Liver Cleanse: 10 Easy Ways to Detox your Liver
Think of your liver as the silent housekeeper in your body. It’s always there, working 24/7, cleaning up after you as you go about your day, taking care of what goes in, and pushing stuff we don’t want back out. It’s a tough job in today’s modern world, and if you don’t take care of your liver, you can get some fairly nasty health problems as a result.
Every single thing that goes into your body must be dealt with by your liver first. When you consume toxic substances such as sugar or alcohol, your liver has to go into overdrive, trying to detoxify your bloodstream.
Keep reading for the top 10 ways to detox your liver naturally. It’s much easier than you imagine.
1. Use herbs such as Cilantro
Also called coriander, this is a super cleansing herb that is so powerful, that it can be used to purify water! This little green herb is great at removing heavy metals from the body. Cilantro is very versatile. If you do not want to add it to food, you can always buy cilantro extract as a supplement.
2. Go green with veggies
Your diet should not be lacking in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and kale. It’s also a good idea to prepare rich salads with bitter greens that are so good for your liver, like spinach, lettuce, beans, etc. The bitter flavor is a clear sign that these foods are good for your liver as the bitter taste means that they contain phytonutrients that help cleanse the body of toxins.
3. Liver loves lemons
Probably the best and easiest means of detoxing the liver. Simply squeeze the juice from one organic lemon into a glass of warm water and drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. It’s been shown that the liver will produce more healthy enzymes when lemon is consumed with some water than with any other food that was tested.
4. Garlic
Besides being terrific for your heart, garlic is an herb that contains more of those sulfur compounds that stimulate the liver to produce more enzymes. Garlic also contains healthy levels of allicin and selenium, which are designed to protect the liver. Crush a clove or two of fresh, organic garlic and try to swallow them whole in the mornings.
5. Turmeric
This is a super medicinal spice that is unmatched in its anti-inflammatory abilities. It’s been widely documented as having a wide range of health benefits; including protecting the liver from damage and encouraging the liver to produce new cells and rejuvenate itself. Consuming turmeric regularly can also increase the production of bile, which is vital if we want to rid our bodies of toxins.
6. Beetroot
Beetroots cleanse and purify the blood, which will improve the overall function of the liver and the processing of nutrients in the body. Beets are high in important antioxidants, and many nutrients including pectin, iron, betacyanin, and betanin.
7. Avocados
Researchers in Japan have found that avocados have several compounds that can protect our livers from long-term damage. When compared to 21 other fruits, these researchers found that avocados worked best at protecting the liver from galactosamine, which is a damaging toxin.
8. Remove Toxic Foods from Your Diet
If you are eating a diet high in processed foods, you are putting the health of your liver at risk. Hydrogenated oils, also known as “trans fats,” have higher levels of saturated fat. Replace these foods immediately with healthy choices. Healthy foods taste great, and, with a bit of creativity, you can create healthful meals for your family.
9. Drink Raw Vegetable Juice
By juicing a variety of raw vegetables, you can easily get the 4–5 servings of fresh, organic vegetables you need. With impaired liver function, juicing vegetables has the added benefit of making the vegetables easier to digest and more readily available for absorption.
10. Load Up on Potassium-Rich Foods
Potassium-rich foods help to lower systolic blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and support a healthy cardiovascular system, in addition to helping cleanse your liver. If you have been tempted to take potassium supplements, instead add these healthful foods to your diet.
So show your liver a little love by giving it one or more of the above items. Keep in mind that alcohol, sugar, and processed foods are not your liver’s friends, so steer clear of them. Remember that when you take care of your liver, it will take care of you.