Detox Your Liver Safely
Our livers are very important – in fact, they have many functions we never knew of. One, it is responsible for converting the nutrients found in our food and then turns them into substances that are usable for our bodies. Another is its ability to produce bile (which is responsible for carrying away wastes out of our bodies).
Aside from those, our liver has many more functions, that is why it is necessary for us to take care of it. To be able to do so, we can keep our liver to function better and at its best when we do some detox.
But how can we do so? To find out how to detox your liver safely, this article will help you out and tell you things you have never known before about liver detox and how it works. We will also discuss the pros and cons of this detox and will weigh out in the end if it is really worth it or not.
What is Liver Detox?
A liver detox involves cleansing, flushing out, and removing unwanted toxins from your body. At the same time, this method also helps out people who want to lose weight and improve their health. On the brighter side, our bodies aim to detoxify our liver by themselves however sometimes due to alcoholism our liver takes time to detox itself.
That’s why, it is important for you to know how to assist your liver and perform detox practices yourself.
But what does it do to your liver?
Having a liver detox can do so many things to your body; this includes the following:
- It helps reduce any liver inflammation from your body.
- It lessens your risk of having any liver disease.
- Liver cleansing can assist you with your weight loss journey.
- It can aid in the regeneration of your damaged tissues.
How does the liver work?
Your liver functions for various reasons – for example, it is responsible for controlling the amount of protein, fats, and sugar found in your blood. It is also the one behind the breaking down and metabolizing of several drugs and alcohol substances. Lastly, it removes toxins that are found on the bloodstream and stores different minerals for your body like vitamin A and iron.
What causes liver damage?
There are also different causes of liver damage. It could be something that is part of our daily routine or from what we are eating. To know more about this, here are the common factors that contribute to liver problems and damage.
- Having too much-uncooked shellfish.
- Your maintenance medications can also cause liver problems, especially those that are heavily processed like metformin and acetaminophen.
- Another factor includes chronic malnutrition.
- Aside from shellfish, eating wild plants and mushrooms may also promote liver damage in your body.
- Chemical exposure to various toxicants such as industrial chemicals and environmental toxins can also affect how your liver functions.
- Drinking alcohol and intravenous drug use are also factors that could lead to liver failure.
- Lastly, having chronic hepatitis B (that is caused by a virus) can also lead to severe liver damage.
What are the signs and symptoms of a liver problem?
If you are someone who loves shellfish or drinks alcohol every night, you should note these signs and symptoms that are probably caused by a liver problem.
- Constant bloating
- Prone to heartburn and acid reflux
- A feeling of constipation and frequent gas pains
- Yellowish skin and eyes
- Having difficulties of losing weight
- Elevated blood pressure
- Mood swings, anxiety, and depression
- Excessive fatigue
- Chronic sweating
- Easily getting bruises
- Having a poor appetite
On the brighter side, you can better your liver’s functionality by performing a liver cleanse or detox.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to do a Liver Cleanse:
- Stop eating toxic foods.
This includes having too much processed foods such as junk foods and canned goods. These foods aren’t good for your liver because of the amount of unhealthy oils, refined products, and many more can be toxic to your body.
Why are they bad for you?
It is because trans fat found on unhealthy oils have more saturated fat within them – this means that your body won’t be able to absorb and digest it properly.
- Have some raw vegetable juice.
Juices are great for people with liver issues – this is because raw juices like vegetable juices are digested easier by the body compared to eating them. It is also beneficial because absorption is readily available giving the body an alternative to the hard way of digestion.
An example of vegetable juices you can try includes a mixture of carrots, beets, greens, and cucumber. You can also add some herbs to make it healthier.
Juices with high fiber fruits and vegetables are also essential for a better digestive system. Since these help faster the elimination of unwanted toxins found in your body. Aside from that, they also add up to giving you more vitamin C, A, and B.
- Give yourself more potassium.
Our body needs 4,700 milligram of potassium daily, however, not most of us know of this fact. So, now that you already know of this – you must remember to have some potassium-rich foods like sweet potatoes, bananas, tomatoes, greens, and beans to give yourself the daily potassium it needs!
There are many ways you can prepare such into your diet – you can make salads, smoothies, and eat them alone.
- Take some supplements.
Another way for you to do some detox is by intaking supplements that can help erase the heavy metals, pollutants, alcohol, and other prescription drugs found in your liver.
Besides that, it can also promote positive results for people undergoing chemotherapy and treatments with exposure to radiation.
Examples of supplements you can take are those with turmeric, milk thistle, and dandelion root.
Bonus step!
Still not prepared with all the ingredients and supplements needed to start a detox? Well, worry no more because you can do a quick-start detox that you can follow for a day!
This is also great for those who want to prep their bodies for a longer detox and at the same time already starting to boost their liver.
You can do this by incorporating some greens (kale, cabbage, lettuce), other vegetables like cauliflower, brussel sprpouts, asparagus, and many more. You can also add some citrus fruits for added fiber. Just remember to stay away from processed foods, gluten, too much refined carbs, and red meats.
The Final Verdict
Doing a liver detox can do so many great things to your body (and yes it is safe) – this includes better liver function, improved absorptions of minerals, and elimination of unwanted toxins from your body which can lead to a healthier liver.
If you aren’t ready for a full detox, remember that you can always do a 24-hour liver detox for different periods of time. You can do it once a month or once every three months. Note as well that you should consult with your primary physician if you have underlying medical conditions.
Besides that, you can also add some vegetables, whole grains, and legumes into your current diet if you don’t think the cleanse is the best for you. Just make sure to stay away from processed goods and too much red meat for a better liver!
I hope this article helps and answers all your questions about Liver Detox. Wishing you all the best – God Bless!
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References:
Dr. Josh Axe (2018) Detox your liver: try my 6- step liver cleanse. Retrieved from: https://draxe.com/nutrition/liver-cleanse/
Web MD (n.d.) Can a detox or cleanse help your liver? Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/liver-detox#1
Jedha Dening (2017) Liver Cleanse: Separating fact from Fiction. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/liver-cleanse
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