Do you need to detox your liver?

The human body is an amazing creature. It strives to be in homeostasis. When we are in homeostasis everything functions properly, and we feel great. Since the human body does all the work already NO a cleanse is not needed. Helping it perform at 100% is what we humans can do to feel great and prevent liver disease and other chronic conditions.

The liver helps eliminate harmful toxins and substances alongside the kidneys. It filters out all the junk without the need for the immune system to poke its nose in. The liver creates the bile needed to break down fat within the small intestine.

Not everyone has liver issues. If you are eating a variety of whole real foods, staying hydrated, and moving your body it is most likely functioning properly. If you are filling your body with alcohol, excessive caffeine, processed foods, and harmful chemicals, helping the liver perform at its peak may be needed.

What does it feel like if the liver is not performing at its best?

Sluggish

Tired

Fatigued

Bad breath

Body odor

Weight gain

Sugar cravings

Nausea

Digestive issues

Depression

Hormonal imbalances

Headaches

Muscle pain

Joint pain

Skin problems – acne, excessive dryness or oil, eczema, rashes, etc.

When the liver is not expelling toxins properly it will hold on to the metabolic waste, unhealthy old blood cells, bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites, toxins, and drugs. These harmful substances can lead to liver damage or failure. This does not need to be scary. Most of us have a well-functioning liver. There are ways to aid the liver in natural ways.

How can we help the liver do its amazing work?

Eat a variety of whole real foods. A wide variety of vegetables, fruits, animal proteins, and healthy fats. Swap out any seed oils, processed foods, and high-caffeine drinks.

Get enough fiber. Be sure to be getting adequate fiber in your diet to not only aid the liver but also aid your digestion. This would be beans, broccoli, berries, avocado, apples, chia seeds, brussels sprouts, and quinoa. Adequate fiber aids cholesterol, healthy weight, blood sugar levels, and bulk in the digestive tract. Slowly add in more fiber to combat bloating and gas associated with the gut not being used to that much fiber.

Stay hydrated. Drink half your body weight in ounces of hydrating liquids daily. This can be water (plain or electrolyte infused), tea, water-packed fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, watermelon, celery, zucchini, and greens.

Switch out any toxic products used regularly – read more on that here! This process does not have to mean tossing out all the products you have within your home and replacing them all at once. As you use up a product switch to a natural one. This process can take time depending on how much you currently have. It took me over a year to switch out 90% of the things I use regularly that were toxic.

Drink coffee, lemon ginger tea, turmeric, and dandelion tea. Get good quality turmeric to cook with and reap the benefits. Make some dandelion tea and add a pinch of honey and you have a great tea loaded full of benefits for your health not just your liver.

What happens when you support your liver process?

Some have reported better metabolism and weight loss, heightened symptoms listed above during the detox process, frequent urination to expel those unwanted substances, and after getting the liver back to 100% feeling refreshed, revitalized, and restored.

Aiding your liver process is simple. Changing to a whole real food diet, staying hydrated, limiting alcohol, and moving your body will aid the liver. The need for supplements is not needed and could cause damage to your liver. Beware of supplements stating they cleanse or detox the liver. Not all companies use real ingredients – some use synthetics and chemicals. Those synthetic materials and chemicals will just cause the opposite result clogging up the liver instead of helping it detoxify on its own.

I do want to note here to have compassion for yourself. All changes take time to adjust to. Retraining our brains is work and hard work at times. This does not mean that you can never have alcohol, junk food, or a day of rest. I live by the 80/20 rule, meaning 80% of the time I am doing everything within my control, let me repeat that “WITHIN MY CONTROL”, to aid my body in doing its amazing work keeping it in homeostasis. When I first started taking control of what I was putting in and on my body things changed. I was confused, worried, and unsure that what I was doing was helping because I stunk, and felt more fatigue, aches, and depressive episodes. This was my body eliminating those toxins and those toxins fighting to stay in there.

My 20% could look like a night out with my husband and enjoying a spicy margarita, taking a day o rest and recoup, occasionally eating junk or sugar (not much as it makes me feel like crap), or enjoying time with friends eating those highly palatable foods. Having fun is just as important as what we put in and on our bodies. These times of fun release dopamine, create connections, and lowers stress.

If you are liking this blog please share it on social media, with friends, and family. This is the best way to support me in sharing this information. Thank you for joining me today.

~ Tina