How to Cleanse the Liver by Eating Ordinary Foods

The liver is one of the most important organs of the body, responsible for functions from regulating blood sugar to absorbing nutrients. It processes everything that enters the body and it has to eliminate harmful substances. It does this is by taking a dangerous substance and changing it into one less dangerous, for which it needs antioxidants. Another means of liver detox is when the liver makes a harmful chemical water soluble, for which it needs sulphuric compounds. By eating everyday foods, we can cleanse the liver and allow it to keep doing its job of keeping us healthy.

Instructions

1. 

   Squeeze fresh lemon or lime juice into a cup of warm water twice a day. Add the zest (grated rind) to salads, fish or non-fat yogurt. The zest contains a substance that increases the level of toxic removing enzymes in the liver. Lemons also have antiseptic properties, and they help build up the liver's cleansing ability when the liver bile is too diluted.

2. 

   Drink fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice. Grapefruits, especially pink/red ones, raise the productivity of the liver's detoxifying enzymes. Eating a grapefruit whole is a great way to get fiber, which also helps with liver cleansing. Peel the grapefruit and eat it in sections. If you simply halve it and eat it with a spoon you are missing out on extra fiber and pectin, which is needed for liver health and lowering cholesterol.

3. 

   Eat foods from the sulphur family at least three to four times a week. Foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts not only contain antioxidants which are needed to fight free radical damage from detoxification, but they are also high in sulphur which is needed to help the liver convert toxins to water-soluble substances that can be excreted out of the body.

4. 

   Consume foods high in fiber, such as fresh fruit. Keep the skin on fruits such as apples and pears, just remember to wash thoroughly. Beans, nuts, and fresh, unprocessed vegetables are also excellent sources of fiber. When the liver cleanses itself of toxins, it throws them into the digestive tract. Fiber will bind with these toxins and they are excreted out of the body. If there is not enough fiber in the system, the toxins are simply reabsorbed into the blood stream where they go back to the liver and put a strain on it by being processed all over again.

5. 

   Use dark, leafy greens in your salads. Adding fresh spinach, romaine lettuce, dandelion greens or kale to a salad gives it greater liver cleansing properties, along with extra flavor. Dark greens contain high amounts of antioxidants which are needed for liver detox, as well as overall body system detoxification.

6. 

   Drink lots of water. If your tap water is questionable, add a water filter or drink bottled water. Water helps the kidney get rid of the toxins the liver has excreted during its cleansing. Otherwise, the toxins will be reabsorbed in the blood stream and sent back to the liver.

Tips & Warnings

• Consume food in its freshest state. Cooking food alters the nutritional and chemical composition. While it still will contain vitamins and minerals, it will be less effective at liver cleansing. Boil your meat instead of frying or grilling whenever possible. Cooking meat with high heat forms harmful chemical reactions in the meat which can add to free radical damage.

• Avoid processed foods such as white flour, sugars, cakes, candy, pasta and soft drinks. All raise your blood sugar levels, and since the liver helps regulate blood sugar levels it takes energy away from liver cleansing. These foods also add harmful toxins to the body. Avoid shellfish. Shellfish contain high levels of mercury, which adds to the liver's toxic load.

Resources

• Benefits of drinking lemon water.
• Mayo Clinic tips for keeping liver healthy.
• Nutrition and your liver.