How to Cleanse the Human Liver of Toxins

Life would be so much more fun if we could indulge in all manner of unhealthy food, drink and other bad habits and then just wash all of the ill effects away with an aggressive liver detox. Unfortunately, that is not the way your body works.

Exposure to heavy metals, chemotherapy or black mold can require medical intervention to remove or neutralize toxins, and dialysis is necessary for people whose kidneys are damaged or diseased.

But, barring special circumstances such as these, detoxing is simply not necessary and the methods touted by people trying to sell you detoxing supplements, teas, diets or kits do not actually work. They are also not generally regulated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which means there is no way to be confident in either the quality or the safety of the ingredients.

Your liver, lungs and kidneys all work together naturally and effectively to identify, screen out and excrete any toxins you may take in. You cannot speed this process up, but with careful attention to what you put into your body, you can support its built-in detoxing systems.

Ditch the Detox Myths

The term detox is a medical one used to describe the process of treating addiction. ')25. Your digestive and elimination systems are highly evolved and incredibly efficient. Even if you are occasionally constipated, there is no resulting sludgy buildup. And if there were, as long as you did not rupture your bowels or intestines, it could not poison you.

Another myth surrounding detoxing is the idea that fasting allows your body to concentrate on removing toxins without having to be distracted by digestion and elimination. **The exact opposite is true, explains Columbia University's "Go Ask Alice!** " advice site 2.

As laid out by Alice, your body requires nutrients to function, and certain ones are actually required for your body's natural detoxification systems to work. The phytochemicals in cruciferous vegetables and citrus fruits, for example, help protect your cells from becoming cancerous and also help your liver to neutralize harmful substances.

Dropping to a very low calorie count can cause your metabolism to slow down, which certainly will not cause your organs to go into overdrive. Your body is constantly rebuilding itself, and that takes a lot of energy. Depriving your body of the calories, nutrients and amino acids that it needs to function at its peak lessens its ability to identify, neutralize and excrete toxins.

Read more: Just Say "No" to That Detox Diet Or Juice Cleanse

Understand How Your Liver Works

What Are the Benefits of Garlic, Lemon Water & Olive Oil?

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Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease occurs when your liver stores too much fat 49. In people who do not drink alcohol, this can be caused by several different things, including high levels of fats in the bloodstream, insulin resistance, high blood sugar levels and being overweight.cause:

• In people who do not drink alcohol
  
• this can be caused by several different things
  
• including high levels of fats in the bloodstream
  
• insulin resistance
  
• high blood sugar levels
  
• being overweight

Learn the Truth About Toxins

The key to avoiding dietary toxins is to eat a plant-based diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, nuts, seeds and healthy fats such as:

• those found in avocados
  
• olive oil
  
• fatty fish

If you do that, you do not need to worry about detoxifying your liver or any of your other organs.

Help Your Liver Cleanse Your Body Naturally

Can You Detox the Liver With Lemon and Olive Oil?

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Along with avoiding potentially harmful substances, feeding your body right can help support your liver. According to the health enthusiasts at Healthline, **the best foods for your liver include:

• coffee
  
• tea
  
• beetroot juice
  
• blueberries
  
• cranberries
  
• cruciferous vegetables
  
• grapes
  
• grapefruit
  
• prickly pear
  
• nuts
  
• olive oil
  
• fatty fish** 8