Detoxification of the Liver
Liver detoxification is of prime importance when embarking on a detox, as it is the body’s main organ of detoxification. The liver has many important jobs to do. Most importantly for the purposes of detoxification, it filters the blood, and metabolises all of the harmful substances found in the bloodstream so that they can be excreted from the body through the gastrointestinal tract. There are many herbs, nutrients and anti-oxidants which can support and encourage your liver to do this effectively.
Nutritional recommendations:
Herbs such as Dandelion root, artichoke, and milk thistle stimulate liver detoxification and regeneration.
NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), Selenium, and Alpha lipoic acid are precursors to the anti-oxidant glutathione, which enhances liver detoxification.
Green tea as well as being a fantastic source of anti-oxidants, encourages detoxification through the liver.
Other tips and hints:
Have a glass of water with generous squeeze of lemon juice first thing in the morning. This helps to get the liver and digestive system kick-started for the day, and is gently cleansing for the body.
Include garlic and onions in your diet.
Eat cruciferous vegetables – broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower.
Add turmeric to your food – it is an antioxidant and improves liver function.
Be kind to your liver by avoiding all processed foods, as the liver has to process all additives and this can be a burden on this organ over time.
Eat only organic foods, as pesticides and herbicides burden liver detoxification over time.
Eat good quality protein to support detoxification processes