How to Detox Your Liver?
Annie Sawyer, PhD
When transitioning from a season to a season or from a carnivorous style of life to a complete vegetarianism it is beneficial to detoxify your body starting from your liver, blood and kidneys from the fat built up and chemicals or toxins that may have accumulated during this period of time. I’ve long been a strong believer that a light seasonal detoxification is essential for your good health and longevity. Nowadays is even more important than ever due to our less-than-optimal environment and often unhealthy lifestyle choices. Of course people who have serious diseases as cancers, multiple sclerosis, malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies due to bulimia and anorexia, adrenal fatigue, as well as older old aged must be all careful with the above detox program.
You must start from a liver detox due to the fact that this organ is probably the hardest working organ in the human body. It has multiple different tasks to perform, such as: detox of blood, being the biggest fat and sugar warehouse etc. If the liver is cirrhotic, or staffed with fat (liver steatosis) and toxins the above will reflect in chronic fatigue and toxemia and a high risk of various chronic degenerative diseases. Considering the fact that liver cells (hepatocytes) regenerate every 1 ½ year to new liver cells you may need a few (2-3) liver detox flushes to truly clean the liver out.
As a general recommendation you may stop using supplements during the detox as it makes sense to just give your liver some rest during the detox. Exceptions include a colon cleanser formula to keep things moving and eliminating. At the same time if you are on medications you will have to keep taking them during the period of detox after consulting with your general physician (GP). In most of the cases the blood pressure tends to drop significantly during the detox--especially if you're combining the detox with consequent 5 -7days juice fast
Here are few good ideas of a liver detox:
1) Milk Thistle- is a powerful botanical that was first discovered and proved as liver detoxifier by a Bulgarian team of pharmacists and researchers in the Chemical Pharmaceutical Research Institute (Sofia, BG). Taken before sleeping it may have an excellent calming and immunostimulating effect also.
2) Dandelion is an herb that stimulates the liver and encourages the flow of bile, promoting good cleansing. It is also a diuretic, which tones the kidneys and promotes elimination. Dandelion is also a good source of minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium.
3) Ginger-in its medical form Ginger is classified as a stimulant and carminative, used frequently in colics, nausea, diarrhea and dyspepsia. “Generally recognized as safe” by FDA list it may interact with some medications as Warfarin. IT is also contraindicated in people with gallstones as it increases the overproduction of bile. It may decrease inflammation, increase blood thinning activity and cholesterol lowering properties what makes him a good idea for heart disease healing.
4) Burdock Root-Herbalists consider Burdock root to be a good and rapid diuretic and diaphoretic with strong blood purifying properties. It has been used for centuries as blood purifier and toxins cleaner. It is used for hair growth, acne, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis. It has inflammatory and antiseptic properties as it is use in burned patients.
5) Fish oil: Omega 3 fat from may reduce liver fat, muscle fat and subcutaneous fat as well as visceral (organ) fat. It is already an FDA approved natural formula that may reduce triglycerides the carriage form of raw fat in the blood.
6) NAC (N Acetyl Cysteine) is a natural booster and promoter of glutathione secretion. It is a powerful protector and liver detoxifier of the liver.
7) Whey Protein, especially in its 100% pure form will help reduce fat deposition in your liver, in diseases as morbid obesity, metabolic syndrome and other diseases. It works by reducing insulin resistance while may support muscle growth and may even help you lose weight.
Liver Detox Tea Formula
· 2 parts dandelion root
· 2 parts burdock root
· 1 part fennel
· 1 part ginger
· 1 part milk thistle
· 1/2 part mugwort
Combine herbs and cover with 1 1/3 quarts of water and bring to a boil. Then simmer for about 20 minutes, remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.
