We have all heard the phrase ‘food is fuel’ – but what does that mean? A bit like a car, we need fuel in order to function. However, while cars require petrol or diesel, we require food! So, how does food affect our hormones? Food provides the nutrients we need to maintain healthy body systems, including the production, metabolism and detoxification of hormones. Therefore, if we don’t get enough of the right nutritious foods, our hormone balance can suffer. Why Does Food Have Such A Big Impact On Hormones? There are around 200 different hormones in the human body. These are chemical messengers that control a number of systems, such as our metabolism , the immune system, menstrual cycle and reproduction. Consuming certain foods can provide the nutrients that we need in order to facilitate the production of hormones. How Does Food Affect Hormones? An Important Example Steroid hormones – including testosterone , estrogen and progesterone – contribute to the normal function of all of t...
Liver disease has been on my radar. I seem to be getting more questions about diet and lifestyle changes for a healthy liver. I am seeing and hearing a lot of cases of decreased liver enzymes levels, non-alcoholic fatty liver and cirrhosis in otherwise healthy adults. This trend is important because liver malfunction not only can lead to compromised body functions but also to other conditions like infection, or impaired cognitive function. The liver is the largest internal organ and has hundreds of functions. It is the main organ responsible for detoxification. Other important functions include: Production of most proteins needed by the body Production of bile, a compound needed to digest fat and help absorb important vitamins Help regulate blood clotting Help fight infections Break down nutrients to produce energy Store minerals, vitamins and sugar, helping avoid shortages of these nutrients Stress caused by the pandemic has also increased unhealthy coping mechanisms, including heavy...