You clicked on this article, which tells me that you looking for information on how to detox your liver. Well, I just want to let you know that you’re in the right place.
The liver is one of the most vital organs of the human body. Its main responsibility is to get rid of the toxins that our body produces on a daily basis. Since most of our diet is made up of processed foods and artificial ingredients, the liver has to work overtime in order to cleanse our system.
Because of this, sometimes it can be easier for the liver to become damaged or get clogged with toxins faster than it can remove them. This is why it is important to cleanse and detoxify the liver from time to time so that it can return to its normal functioning.
Medical Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician with any questions that you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you read in this article. Please consult with your physician before changing or adding any foods or supplements to your diet.
Can You Detox Your Liver?
To give a brief answer — yes, of course you can. But it’s important to be careful about the information that you choose to go by when referring to this topic.
A quick Google search shows that there are many so-called Liver Detox products available for sale. There is no shortage of vitamins, pills, teas, and oils on the market, and the manufacturers of these products promise fast and effective results.
Do they work?
I’m not sure. I’m not here to tell you that they don’t work. All I’m saying is that it’s important to do your own research on the ingredients and ALWAYS check with your physician first before taking any supplements.
A lot of the liver detox products are not FDA approved, so this is another thing to keep in mind.
This goal of this article is to share methods for detoxing your liver that can occur naturally. This means that there’s no need for harmful oils, ADD treatment, therapy, or anything like that.
We’re only going to cover the foods and supplements that you can add to your diet for cleansing the liver in a natural way. So if you’re ready, let’s go ahead and dive right in.
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links which means that, at no additional cost to you, we will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
1. Increase the Intake of Fiber
Fiber helps our body digest the food that we eat and helps get rid of toxins. Unfortunately, a lot of times, many of the foods that we eat are stripped of their natural fiber content. This means that they do not offer any support to the body in getting rid of toxins that would normally be discharged. Without having fiber in our diet, all these toxins end up in the liver.
This, of course, is not ideal. With that said, you can naturally cleanse your liver simply increasing the amount of fiber that you eat. Try to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Not only are you eating a healthier diet but your liver will appreciate it as well.
2. Make Drinking Green Tea a Habit
We all need some form of caffeine boost to make us last throughout the day, right? Okay, maybe you don’t — more power to you. But I know I sure do!
And, compared to other forms of tea or coffee, green tea is known to have positive health benefits. For example, catechins are commonly present in green tea and serve as an antioxidant for the liver.
Drinking 2-3 cups of natural green tea per day can help to cleanse the liver, among other positive health benefits as well.
3. Add Garlic to Your Diet
Garlic is a healthy ingredient that is recognized in many cultures and cuisines for its beneficial properties. It is rich in sulfur that helps the liver by activating certain enzymes to remove toxins from the body. Selenium is another compound found in garlic that has antioxidant effects as well.
Simply adding garlic to your diet while cooking is a great way to give your liver a detoxifying boost. Not to mention, it’s help give your meals more flavor as well.
4. Increase Vitamin C Intake
Not only is Vitamin C good for your immune system, it’s been shown to have positive effects on the liver as well. All you have to do is simply eat more citrusy fruits, such as oranges, lemons and grapefruits.
Eating these fruits on a regular basis will replenish your body with antioxidants that help to cleanse your liver in a natural way. Vitamin C also promotes the production of enzymes that can help eliminate toxins as well.
5. Add Turmeric to Your Diet
Turmeric is an amazing spice that is widely consumed all over the world. Found naturally in Asia, turmeric has been part of Indian cuisines for centuries. However, its therapeutic properties have only been discovered over recent years.
This is a supplement that I personally take daily and I can’t say enough good things about the positive effects it has had on my overall health. With that said, in this article, we’re only going to focus on how it affects the liver.
To increase intake, you can use turmeric as a regular spice while cooking. Some people even add it to their daily cup of tea or milk.
6. Add Nuts to Your Diet
Nuts, which are high in protein and amino acids, are known to have beneficial effects on the liver. Walnuts, in particular, are high in arginine and omega-3 fatty acids. Both of these are helpful in cleansing and detoxifying the liver.
Consuming a handful of these nuts daily can give your body the compounds it needs in order to improve the health of your liver. It’s preferable to go for the organic and unprocessed varieties, if possible, rather than the processed alternatives.
7. Increase the Consumption of Leafy Green Vegetables
Along with fiber, leafy green vegetables have some amazing compounds that can promote the health of your liver. Some examples include:
- Spinach
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Greens
- Bok choy
These are healthy foods that we all should strive to consume more of in our diets.
You will immediately notice an improvement in your activity levels within a week of increasing your intake of these vegetables.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. Not only do you now know how to detox your liver — you know how to do it the natural way.
The fact that the liver is capable of regenerating itself should be a blessing for us and should motivate us to keep it healthy. We can take up new habits like regular fasting, shunning processed foods, and going to bed on time to help our liver perform better.
In addition, as we discussed, there are some natural foods that can have major positive effects on the liver as well. These foods provide our liver the resources and time it needs to heal from any kind of damage. Again, just be sure to check with your doctor before changing or adding new foods or supplements to your diet.
Thank you for much for reading and as always, breathe easy my friend.
References
The following are the sources that were used while doing research for this article:
- Kalra, Arjun. “Physiology, Liver – StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” NCBI Bookshelf, 24 May 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535438.
- “Detoxing Your Liver: Fact Versus Fiction.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/detoxing-your-liver-fact-versus-fiction. Accessed 23 June 2020.
- Admin. “ADHD Treatment, Diagnosis and ADHD Prescription in San Francisco.” EZCare Clinic, 1 May 2020, ezcareclinic.com/services/add-adhd-treatment.
- “Sustained Activation of Detoxification Pathways Promotes Liver Carcinogenesis in Response to Chronic Bile Acid-Mediated Damage.” PubMed Central (PMC), 1 May 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5957449.
- “Plants Consumption and Liver Health.” PubMed Central (PMC), 23 June 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499388.
- “Liver Immunology and Herbal Treatment.” PubMed Central (PMC), 18 June 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5474722.
