into bile and removed via the colon.
The liver is a complex organ that plays a key role in most metabolic processes, especially detoxification. Liver cells are designed to break down toxic substances that constantly bombard your body. Many of the toxic chemicals your liver must detoxify come from the environment, the content of your bowels, the food you eat, the water you drink, and the air you breathe. Every drug, artificial chemical, pesticide, and hormone is broken down (metabolized) by enzyme pathways inside your liver cells.
When overburdened, your liver becomes sluggish and congested, it is then unable to remove environmental toxins efficiently.
The Impact of Liver Congestion
- Irritability and emotional outbursts
- Sleep disturbances and exhaustion
- Dysbiosis of internal "terrain"
- Lack of focus
- Food and environmental sensitivities
- High histamine levels
- Decrease in absorption of nutrients
- Impaired digestive function
- Hormone imbalance
The Liver’s Impact on the Immune System and Digestion
The simplest and most effective way to cleanse the blood is, take the load off the immune system, improve digestion, and facilitate detoxification by optimizing healthy liver function.
The liver bears the brunt of modern day chemicals, accumulating toxins that weaken the immune system. When the liver becomes overburdened and sluggish, unfiltered toxins are left circulating throughout the body and are deposited in fatty tissue. When acids and toxins are eliminated daily and the alkaline reserve is stable, the body is able to maintain a healthy balance more efficiently.
The Liver's Impact on Detoxification
Trying to detoxify the body with a congested liver is similar to trying to drive home during traffic hour. The more you push through a traffic jam, the more backed up it gets. The same is true when you try to remove toxins with a congested liver. If you push more toxins through your liver when it's congested, you will experience an increase in irritating symptoms. This creates more work as your body will produce stress hormones which your liver will also have to filter out. As you support and decongest the liver, toxins leave the body much more efficiently and you feel good during detox.
Nourishing your liver with Liver Life®, healthy food as well as staying well hydrated with water, and exercising is key to maintaining healthy liver function. Liver Life®, a liver restorative, naturally strengthens the liver’s structure and function, improves the body’s ability to filter toxins, drain acidic waste and decrease ammonia. Liver Life® opens up the detox pathways in the liver and supports kidney function.
Restoring Alkalinity to the Body
When the body is in an acidic state, oxygen is lacking in the blood hindering organ function. When the internal terrain is on the alkaline side, the body can flourish and heal. Alkalinity enhances circulation, tissue regeneration, and oxygenation of the blood and brain. The easiest and most efficient way to increase alkalinity in the body is to support the liver’s removal of toxins and acidic waste.
Increasing alkaline foods or pH enhanced water to neutralize an acid pH is like pouring a bucket of water on a forest fire. It takes 32 glasses of water with a pH of 9 to neutralize one glass of cola, which has a pH of 2.3! When you drain acids out through the urine, your body naturally becomes more alkaline in a short amount of time.
Supporting the liver with the adaptogens and medicinal mushrooms in Liver Life® has the following health benefits:
- Improves detox, nutrient absorption and food tolerance
- Increases metabolism and energy levels
- Balances healthy body weight
- Restores healthy pH balance
- Promotes restful sleep and balanced hormones
- Reduces skin irritations, head pain, and sensory issues
Mushroom Miso Soup
Mushrooms have long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to support a healthy and balanced liver. This soup recipe combines the benefits of Maitake mushrooms along with liver supporting land and sea veggies to make a meal that is both delicious and detoxifying!
- 6 c. vegetable or mushroom stock
- 3 scallions, chopped – separate white and green parts
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 c. fresh Maitake mushrooms, chopped
- 8 oz. bok choy, thinly sliced
- 2 square inch piece of wakame (seaweed), cut or broken into small pieces
- ½ inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
- 3 TBSP liquid aminos or coconut aminos
- 3 TBSP miso
- 8 droppers of BIORAY Liver Life®
- 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- 2 TBSP chopped cilantro or parsley
In a large pot, sauté white scallions in olive oil until softened, about 3 minutes, add garlic and mushrooms, and sauté for 3 – 5 minutes. Add in stock, green scallions, bok choy, ginger, and aminos. Bring to a boil, then lower to simmer and add the wakame. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat, then stir in miso and Liver Life®. Remove ginger slices. Top with chopped cilantro or parsley upon serving.
**If you have dried mushrooms, follow the label instructions on reconstituting and use the soaking liquid as part of the broth.
