Dont Assume Supplements Are Good For Your Liver
Like medications, supplements such as vitamins, minerals, herbs, and natural remedies are processed by your liver.
Just because a product is natural doesnt mean it wont have long-term consequences for your liver. In fact, many seemingly harmless products are capable of doing damage.
A 2017 article published in the journal Gastroenterology & Hepatology identifies performance-enhancing and weight loss supplements as potentially harmful to the liver. Green tea extract is another common herbal supplement that may affect your liver.
Even vitamins, in particular vitamin A and niacin, can cause liver damage if you take too much of them.
To avoid liver complications, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.
This shouldnt come as a surprise, but your diet plays a significant role in the overall health of your liver.
To ensure your diet is benefiting your liver in the long term, try the following:
Research from 2018 examined the role of exercise in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease , now one of the most common liver diseases.
You dont need to run marathons to reap the benefits. You can start exercising today by taking a brisk walk, doing an online workout class, or going on a bike ride.
You can protect yourself against hepatitis by first understanding how the most common forms spread.
Limit Your Alcohol Consumption
Your liver processes every alcoholic beverage you consume, including wine, beer, and spirits. The more you drink, the harder your liver has to work.
Over time, excessive drinking can take a toll, destroying liver cells. Alcohol-related liver disease includes several liver different conditions, such as:
- 12 fluid ounces of regular beer
- 8 to 9 fl. oz. of malt liquor
- 5 fl. oz. of wine
- 1.5 fl. oz. shot of distilled spirits like gin, rum, tequila, whiskey
In addition, avoid mixing alcohol and medication, which puts excess strain on your liver.
Green Liver Detox Juice
What you need
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Eat Potassium Rich Foods
Some studies found that low potassium levels increase metabolic disorders, including fatty liver and type 2 diabetes.4 Optimal amounts of potassium are 4,700 mg daily, and Id be willing to bet you arent getting that much in your diet. There are a lot of health benefits of potassium, including lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, supporting heart health, and promoting optimal liver function.
Its easy to add potassium-rich foods to your diet. You might think that bananas are the potassium superstar, yet thats not the case. Sweet potatoes are the most potassium-dense food you can eat one medium sweet potato contains 700 mg of potassium. Furthermore, sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin D, magnesium, and iron. Bananas and spinach are also excellent sources of potassium.
Liver Detox Supplements: Do They Really Work
Liver supplements work in conjunction with a healthy diet, hydrating beverages and healthy lifestyle changesthey support optimal liver function. While there are no “liver detox supplements” that can cleanse your liver, there are a number of formulas that keep your liver’s normal detoxification process in tip-top shape.
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Fact: Some Ingredients Can Be Beneficial To Your Health
Milk thistle: Milk thistle is a well-known liver cleansing supplement because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It may help reduce liver inflammation.
Turmeric: Turmeric has been shown to decrease the key pro-inflammatory molecules that contribute to the initiation, development, or worsening of diseases. It may help reduce your risk of liver disease.
Due to turmerics low bioavailability, its best taken in supplement form, standardized for 95 percent curcuminoids. For supplement dosages, follow the instructions on the manufacturers label.
Research on these supplements and others is ongoing, so talk to your doctor about the potential risks and benefits they may offer you before use.
Avocados Tomatoes And Spinach
The avocado is rich in glutathione.This substance is present throughout the body, and its function is to protect cells against oxidation, and to detoxify our body from heavy metals. . Like tomatoes and spinach for example, it stimulates the production of liver and digestive enzymes as well as liver activity.
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Supplements For Detox And Liver Health
Its called a powerhouse organ and master multitaskerand for good reason: More than 500 vital functions have been identified with the liver, including production of bile, which helps carry away waste and break down fats in the small intestine during digestion resisting infections by making immune factors and removing bacteria from the bloodstream and regulation of blood levels of amino acids, which form the building blocks of proteins .
Today we know that without a healthy liver, its impossible to have a properly working metabolism, healthy circulation, balanced hormones, clean blood and strong digestion, reports Jillian Levy, CHHC, in How to Improve Liver Function on DrAxe.com. Listing the benefits of a well taken care of liver, Levy points to increased energy levels, clearer skin, stronger immunity, better mood, a sharper mind and more .
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a nutrient-rich diet and exercise will naturally help the liver do its job, but supplements can offer a helping hand in optimizing liver function. Eight to consider:
Brand new research using Sabinsas Curcumin C3 Complex with BioPerine suggested beneficial effects of combined curcuminoids and piperine supplementation on disease severity in patients with NAFLD .
For more on detox and liver healthCheck out these features and web exclusives:
- Why Do Low-Carbers and Keto Dieters Like Intermittent Fasting So Much? by Jonny Bowden, Ph.D., CNS aka The Nutrition Myth Buster
References
The Buildup Of Toxins And Exposure To Chemicals
The buildup of toxins in the body eventually affects all parts of the body. When the liver becomes overloaded with toxins, it releases harmful substances called bilirubin. Bilirubin is toxic to red blood cells causing jaundice. Jaundiced skin turns yellowish-brown. Yellowing eyes turn orangey. Liver failure occurs when the liver stops producing bile flow acidsthe bile acids aid in digesting fats and proteins.
Dietary toxins include pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, industrial chemicals, pharmaceutical medications, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, additives, and processed foods.
Environmental toxins such as pesticides or heavy metals may be stored inside our bodies for years without us knowing about them. This means they could have been affecting our organs since we were children. In fact, many people dont realize how much damage their body has already accumulated until later on in life when symptoms appear.
The elimination of toxins through a balanced diet and lifestyle changes is one way to prevent liver disease. There are several ways to cleanse your body of toxins. You can choose between two types of cleansing diets liquid diets and raw vegan diets. Both require strict adherence but offer different benefits. Liquid diets provide more nutrients per calorie intake, whereas raw vegan diets focus on eliminating toxins rather than providing nutrition.
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How To Detox Your Liver Naturally
Give your liver a break so it can catch up on its important work, rest, and detoxify itself. Doing a liver cleanse is easy and heres how:
- Avoid processed foods, fats, animal proteins, and refined sugars for a few days.
- Eat healthy, fresh, and a good amount of raw fruits and vegetables that help the liver clean itself faster.
- You can also consume many fresh juices to give your digestive system a short break at the same time.
- Choose organic food thats free of pesticides and chemicals.
If youre taking medications, get medical advice from your doctor on how to proceed with detoxification.
Eat Liver Cleansing Foods
Once youve gotten rid of the bad, add in the good. Dr. Raisen suggests going on a cleansing diet that gives the liver a break. Research also supports the idea that foods can help you detox. According to an article published in 2015 in the Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, theres evidence that certain components and nutrients can modulate processes of conversion and eventual excretion of toxins from the body. As the authors explain, certain foodsand even specific compounds found within themcan regulate metabolic pathways in the liver to assist with the elimination of toxins.
According to Dr. Raisen, a few examples of these foods are artichoke, watercress, and green leafy veggies. Studies have shown that artichoke, in particular, has medicinal qualities for the liver. In fact, the authors of a 2015 study wrote that: In animal studies, liquid extracts of the roots and leaves of artichoke have demonstrated an ability to protect the liver, with possibly even to help liver cells regenerate. According to other studies, garlic, ginger, and berries also make the list of liver-cleansing foods.
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The Difference Between A Body And Liver Cleanse Or Detox
When people think about cleansing and detoxing, they mainly think of the body as a whole. Typically, a body cleanse is focused primarily on cleansing the digestive systems intestinal tract. The benefits of this are weight loss, improved digestive health, clearer skin, and many other health gains. While a body cleanse is a great thing to do every once in a while, its important to consider that it doesnt directly address the liver. Sure, a body cleanse will be beneficial for your liver health, but to perform specifically a liver detox, it needs to be approached differently. You might be wondering, how do I flush my liver? An easy method is by eating and drinking liver cleansing foods.
Enjoy The Benefits Of Cranberry Water As A Natural Remedy To Cleanse Your Liver
Cranberry water is another great option to help flush out toxins from the kidneys. Drink at least eight glasses every day. Avoid drinking tap water unless necessary. Warm water will work better than cold water.
You can find cranberries in most grocery stores. They come frozen or canned. To make fresh cranberry water:
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What Is The Fastest Way To Cleanse Your Liver
Drink plenty of water. Eat lots of fruit and vegetable juices. Avoid alcohol. A healthy liver requires regular exercise and rest. Eat foods high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Consume less sugar and processed foods. Get enough sleep.
Take time off from stressful activities. Exercise regularly. Stay hydrated. Do not smoke cigarettes. Limit caffeine consumption. Reduce stress levels. Use essential oils. Follow a daily routine and maintain a positive attitude for best results.
Worst Foods For Your Liver
The foods we eat have different effects on our bodies depending on how they affect our organs. For example, eating too much sugar will make us crave more sweets. This happens because when we consume sugar, insulin levels rise, which leads to cravings. In addition, excess sugar causes inflammation within the body.
The same thing goes with alcohol drinking too much makes us feel good, but it damages our livers over time. Liver inflammation caused by alcohol use is reversed through abstinence. But once damaged, there is little hope for recovery.
If you have been drinking too much or abusing drugs, your body will not recover from their effects on its own, and the risk of liver disease is increased. Alcohol-related liver disease has many forms, including acute alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and hepatic encephalopathy.
Alcoholic liver disease develops slowly after long-term heavy alcohol abuse. People suffering from alcoholism tend to drink heavily at times when they know they shouldnt. They continue to do so despite knowing that its bad for them. Over time, the amount of alcohol consumed increases while tolerance decreases.
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How Does Your Liver Get Overloaded
Everyone could benefit from giving their liver a little extra TLC, but according to Dr. Raisen there are certain factors that increase the risk that your liver will get overloaded. A big one is the methylation gene , another buzz word you hear frequently in the context of liver detox. As Raisen explains, A lot of people have the MTHFR gene defect and when you do, it makes it harder to detox. Essentially, it impairs the enzyme that converts B vitamins into methyl-folate, which is a crucial step in the detoxification process in the liver. If you have this mutation, its particularly important to support your bodys natural elimination pathways. But even if you dont have the MTHFR mutation, there are plenty of factorslike using plastic food storage containers or drinking too much alcohol in modern life that put our livers at risk.
So what, exactly, does it feel like when your liver is overloaded? You might feel a combination of fatigue, brain fog, bloating, and stomach aches, says Dr. Raisen. Typically, if she suspects a patient may have a liver issue, she will confirm this with blood tests that look at liver function and damage.
But feeling less-than-optimal isnt where the risk of an overextended liver ends, either. Studies have found that the accumulation of toxins may plan a significant role in diabetes, obesity, and reproductive disordersamong many others.
Clearly, an overloaded liver is not something you should ignore.
Is Your Body Telling You Its Time For A Liver Cleanse
The liver is a multitasking organ, working to keep your blood clean, metabolism functioning and digestion system strong. Its also responsible for filtering out the nutrients that are available in the foods you eat and spreading them throughout your body by way of your bloodstream, and then eliminating the toxic waste thats left behind from this process.
In addition to these vital roles, the liver regulates blood supply by ensuring theres enough blood stored, allowing the blood to clot, and breaking down damaged blood cells so that they can be eliminated from the body through urine or stool.
Clearly, the liver plays an important role in our health, and when it doesnt function properly, we are at risk of experiencing symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and digestive issues. Its important to note that liver issues dont only occur in people who drink alcohol heavily. They can also affect people with a poor diet, those who are under high amounts of stress, anyone exposed to air pollution and environmental toxins, and people on prescription medications or antibiotics. And since that just about covers everyone walking the planet right now, its also important to note that a good liver cleanse can help to get this hard-working organ back on track.
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The 10 Best Herbs For Liver Health: Benefits And Precautions
Many people around the world live with conditions that affect the liver, including cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease , alcoholic liver disease, liver cancer, liver failure, and hepatitis (
3 ).
Risk factors for liver disease include heavy alcohol intake, high blood sugar levels, obesity, high blood pressure, viruses, elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and more .
Liver disease is treated in a number of ways, including medication, nutritional therapy, immunotherapy, lifestyle change, surgical resection, and even liver transplant in end stage liver disease .
In addition to standard treatments, many people turn to alternative therapies, including herbal supplements, in hopes of improving and protecting their liver health. In fact, around 65% of people in the United States and Europe with liver diseases take herbal supplements (
Here are the 10 best herbs that have been shown to improve liver health.
Reduce Your Toxic Exposure
It can be hard to avoid toxins altogether in todays toxic world full of heavy metals, plastics, mold, and synthetic chemicals. Every single one of us gets exposed to an unprecedented amount of toxins. There are over 80,000 chemicals registered for use in the United States, and another 1,700 get added each year.
These industrial chemicals are the primary ingredients in our cosmetics and personal care products. An average of seven new industrial chemicals get approval by the U.S. government daily, and 80% of these get approved in three weeks or less, with little or no safety testing done.
Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is an excellent place to start when it comes to keeping your immune system functioning optimally. I recommend a two-step approach for taming the toxins: 1) minimize your exposure and 2) support your detox pathways. However, the bombardment of environmental toxins we face each day in the form of water and air pollution, pesticides and herbicides in our food, and chemicals in our beauty products and cleaning products requires us to turn to our bodys most powerful methods of detoxification to keep up with our toxic burdens.
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How To Detox Your Liver In 2 Days
Are you feeling groggy, run down, and tired no matter how much coffee you drink or how much sleep you get? Your body could be telling you something. How great or poorly you feel is largely based on how efficiently your body is removing and purging toxins. If youre feeling sluggish, there is a good chance that your body is in need of a detox in order to remove these toxins, and get you feeling your absolute best! A liver cleanse is a great way to do this.
Since the liver is one of the hardest working organs in our body, it is important that we take great care of it so that it will continue to take great care of us. Our liver is responsible for metabolizing fats, proteins and carbohydrates, bile production and excretion, blood detoxification and purification, and the storage of glycogen, vitamins and minerals just to name a few. Without an optimally functioning liver, we can begin to feel worn down, moody, and may experience gas, bloating and constipation.
But fear not, this Quick Liver Cleanse I use, will get your liver functioning properly and have you feeling better in no time. Typically, I just eat steamed veggies with lemon and a little celtic salt for some extra sustenance! Please keep in mind, pregnant women and nursing moms should not do this cleanse. Hopefully this quick, two-day cleanse will gear you up for the summer!
For two days, I recommend the following:
BEST PARSLEY SMOOTHIE RECIPE
