- Make It Yourself Lavender Heart-Shaped Bath Bombs!
- 20 Things You Never Knew About “Down There”
- 12 Best Foods For Those Suffering From Arthritis Pain
- 12 Personal Hygiene Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes (Mom Never Told You About #4!)
- 15 Medicinal Plants And Herbs From The Cherokee People
- 12 Mind-Blowing Benefits Of Drinking Coconut Water During Pregnancy
- 12 Outstanding Winter Foods That Won’t Fatten You Up Like A Christmas Turkey
10 Ways to Detox Your Liver Naturally
Photo credit: bigstock.com
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 todays’ 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. This is in addition to its other functions, such as putting those carbs, proteins, and fats to good use, helping with digestion, removing toxins, and storing essential nutrients. When you consume toxic substances such as sugar or alcohol, your liver has to go into overdrive, trying to detoxify your blood stream. Read more about common everyday habits that ruin your liver.
We can help our liver continue removing toxins from the body by giving it some of the foods, herbs, and other things it needs to help it cleanse and restore itself back to its proper working order.
Keep reading for the top 10 ways you can naturally detox your liver. It’s much easier than you imagine.
1. Cilantro
Sometimes called coriander, this is a super cleansing herb that is so powerful, it can be used to purify water! This little green herb is great at removing heavy metals from the body. Cilantro is very versatile. You can add it to salsa, tacos, salads, pastas, stir fry’s, and curries. If you really don’t’ like the taste, you can always buy cilantro extract as a supplement.
2. Methionine
This is an essential amino acid, which means it’s something we need to consume, as the body does not make it on its own. Methionine is important for several of the detox processes carried out by the liver. It also makes up part of an important compound called glutathione, which is an antioxidant that protects the liver and other cells in the body from damage from free radicals. You can buy this supplement at almost any health food store.
3. Lemon Water
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. The smell alone will help to wake you up and energize you! 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. Although lemons are quite acidic, once they enter the body they become alkaline, which helps all areas of your body as cancer and inflammation cannot live in an alkaline environment.
Continue to Page 2
Photo credit: bigstock.com
4. Brussels Sprouts
If you still hate those Brussels sprouts your mom served you when you were a kid, you can also eat broccoli or cabbage as these are all related. All of these vegetables contain a substance called glucosinolates, which are sulfur containing compounds that really protect the liver from damage and improve its overall ability to remove toxins.
5. 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 alllicin 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. If that smell is just too much, then try adding more garlic to your meals. It won’t win you any “most kissable” contests, but you can always brush your teeth later.
6. Crab Apples
Some people consume crab apple extract because they feel it will help to stabilize their moods and improve feelings of self-esteem, but the real benefit to crab apples is that it works like crazy when it comes to detoxing the liver. Don’t eat fresh crab apples, as they will most likely give you a case of the runs; choose the extract supplement instead!
7. Turmeric
Sometimes referred to as Indian Saffron, 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.
Continue to Page 3
Photo credit: bigstock.com
8. Beets
Think of those bright reddish purple beets as being a crazy shot of super health for your body. Beets 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 those important antioxidants, and many nutrients including pectin, iron, betacyanin, and betanin. Pectin is a soluble form of fiber, which means that it not only keeps you feeling full after you eat them, but they literally act like a broom, sweeping toxins out of the intestines.
9. Avocados
Well, here is a super delicious way to detox your liver and please your taste buds at the same time! Researchers in Japan have found that avocados have several compounds which can protect our livers from long term damage. Avocados are often referred to as a super food, and it’s not surprising. When compared to 21 other fruits, these researchers found that avocados worked best at protecting the liver from galactosamine, which is a damaging toxin. What a great excuse to whip up a batch of guacamole this afternoon!
SEE ALSO: Cleanse Your Liver with These Two Common Plants
10. St. Mary’s Thistle
You might not have heard much about this herb, but when it comes to the liver, St. Mary’s Thistle is all about protection. This herb can protect the liver from toxins such as alcohol and carbon tetrachloride. This powerful little herb also helps your liver to regenerate itself and repair damaged cells. If you can’t find this at your local health food store, you will have no problem finding it online.
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.
References:
