In a recent podcast I listened to, Anne Louise Gittleman stated that bile is more effective at removing toxins from our body than binders (think charcoal, zeolite). So why is bile so important?
Bile is made by liver cells, and aids in digestion by breaking down fats to make them more soluble, ready to be absorbed in the small intestine for use in the body. It is mainly composed of cholesterol, bile salts, bilirubin and the minerals potassium, sodium and copper- so we need to ensure we have adequate bioavailable amounts of these minerals.
Without sufficient bile, undigested fat remains in the intestinal tract and is eventually excreted in the stool. The stool may be greasy and the colour may be light brown, orange-yellow or pale, like clay. When fat is not absorbed, calcium is not absorbed either, and the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K are also absorbed with fat in this manner, so it’s really important to ensure we have adequate flow. Bile also cleanses our intestinal tract and stimulates peristalsis, ensuring we have healthy, regular bowel movements.
Normally, the liver produces a litre/quart of bile daily, when bile ducts become blocked, the bile becomes restricted- it impairs digestion and prevents the liver from excreting toxins, and the bile then becomes toxic. If gallstones are present in the liver or gallbladder, they can also impede bile flow. Gallstones are a direct result of an unhealthy lifestyle and diet, as well as stress and repressed anger. According to Andreas Moritz of (“The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush”), people with chronic illnesses often have thousands of them, and as these gallstones are porous- they absorb toxins, bacteria, viruses and parasites, and supply the body with a constant source of bacteria and infections.
So how do we increase our bile flow? Cholegogue (bile promoting) herbs are usually bitter- dandelion root (tea and tincture) is one that I work with and is known to quadruple bile flow- it’s an easy one to begin with to gently get things moving. Sunflower lecithin is another bile stimulator- it’s rich in phosphatidyl choline, a B complex vitamin with important roles in fat metabolism and liver health. Coffee enemas are another way to increase new bile flow: toxic, stagnant bile is flushed out and replaced with new, clean bile.
Sources:
- “Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation” Andreas Moritz.
- “Clinical Nutrition: A Functional Approach” Bland, J et.al.
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