How to Cleanse Your Liver

Is your liver stressed?

When we are exposed to environmental pollutants, stress, consume too many fatty foods, overeat or eat genetically modified foods the liver can become overworked and overloaded. When the liver is in this state it cannot function as efficiently as it should.

The fact is that liver congestion and liver exhaustion interfere with the livers basic and vital functions. The average American diet is full of processed foods, sugars, fats and toxins from pesticides and preservatives, with that in mind it’s safe to say that many people have liver malfunction to some extent. The liver does has amazing regenerative power and changing your diet and providing your body with the nutrition it needs can dramatically improve your life and health.

 

What does the liver do?

The liver plays a central role in all of the metabolic processes of the body and is one of the most important organs of detoxification. The liver is a major blood reservoir, forming and storing red blood cells and filtering blood at a rate of a 1.5 quarts a minute via the hepatic artery and portal vein.

While this is not a complete list of liver functions, here are a few highlights:

• It synthesizes and secretes bile, a substance that assures good food assimilation and is critical for the excretion of toxins from the gastrointestinal tract.

• It regulates the composition of your blood, including how much sugar, protein and fat enter the    bloodstream.

• It processes most of the nutrients absorbed by the intestines during digestion and converts them into forms that can be used by the body.

• It removes toxins from the blood.

•Liver cells break down fat and produce energy.

• With the help of vitamin K, the liver produces proteins that are critical to blood clotting.

• The liver stores vitamins and minerals such as B12, folic acid, iron, vitamins A, D and K. The liver releases them into the blood when they are needed.

 

                Signs you may need a liver cleanse

Unexplained fatigue

Dark circles under your eyes

Feeling listless, lethargic

Digestion difficulties

Numerous allergies

Yellowish tint or spots on the skin

Food and chemical sensitives

Slow hair growth, poor hair texture

Mental confusion, brain fog

Consistent itchy skin

Regular headaches

Liver ache

 

 

Steps to detox your liver

Detoxifying your liver is not really a complex process. It requires a simple change in diet and whole food organic supplements. When you change your diet and lifestyle to eliminate as many toxins as possible you are decreasing the stress on your liver and your entire body.

1. Stop consuming toxic foods-If your diet includes processed foods and refined sugars you need to improve your diet. These foods contain chemicals that can overload the liver. Replace these foods with fresh organic fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish and grass fed meats.

2. Don’t use toxic products on your skin-Your skin is the largest organ of absorption and elimination. Anything you put on your skin will be absorbed into your body. So if you use a product containing triclosan, your body is absorbing that chemical. Triclosan was registered as a pesticide in 1969.

3.  Avoid alcohol-While many people enjoy a glass of wine for the health benefits of grapes, taking resveratrol would offer more benefits than wine and create less stress on the liver.

4. Drink lots of water-We all need water to not only hydrate the body, but to flush toxins.

5. Choose organic whole food supplements-Opt for whole food supplements rather than synthetic. Synthetic supplements can contain fillers and be made with GMO products. Be sure to read supplement labels.

6. Incorporate liver cleansing foods and herbs into your daily diet. –Rather than stressing out your body with a liver cleanse consider adding liver cleansing foods and herbs to your diet on a regular basis.

7. Incorporate exercise, fresh air and sunshine into your routine.-Being overweight can contribute to liver problems, consider adding a daily walk to your routine. You’ll have the benefit of fresh air, vitamin D from the sun and the daily exercise is a gentle way to stay fit.

 

Foods that help to cleanse the liver

Incorporating these foods into your diet is a great way to help keep your liver functioning at optimal levels.

Apples

Cabbage

Kale

Artichoke

Carrots

Leafy Greens

Asparagus

Cruciferous Vegetables

Lemons

Avocados

Grapefruit

Limes

Beets

Garlic

Turmeric

Brussel Sprouts

Green Tea

Walnuts

 

Herbs that help to cleanse the liver

These herbs help to stimulate the body’s natural liver functions to help it detoxify itself. When you give the body what it needs it will function properly and take care of itself.  Always purchase high quality organic herbs and extracts. Why make the effort to make these changes and then neutralize their benefit by choosing herbs grown with pesticides?

Chanca Piedra Milk Thistle Seed
Chicory Root Turmeric
Dandelion Root Peppermint
Greater Celandine Yellow Dock

 

Liver Cleanse Juice  Recipes

Grapefruit Juice– This recipe stimulates the liver and the gallbladder and encourages a gentle detox of these two organs. Squeeze juice from 1 pink grapefruit, 1/2 lemon (about 2 Tb juice) and add 1 tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Mix well drink before breakfast.

 

These recipes require a juicer.

Apple Beet Juice- Place 1 small beet, cut into quarters and 2-3 apples, seeded in your juicer.

ABC Plus-Place 1 beet quartered, 1 carrot and 1 lemon, peeled and seeded, with a handful of parsley greens. Run all the ingredients through your juicer and enjoy.

Super Green Detox-2 Cups of kale, 1 Cup of Swiss chard, ½ cucumber and ½ lemon, peeled and seeded. Run all the ingredients through your juicer and enjoy.

Orange, Lemon & Bitter Greens-2 oranges, peeled and seeded, 1 lemon peeled and seeded, ½ cup parsley greens, 1 stalk celery, 1/4-1/2 cup dandelion greens. Run all the ingredients through your juicer and enjoy.

 

Note: Always seek the advice of your health practitioner before undertaking any type of cleanse.

 

References:

Dandelion

Chicory

Chicory

Milk Thistle

Chanca Piedra

Peppermint

Yellow Dock

Turmeric

Celadine

How does the liver work

What’s really in Your Vitamins?

Triclosan-Washing Your Hands with a Pesticide

Toxins in Shampoo

Written By

My Health Maven offers information on a wholistic approach to healthy lifestyle choices.