16 Signs that your liver needs a detox (and natural ways to do it)
11/21/2019 / By Skye Anderson / Comments
16 Signs that your liver needs a detox (and natural ways to do it)

Your liver is an important organ that filters toxins inside your body. One of its main functions is to rid your system of toxic substances that come from the foods that you eat, the products that you use on your body, your immediate environment and the toxins your body naturally produces. The liver also cleanses your blood, produces important proteins, metabolizes nutrients and turns toxins into waste. Because your liver does a lot to keep your body healthy, it deserves all the help that you can give. So how would you know when to give it?

Signs that your liver is due for a detox

According to Dr. William Cole, a functional medicine practitioner, your liver can get overworked and stressed out. And when it does, your whole body will feel it in a variety of ways. To know when your liver needs a detox, watch out for these 16 signs:

  1. You crave sugar often.
  2. You have digestive problems.
  3. You’re more prone to allergies.
  4. You don’t feel healthy.
  5. Your skin isn’t clear.
  6. You feel tired all the time.
  7. You’re always foggy.
  8. You have regular joint pains.
  9. You feel constantly stressed.
  10. You find it hard to lose weight.
  11. You have hormonal issues.
  12. You have bad body odor.
  13. You have irregular sleeping patterns.
  14. You feel depressed and anxious.
  15. You get cold sores.
  16. You’re emotionally attached to certain foods.

How to cleanse your liver naturally

If you’re experiencing most or all these things, it means your liver needs a break. Here are five things that you can do to put your liver back in tip-top shape.

Adopt a liver- and gut-friendly diet. Liver problems affect your gut microbiome — the mixed population of bacteria present in your gut. When there are fewer good bacteria, the bad ones take over, causing problems like inflammation and slowed metabolism. A slowed metabolism makes it hard for people to lose weight. Fortunately, the solution to this is quite simple: Eat a balanced diet rich in foods that not only promote weight loss, but also contain nutrients that support your liver and gut health. That means ditching all processed foods and increasing your water intake. Here’s a list of foods that can help you lose weight:

  • Almonds
  • Artichoke
  • Berries
  • Beets
  • Broccoli sprouts
  • Citrus fruits
  • Dandelion root and greens
  • Fermented foods
  • Glutathione-boosting foods like raw spinach, avocado and asparagus
  • Green tea
  • Leafy greens
  • Lentils
  • Salmons

According to a study, losing 3-6% of your body weight is enough to reduce liver fat levels by 35-40%. That takes a huge burden off your liver already. So, by including the foods listed above to your diet, you would be doing your liver a huge favor.

Try intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting is a good way to detox. Research shows that a protein that enhances sugar metabolism and reduces fat in the liver is produced during fasting. Cole also says that “periods without food give our body [and liver] a chance to repair and clean itself out since it doesn’t have to focus on or funnel energy to our digestive system.” If you want to try out intermittent fasting, start with a 16-hour fast first. This requires confining all your daily eating to an eight-hour window and fasting for the remainder of the day. Aside from cleansing the liver, this method of fasting is also said to enhance both energy and mood.

Use liver-healthy supplements wisely. There are numerous products being promoted today as liver detoxes, but not all of them have been evaluated for safety or effectiveness. So, if you want to take supplements, choose natural products-based ones. Consult your healthcare provider first if you’re taking any type of medication before taking any supplements. Here are some supplements whose effectiveness are backed up by studies:

Exercise regularly. Sweating is another way of taking some burden off your liver. It is how your skin, another detoxification organ, gets rid of wastes. By avoiding additional exposure to toxins and removing toxins through sweating, we can help our liver detoxify. If you don’t exercise already, you can start by just walking and gradually build up to 30 minutes of aerobic activity a day. You can also do strength training together with your exercise or use saunas, steam or Epsom salt baths to induce sweating.

Practice self-care. Stress is another sign that not everything is right with your body. It is also a huge contributing factor to many health issues. If your liver is not functioning optimally, it may eventually affect your mental state. To prevent this from happening, adopt healthy habits that promote calmness in your life. Enjoying aromatherapy baths once or twice a week is a good thing. Dry brushing or hot towel scrubbing are also soothing and detoxifying bathroom rituals that you can try. They not only promote relaxation; they also improve lymphatic circulation to help you flush out toxins from your body. Or you can simply do the things that bring you joy the most.

Sources:

MindBodyGreen.com 1

MindBodyGreen.com 2

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