Liver health and digestion: making informed decisions before the holiday season

Updated on 2025-11-25

Summary: Liver health and digestion: making informed decisions before the holiday season

In this column, Lynn Goneau reminds us just how essential the liver is, with over 500 functions, including nutrient processing, detoxification, vitamin and mineral storage, as well as blood sugar and cholesterol regulation.

After a heavy weekend, she suggests simple ways to support the liver: warm lemon water made from real lemon juice, foods such as broccoli, onion, garlic, turmeric, beet and ginger, or formulas based on black radish, artichoke, boldo and dandelion.

She particularly recommends milk thistle, especially before, during and after a festive evening, to protect and facilitate the work of the liver. Finally, she puts forward a liquid supplement, Salus milk thistle extract fully organic and easily absorbed.

1. The essential role of the liver

• Over 500 vital functions.
• Transforms carbohydrates, proteins and fats to produce energy. 
• Plays a central role in blood detoxification.
• Stores glycogen, vitamins (A, D, C, B12) and minerals (iron, copper).
• Regulates blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

2. Beneficial habits and foods

• Hot lemon water in the morning (with fresh lemon juice, not bottled).
• Broccoli, onion, garlic: stimulate detox enzymes.
• Turmeric, beet, ginger: digestion, bile and anti-inflammation.
• Seasonal mixes: black radish, artichoke, boldo, dandelion.

3. Milk thistle: a key ally

• Contains silimarine, which protects liver cells like a barrier.
• Ideal before, during and after a party to help metabolize alcohol and toxins.

4. Recommended supplement

• Salus milk thistle extract liquid and 100% organic, for optimal absorption.
• Available at La Boite à Grains.
• Private consultation with Lynn Goneau for personalized follow-up.

About the author

Lynn Goneau, Certified Naturopath

Specialized in :

• Digestive health
• Hormonal health
• Stress and fatigue
• Memory and concentration
• Weight management

Frédéric Bisson, radio host at 104.7 FM

Host of the 104.7 FM radio station on the Cogeco network. Frédéric Bisson has hosted L'Outaouais Maintenant from 3 to 5 p.m. every weekday since February 27, 2023.

Transcription

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

I like it. Coming back from a weekend of Christmas tree assembly, maybe a little too much fat and sugar at the same time. And Lynn Goneau tells me she's talking to me about liver health and digestion. I had a hard time over the weekend, and now we know we'll have more hearty parties like that over the weekend. Lynn Goneau naturopath in La Boite à Grains. Hello Lynn.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Hello Fred.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

That's really sweet. Thank you so much. Yeah, but I didn't overdo it. I don't drink alcohol, but the liver is, like, really important.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Indeed, it's even fascinating to know that the liver plays a truly crucial role in all our body's functions. It's one of the largest and most versatile organs in the human body. After all, it performs over 500 vital functions.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

500 is incredible. Yes. Okay, let's say we pick four important ones.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Okay, the first one I'd like to talk about is transformation. So, um, its main role is to take food such as carbohydrates and proteins, then the fats that come from your diet, then metabolize them to be able to transform them so that you can have a little more energy. And that regulates digestion. It regulates a lot of things.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

This is the little factory.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, because if you metabolize poorly, that's when you can end up with fatigue, weight gain or digestive problems. It also plays an important role in detoxification. That's what we call the factory. It filters the blood to eliminate toxins, drugs, alcohol and all the harmful substances in your body.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Okay, it'll store too.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

But it's important because it's going to store nutrients that are really essential, like glycogen. Glycogen is a form of sugar that we use to fuel our muscles, especially our brain, or when we need it for physical exertion. It also stores vitamins A, D, C and B12, as well as minerals such as iron and copper. So we need them and in reserve, it's a place where we can go to get them when we need them. Most importantly, it helps regulate blood sugar levels. This means keeping blood sugar levels within a normal range between meals, and regulating blood cholesterol levels.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Okay, so this is super important when you get older, if you're a little overweight. Yes, uh, obviously we don't jump to conclusions right away. Our sugar is high from time to time, but if we feel we need a little boost, you really like lemon juice.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, lemon juice is also well known: you can take it in the morning in a cup of hot water and drink it on an empty stomach, but be very careful, Fred, because it's not just any juice, not the kind that comes in bottles already squeezed. You absolutely need lemons that you can buy. What I do is buy them, let them ripen on the counter and then I juice them and put them in ice cubes. Then I put them in the freezer so I can take one out every morning, just put it in hot water and eat it, or during the day between meals.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

That's good. So that's the lemon. There are others.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes. Uh, many studies show that milk thistle is really beneficial for the liver because of silimarin. This is a compound that creates a small barrier to prevent toxic substances like alcohol and other harmful substances from entering the liver cells.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Oh yeah. Then it's well thought out.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, it plays an important role. I have a great suggestion here at this time of year. If you're planning a festive evening. If you take milk thistle the day before the event to protect the liver and prepare it to metabolize alcohol, you can take it the same day to help the liver manage toxins during consumption and especially take it the next morning to help eliminate alcohol more easily.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

That's good. And that little fence you were talking about. So, milk thistle is easy to find, Lynn. It's everywhere La Boite à Grains of course. There are other foods too.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Yes, there's onion, broccoli, the others will stimulate enzymes to better evacuate toxins. You can easily make a little broccoli stir-fry by adding garlic and onions. It's delicious. Then there's turmeric. We know it well. It helps biliary secretion. Then you can make a beet juice with ginger. That's beneficial because it's anti-inflammatory. There are others, like pre-prepared mixes of black radish, artichoke, boldo and dandelion. The important thing is to follow the seasons.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

A liver cleansing cure?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Flush and then protect. Yes, it's important to consult a health professional if you have biliary or digestive problems before doing anything.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Yes, of course. So these are foods, suggestions. Now, let's say we need a little extra. What do you suggest this week?

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

In fact, we're back to milk thistle, which is offered by the Salus company. This company was founded in 1916 and specializes in liquid supplements to promote optimal absorption. Salus milk thistle extract contains 100% organic ingredients. I like that with milk thistle, and then fruit concentrates, of course, for flavor.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

And we can go to you for a private consultation.

Lynn Goneau - Naturopath of La Boite à Grains:

Contact details are still available on the La Boite à Grains. So send me an e-mail, and I'll be happy to see you in a private consultation.

Frédéric Bisson - Host 104.7FM:

Lynn Goneau. I'll watch my liver. I promise. Thank you, Lynn. See you next week.