The liver is a remarkable, adaptable, and particularly resilient
organ. We hammer it with not-so-healthy foods, medications, and
lifestyle choices but it continues to chug along, processing
everything we eat and drink, synthesizing proteins and fats, and
filtering out toxins and waste while passing along nutrients that we
need.
Because of the workload, the liver can sometimes get backed up. If
not addressed with diet and lifestyle changes, toxins accumulate and
cause serious problems. Additionally, lifestyle-related conditions
obesity and diabetes are linked to fatty liver disease and liver
cancer.
Symptoms of a toxic liver include:
Abdominal pain/engorgement
Bitter taste in the mouth
Loss of appetite
High cholesterol
Fatigue
Fluid retention in the abdomen
Jaundice
Skin sensitivity/outbreaks
Dark urine
Gallbladder attacks
Whether you experience symptoms or just want to pay some special
attention to this very special organ, below are 12 ways to get a
natural liver detox.
Natural Liver Detox in 12 Steps
This is just what your liver needs!
1. Scale Back the Alcohol
You can’t do a natural liver detox without scaling back on the
alcohol.
A glass of wine or beer with dinner can be beneficial in some ways
but drinking more than that can harm your liver. Damage can be
caused by metabolic by-products of consuming alcohol and the
resulting inflammation. Alcoholism is a given, as chronic
overindulgence often overcomes this vital organ whose job it is to
filter out everything harmful. Binge drinking of 4 or more drinks at
once just twice a week is enough to make your liver say stop.
In fact, 21 binge-drinking episodes within a 7-week period are
enough to cause symptoms of early liver disease. To give your liver
a break, drink no alcohol for at least a week, then reintroduce
light to moderate drinking (1-2 glasses no more than a few times a
week) to keep from overtaxing your liver.
2. If You’re Overweight, Shed Some Pounds
Obesity is defined as carrying too much body fat—distinguishable
from being overweight, which is defined as carrying more than a
healthful weight for your height. Weight can come from muscle, bone,
water, and fat. Researchers have found a definite correlation
between obesity and liver disease.
“Obesity has been linked not only to initial stages of the
[non-alcoholic fatty liver] disease, i.e., simple steatosis (SS),
but also to its severity. From a clinical point of view, obesity has
increased morbidity and mortality when combined with NAFLD [non-alcholic
fatty liver disease], owing to cardiovascular and liver-specific
mortality, including higher HCC [liver cancer] risk. From a
therapeutic point of view, weight loss is regarded as the
cornerstone for the disease prevention and treatment,” writes a 2017
study.
Chronic Liver Disease Treatment
3. Cut Back on Processed Food
Even if you aren’t overweight or obese, if you eat a lot of
processed food, your liver may be suffering for it. Fast and
processed foods (including soda) contain inordinate amounts of
sugar, salt, trans fat, chemicals, genetically-modified organisms,
and other nasty stuff.
Perhaps the worst ingredient for the liver (and every other part of
your body) in processed food is high fructose corn syrup, a
ubiquitous derived sweetener that is causing liver disease even in
children. The title of one 2015 study on the effect of high fructose
corn syrup on the liver wrote: “Carbohydrate intake and nonalcoholic
fatty liver disease: fructose as a weapon of mass destruction”.
That’s pretty clear and unusually bold for a scientific study.
Cutting back on processed foods and replacing them with real, whole
foods will help heal your liver and you’ll feel better for it.
4. Reduce Over-the-Counter Pain Medications
Pain meds like aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are sold
virtually everywhere and undeniably reduce mild pain quickly for
most people. These common remedies, however, are terrible for your
liver.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin, NyQuil, TheraFlu) known to cause
liver damage and failure in as little time as 2 weeks of regular
use. Taking these with alcohol drastically increases the risk of
liver damage.
Ibuprofen – works by blocking the production of liver enzymes that
regulate inflammation, directly impeding liver function. This can
cause damage, disease, and failure if used over time.
Naproxen – causes acute liver failure.
Aspirin – included in the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAID) along with the ones mentioned above, aspirin disrupts
liver function by interfering with the synthesis of hormones and
regulatory biochemicals. Aspirin can also cause bleeding throughout
the digestive system.
Instead of these, find some natural pain relief suggestions here.
5. Beet It
Beets are rich in antioxidants and are especially protective of the
liver. In one study of the efficacy of beets on liver function,
antioxidant levels increased significantly in liver tissue following
a period of ischemia (deprivation of oxygen), stimulating enzymatic
function to return the liver to normal function.
Betalain is a red-violet pigment found in beetroot that has
significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Lipid
peroxidation is the damage that free radicals wreak on cells by
stealing electrons. Livers of rats fed beetroot extract were found
to avoid most of the imposed oxidative stress as compared to rats in
a control group. On top of that, antioxidant levels remained stable
after the experiment.
“…beetroot supplementation might be a promising adjunct strategy to
help manage diseased states propagated by oxidative stress, such as
liver injury and cancer,” concluded the study.
Betalain is metabolized from the nutrient choline. Studies confirm
that choline deficiency is the primary cause of fatty liver disease.
6. Detox with Water
Most of us don’t drink enough water. When it comes to rebooting your
liver, a good flush is what’s needed while replenishing supportive
nutrition. Increasing water intake will help the liver to clear out.
Water filtered by reverse osmosis is best, to remove most of the
chemicals that are added to municipal water. If your tap water
contains fluoride, filtered water is especially important in the
context of liver health, as fluoride has been found to cause fat
deposits in the liver, amongst other things.
Fatty Liver Cure at Home
We have some detoxifying infused water recipes that include herbs to
help clean out the gunk while the water flushes it out.
7. Eat Healthy Fats
Trans fats that come from hydrogenated oils will clobber your liver.
Organic cold-pressed virgin oils are healthy fats that will support
it with antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and other nutrients.
Other healthy fat sources include:
Avocado
Coconut
Flaxseed
Hemp
Olive
Coconut oil, with its medium-chain fatty acids, is especially
healing for the liver. Its antioxidants prevent liver toxicity and
speed healing after chemotherapy and antibiotic damage. You can
increase your coffee’s abilities as a liver-healer by mixing in a
spoonful of coconut oil instead of creamer.
Olive oil is also very supportive of the liver. Some of its potency
escapes when heated so if you’re looking to specifically assist your
liver, pour it out of the bottle directly in foods. For a natural
liver detox flush: mix 1 tablespoon of olive oil with 1 tablespoon
of lemon juice and drink first thing upon awakening before
breakfast. Olive oil prevents the build-up of bad fats in the liver
and lemon cleans and protects.
8. Increase Exercise
Exercise helps everything. You get your blood flowing, toxins
flushed, muscles strengthened, weight controlled, stress reduced,
sleep improved…and the list goes on. Even moderate exercise (150
minutes a week of brisk walking) has a significant effect on
reducing liver fat in people with fatty liver disease. To heal and
maintain liver health and for a natural liver detox boost, exercise
regularly.
9. Supplement with Vitamin E
According to a 2012 study published by the National Institutes of
Health:
“The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is
likely to increase over time due to the epidemics of obesity and
diabetes. Presently, there is no definitive treatment for NAFLD.
Based on available evidence, vitamin E (RRR-α-tocopherol) is only
recommended in NASH adults without diabetes or cirrhosis and with
aggressive histology…vitamin E therapy demonstrated a significant
improvement in steatosis [cell fat retention], inflammation,
ballooning, and resolution of steatohepatitis [fatty liver disease]
in adult patients with aggressive NASH who do not have diabetes or
cirrhosis.”
10. Eat Bitter Greens
Green vegetables are supremely nutritious and are the best kind for
liver health. They contain flavonoid antioxidants in their pigments
that are potent healers. Bitter greens like arugula, dandelion,
beet, endive, collard greens, and watercress modulate liver fatty
acids. The bitter flavor stimulates bile secretion to clean the
liver and promote efficient digestion. Green tea also provides liver
support.
Replacing less healthful foods with more greens will rejuvenate you
and help you to drop a few pounds if you’re overweight.
If you are having problems with your liver, avoid:
These nightshade plants can be mildly toxic to a compromised liver.
11. Go for Grapefruit
This bitter citrus fruit doesn’t get the credit it deserves. For
one, it’s a vitamin C powerhouse that contains countless
antioxidants.
In terms of liver health, grapefruit contains naringenin, which
protects against liver injury and fibrosis caused by eating cured
meat. The compound also has antiinflammatory properties that fight
chemical-induced oxidative stress. Moreover, the compound’s
chelating effects work against liver necrosis, hydropic
degeneration, and hepatic cord disorganization.
Add half a grapefruit or a tall glass of grapefruit juice to your
daily breakfast for a great natural liver detox. Just know that the
fruit can interact with prescription medicine, so speak to your
doctor if you have ongoing prescriptions.
12. Eat Organic
Roundup is the world’s most popular herbicide. It contains the
ingredient glyphosate, which causes a whole plethora of serious
illness, including autism spectrum disorders, headaches,
neurological dysfunction, obesity, allergies, asthma, and liver
disease. Glyphosate residues exist in almost all conventional foods
sold in North America, from honey to boxed cereals to wine. You can
find more information about what foods to specifically avoid here.
A recent study found that regular ultra-low doses of Roundup
(proportional to what humans can expect to ingest if eating
conventional packaged and processed foods) fed to rats over a 2-year
period resulted in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in the second
year.
“Regulators worldwide accept toxicity studies in rats as indicators
of human health risks. So the results of this latest study have
serious implications for human health.”
This is important, the study states, as fatty liver disease
correlates with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. In
addition, there are cumulative effects:
“there is increasing evidence to suggest that GBHs [glyphosate-based
herbicides] and glyphosate can bring about toxic effects via
different mechanisms, depending upon the level of exposure.”
This study also observed glyphosate damage to other organs as well.
Results included tissue cell death, fibrosis (scarring), abnormal
metabolism of fats, and damage to cell mitochondria (the centers of
cells that take in nutrients, break them down, and release them as
energy).
Organic food by definition means that the produce grows without
synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers. It also means that
the farmers use seeds which are not genetically modified. These
factors drastically reduce your exposure to glyphosate and other
toxic chemicals. No matter how good the natural liver detox,
pesticides can damage your liver permanently.
Source
Bottom Line
Your liver is the largest internal organ in your body and it filters
everything you eat and take in. Take care of this critical organ
with a natural liver detox lifestyle and toxins will be a thing of
the past!
