Our liver functions like a natural filter. It flushes out all sorts of toxins and harmful substances like clockwork. Some of these toxins include excess alcohol, excess cholesterol, toxic metals like lead and most chemicals from medications.

Experts believe that the liver can cleanse itself, and this is true for the most part. However, too much toxin from poor nutrition and bad eating habits can impair the liver’s self-cleansing process, resulting in a “clogged” liver. This, in turn, can cause a host of problems including liver disease, liver damage and liver failure.

Understanding detoxification

Multiple studies suggest that it’s possible to enhance the natural detoxification process that takes place in the liver.

A 2014 review published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics found that foods like coriander and nori, among others, have natural detoxification properties that help eliminate pollutants in the liver.

A balanced diet that includes liver-cleansing foods also work hand in hand with regular exercise and a good night’s sleep to support overall liver health.

But not all detox diets and liver cleanses are effective. For instance, there is no scientific evidence to believe that commercial detox programs with restrictive diet protocols and all sorts of juice cleanses and smoothie recipes can, in fact, promote liver detoxification.

Healthcare professionals also warn against low-calorie and low-protein detox diets that can lead to overall weakness and health complications due to poor nutrition.

How to detox

Diet fads come and go, most of them for the better. Therefore, it’s important to stick to basic but effective detox practices that also benefit our overall health and wellness.

With that, follow these 10 simple steps to detox for a clean and functioning liver:

Limit or avoid sweets and sugar-sweetened drinks

Excess sugar consumption can lead to fat accumulation in the liver, a condition better known as fatty liver disease. This condition can have a negative and immense impact on vital liver functions. Therefore, cutting back on sugar gives the liver a much-needed break from the harmful effects of sugar.

Drink more water

Drinking more water helps flush out waste products lingering in the gut, liver and bloodstream. You can also infuse water with lemon to jumpstart liver functions and flush out toxic metals in the process.

Get active

Exercising encourages blood circulation, digestion and metabolism. For this reason, people who exercise tend to be healthier in general than those who do little to no exercise at all. Exercise also helps burn fat buildup in the liver, thus improving overall liver health.

Drink herbal teas

Herbal teas like green tea and chamomile are great sources of antioxidants that protect liver cells from damage due to fat accumulation, excess alcohol, cigarette smoke and other pollutants.

Eat more fruits and vegetables

You can never go wrong with eating more fruits and vegetables, as well as other plant-based foods like whole grains, beans and nuts. These foods provide tons of essential nutrients that aid various cellular processes including detoxification.

Minimize exposure to pollutants

Environmental pollutants like cigarette smoke and chemicals found in household cleaners and building materials can also do some major damage to vital organs if left unchecked. Although it’s possible to flush out pollutants, preventing exposure in the first place is essential to maintaining liver health.

Use a sauna

Most fitness centers have a sauna or a steam room where people can sit and sweat themselves out after a workout. What most people aren’t aware of is that sweating it out in a sauna isn’t just for losing a bit of water weight. The heat from the steam also draws out impurities and toxic chemicals from the skin, thus relieving the burden on the liver.

Exfoliate

More often than not, the skin reflects the processes happening inside of our bodies. A poor-functioning liver can manifest as skin problems like acne breakouts and psoriasis flareups. Exfoliate two or three times a week at most to slough off dead skin cells, bacteria and other impurities on the skin.

Stick to a regular eating pattern

Skipping breakfast or indulging in midnight snacks does more harm than it seems. Eating in irregular intervals often slows down metabolism, causing waste products and other toxins to sit in the gut and liver for longer periods.

Get enough sleep

Getting at least seven hours of sleep each night is crucial to our overall health. Sleep “resets” organ functions, leading to better and more efficient detoxification. Sleep also gives the brain time to recharge itself and remove waste products that lead to neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

Follow these steps to enhance liver health and supercharge your body’s natural detoxification process.

Read more articles about liver health and liver cleanses at LiverDamage.news.

Sources:

Healthline.com

OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com

Shape.com