Give Your Liver a Little Love This Christmas
By Anni Dahms
Founder of the retail chain ANNI’s VITAL SHOP.
Nurse- & Health specialist, Biopath and Nutritional Adviser.
You can read Annis Newsletter in the following languages:
Give Your Liver a Little Love This Christmas
December is a month filled with coziness, traditions and joyful moments – but also a month where your body has to work a little harder.
Rich food, sweets, alcohol, stress and too little sleep all place a burden on the liver.
When the liver becomes tired, it often shows up as bloating, a heavy stomach, nausea, restlessness in the body, skin issues, unexplained fatigue or hormonal imbalance. Many people experience these symptoms in December without realising that it is actually the liver asking for a little extra support.
The liver is one of the body’s most efficient and important organs
✔ Cleanses your blood of waste products, hormone residues, medication residues and alcohol
✔ Produces bile, which is essential for breaking down fats and absorbing fat-soluble vitamins
✔ Stores nutrients such as glucose, vitamins and minerals, giving you energy between meals
✔ Regulates hormones, which greatly affects your mood, energy and skin
✔ Supports the immune system, as a large part of the body’s defence system works in and around the liver
Supplements that can support your liver
When the liver works extra hard in December, it can be a great help to supplement with a few well-chosen nutrients and herbs.
I have used nature’s own remedies for many years because they are gentle, effective and in harmony with the body’s rhythm.
Curcumin / turmeric
Turmeric is one of nature’s most valuable antioxidants. The active compound curcumin supports the liver cells, assists detoxification processes and has a calming effect when you have eaten heavy meals or drunk more than usual. Many people also experience easier digestion when taking curcumin periodically.
Milk thistle
Milk thistle is a classic that has been used for centuries to support the liver. It helps your body eliminate waste products and restore balance when the liver is under strain.
Dandelion and artichoke
These herbs support bile flow and can be helpful if you experience bloating, nausea or a heavy stomach after meals. They are particularly relevant during the Christmas season, when you typically eat more fatty foods.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is central to the body’s detoxification processes and protects the cells. When the body is under pressure, you use more vitamin C, and many therefore benefit from supplementing.
B vitamins
B vitamins are essential for energy metabolism and for ensuring that detoxification processes function optimally. A tired liver and a tired nervous system often go hand in hand.
Choline
Choline helps the liver process fats. It can make a big difference if you feel heavy, “sluggish”, or have eaten a lot of fatty foods.
Healthy oils
The liver thrives on the right fatty acids. Especially omega-3 from fish oil and plant oils such as flaxseed oil, hemp oil and olive oil provide gentle support. They help the liver maintain balance, and many experience easier digestion and better energy when they consume healthy oils daily.
Magnesium
Magnesium supports muscles, nerves and digestion. When your body relaxes, the liver works more efficiently, and magnesium is particularly useful if you sleep poorly or feel tense.
Q10 and selenium
Q10 is vital for the body’s energy production, and you produce less of it with age. Selenium helps the cells stay strong and resilient. Together, they provide gentle but valuable support for your energy and overall well-being.
Everyday habits that support the liver in December
✔ Start the day with warm water and lemon
✔ Drink water steadily throughout the day
✔ Use ginger, turmeric, beetroot and bitter greens in your meals
✔ Eat light meals between the heavy ones
✔ Reduce alcohol and sweets a little
✔ Take breaks – including mental breaks
✔ Ensure 7–8 hours of sleep so the liver can work optimally
A loving Christmas greeting from your liver
December should be a month filled with joy, presence and small good moments – not a month where your body is pushed into overwork.
When you give your liver a little extra attention, it rewards you with more energy, easier digestion, better sleep and an overall feeling of well-being.
It’s not about being perfect, but about finding a healthy balance. Small choices make a big difference.
A stronger prostate with simple daily habits
Recently, my dear and always very busy son told me that his sleep had started to become more restless.
He is not the type who has the time or patience for long, complicated regimens, and the same is true for many men.
They want something that works, but that is quick, simple and easy to fit into everyday life.
It was a good reminder of how much even small adjustments can mean.
That’s why I’ve gathered some of the advice and supplements that over the years have helped many men find calm, better sleep and more balance – both in the body and in the prostate.
Three lifestyle habits that work wonders
Move your body 2–3 times a week
Regular activity keeps circulation and hormones in balance and provides a natural sense of energy and well-being.
Drink gently and soothingly
Green tea, tomato juice and water with citrus are good choices.
Gently reduce coffee, black tea, beer and wine, as they can irritate the urinary tract and create restlessness in the body.
Prioritise sleep and breaks
The body repairs itself at night. Stress, irregular sleep and overstimulation are some of the biggest strains on the prostate and on your overall well-being.
Prosta Vital
Prosta Vital from New Nordic has, in my opinion, a very well-designed formulation that many men may benefit from.
The product contains vitamins, minerals and a range of plant extracts traditionally used for male balance and well-being.
Among other things, it provides B vitamins, folic acid and vitamin D, which support the body’s energy,
nervous system and general functions. It also contains pumpkin seed, nettle, galangal root, plum bark, pomelo, and extracts of tomato and turmeric.
The formula is also enriched with pine bark, natural lycopene and small amounts of long and black pepper to support absorption.
A small drop of lavender oil rounds off the combination and completes the thoughtful formulation.
Vitamin C – an indispensable winter vitamin
December is a month where the body has to work a little harder. Busyness and Christmas stress,
heavy food, extra sugar, less sleep and more alcohol all drain your energy levels and your immune system.
And it is also a month when many people catch colds. We spend more time together, we meet more, we hug more – and unfortunately, we also share more bacteria and viruses with one another.
That’s why this is the perfect time to highlight one of the most essential – and often overlooked – nutrients: vitamin C.
Why vitamin C is especially important in December
Vitamin C is involved in over 300 processes in the body.
It helps form collagen, protects cells from oxidative stress and supports energy and immune balance.
✔ Normal immune function
✔ The absorption of iron and other vitamins
✔ The formation of important signalling molecules
✔ Wound healing
✔ Normal energy in the muscles
✔ Protection of sperm cells
Many people tell me they feel more resilient and have better energy in December when they take extra vitamin C.
How much do you need?
The official recommendation is 75 mg daily – but in practice, I believe most people need more.
I typically recommend 500–1000 mg daily during the winter months.
If you want to take higher doses, it’s important that you increase the amount gradually and then reduce it just as slowly when returning to a lower dose.
This lowers the risk of stomach discomfort and gives the body a gentler transition.
If you have previously had kidney stones, you should speak to your doctor
and choose a non-acidic form such as calcium ascorbate.
Good sources
Vitamin C is found especially in peppers, citrus fruits, kiwi, berries,
broccoli, tomatoes, rosehips, papaya and potatoes.
Remember that heat, light, freezing and long storage reduce vitamin C content.
My December advice
Choose a vitamin C supplement that is released slowly over several hours.
You can also choose vitamin C in liposomal form, which is designed to be absorbed particularly gently and efficiently.
Combine your supplement with fresh vegetables, citrus and berries whenever you can.
This helps support your immune system, energy and resilience throughout December.
Merry Christmas and take good care of yourself.
Anni
