Liver Detoxification
There is no doubt that the liver is a vital organ in human physiology, and astoundingly so, as it is responsible for more than 500 different functions related to the filtration and regulation of the body’s many bio-chemicals. These various tasks include aiding in the digestive process, filtering chemicals, distribution of nutrients, glucose storage, blood sugar level maintenance, elimination of old blood cells, and the processing and removal of blood toxins.
Basically, the liver monitors the different chemicals in the body, verifying their composition and evaluating what function they perform, if any. Should the liver deem a substance as toxic, it breaks the toxin down to be converted into waste material through the kidneys or the gallbladder. Regularly filtering more than 50 gallons of blood each day, the liver can easily be under threat of blockage and overload. Since the toxins are stored in the cells of the liver, the more toxins are stored the more the organ’s functions, as well the overall health of the body, is affected. While the liver can function even if it loses not more than 90% of cells, it could only take so much stress.
When the liver breaks down, the body breaks down with it. Among the symptoms one may suffer are headaches, fatigue, constipation, depression, allergies, skin disorders, asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol level, obesity or even being underweight. Fortunately, the liver would still retain some of its natural resistance, and such ailments can yet be overturned if tended to in time. An extremely helpful measure would be to undergo periodic liver detoxification.
But before submitting oneself to liver detoxification, naturopath doctors would typically advise that one should first go through a colon cleanse, followed by a kidney cleanse. This is because when the liver is being detoxified, the toxins that were stored in it would be cast off into the body to be purged by the colon and kidneys as quickly as necessary. Hence, these organs should be at peak working condition to perform their tasks, or else the problem might worsen.
In initiating liver detoxification, one should restrict consumption of processed food and instead eat fresh fruits and vegetables, unprocessed meats and whole grains. Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower are particularly good. The key is, eat organic. Also be wary of artificial sweeteners, preservatives and additives, as well as sugar, white flour, soft drinks, alcohol and coffee.
Avoid smoking tobacco, even if only temporarily, although it would do one good to quit the habit for good. Also refrain from taking too much medication; limit intake as much as possible. Liver detoxification can also be induced through sweating, so allotting a minimum 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a day is recommended. One should also drink half their body weight in ounces of pure clean filtered water each day.
Supplements containing nutrients that help in liver detoxification include Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E and K, Zinc, Iron, Copper, Manganese, Lecithin Magnesium, Niacin, Selenium, Riboflavin, Bioflavanoids, Carotenes, Folic Acid, CoQ10, Milk Thistle, Borage Oil, Black Currant Seed Oil and Evening Primrose Oil. While the detoxifying process is working to repair the liver’s health, one should not expect to automatically feel great as this is going on. In fact, one should expect a few symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, nausea, weakness, flu-like symptoms and others while detox is in progress. Eventually, the discomfort will pass in a matter of days and the process will take effect. Once the toxins have been cleansed from the body, one should be on the way to a full recovery.
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