The purpose of liver cleanse is to rid our body of toxins and impurities. However, they are still considered controversial due to the lack of evidence to support their efficiencies. Does Liver Cleanse Work?
The liver is one of the most important and also the largest internal organ in human bodies. Believe it or not, it has more than 500 functions in the body. One of the most important functions is detoxification and toxin neutralizing.
The liver is considered one of the most hard-working organs in our body and it’s the main gateway through which our body gets rid of various toxins. It works non-stop in order to detoxify our blood, produce enzymes that digest fat, and stores essential vitamins (such as Vitamin C), minerals, and iron.
If the liver isn’t working correctly, a problem with digesting our food and fats properly occurs. This is the main reason people try to avoid a fatty liver and go on a liver cleanse diets to help it function properly.
What Does the Liver Do?
The metabolic processes of our body are where the liver operates most frequently. Breaking down and converting substances, balancing energy metabolism by turning glycogen to glucose and depositing extra glucose by turning it into glycogen, and minimizing damage from toxins, and discarding them from our bloodstream are considered to be the most important functions of the liver.
The liver is able to do all of this because it receives nutrient-filled blood from other digestive organs through the hepatic portal vein.
Hepatocytes, cells of the liver, are the ones that accept and filter the blood. Their role is sorting centers and determining which nutrients will be processed, what exactly should be stored, what can go back to the bloodstream, and what is best to be eliminated via the stool.
The liver deposits vitamins and minerals like copper and iron, and releases them in case the body needs them. It could also be helpful in breaking down fats in one’s diet. It can metabolize fats or discharge them as energy.
Signs of Liver Problems
If you have some of the symptoms in our list below, you might be having problems with your liver function. If that is the case, you should immediately schedule an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider.
Symptoms of liver problems include:
- Constipation
- Bloating, diarrhea, and gas
- Itching
- Problems with blood vessels
- Gallstones
- Fatigue
- Yellow jaundiced skin
- High blood pressure
- Inability to lose weight
- Anxiety, depression, or constant mood swings
- Urine that has a darkish color
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Poor appetite
Even though liver cleanses are still controversial, some methods proved to be very helpful in improving peoples liver’s functioning. If you go through a thorough liver cleanse, you should start to see changes for the better in a matter of weeks.
Liver Cleanse Methods
Exclude Toxic Foods from Your Diet
If you consume a lot of processed foods daily, your liver’s health could be at risk because these foods could be very destructive. Hydrogenated oils, refined sugar, convenience foods, and lunch meats are notoriously toxic to your system.
Hydrogenated oils (aka “trans fats”) contain high levels of saturated fat. The chemical structure of the oil is changed in order to increase shelf life. These trans-fats could greatly increase the risk of having heart disease by 25 percent or even more. Also, trans-fats are believed to be the cause of problems with the immune system and could lead to body inflammation.
Nitrates and nitrites that are added in convenience foods, fast foods, and processed meats, are also linked to serious health problems. These chemicals preserve foods and help them last longer, cause bacteria growth and maintain color. Liver-friendly healthy choices should replace these foods in your diet. Aside from having a great taste, healthy foods could become great meals for your family if you add a bit of creativity to the recipe, and they will support your liver health.
Roasted organic chicken breasts and turkey breasts are a great replacement for all deli meats that people consume for quick lunches and after-school snacks. Chips and other processed snacks should be replaced with fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, and healthy granola bars.
Make Raw Vegetable Juice
If you have problems with impaired liver function, vegetable juices have the side benefit of making the digestion process of vegetables easier and more available to absorb.
It’s probably impossible to include every raw vegetable you need to make your liver cleanse efficient in your diet. However, if you mix a few different raw vegetables into a juice, you obtain the 4–5 servings of fresh and organic vegetables you need without breaking a sweat. Vegetables that you don’t particularly enjoy could also be disguised and enjoyed in vegetable juice.
Vegetables that are considered good for liver cleanses are cabbages, cauliflowers, and Brussels sprouts. If this mix of veggies doesn’t sound very tasty, you can also mix other vegetables that you like. Carrots, cucumber, and other greens are all good choices.
All of the vegetables that we have mentioned are helpful in reducing acid levels in your body and help create a better pH balance. You can experiment with your favorite combinations, and find the right veggie juice for you that will not only be tasty but also very beneficial for your liver.
Include Potassium-Rich Foods in Your Diet
4,700 milligrams per day of potassium are the recommended amounts that everyone should be taking. However, a lot of people take a lot less during the day. Foods that are rich in potassium are helpful in lowering systolic blood pressure, cholesterol and maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system. It’s also a very beneficial addition when it comes to your liver cleanse. Some people would rather opt for potassium supplements but there are healthful foods that are much better to include in your diet that are full of potassium. These foods include sweet potatoes, tomato sauces, beet greens, spinach, beans, and bananas.
Liver Cleanse – The Verdict
A healthy liver is something every person should focus on maintaining in order to help their overall health. There isn’t any study based evidence that supports liver cleanse benefits, but if you do have liver problems, there’s a lot of anecdotal knowledge from the people who have completed these cleanses and have benefitted from them. It might be a good idea to try it.