Spring Liver Detox
Feeling irritable? ...depressed? ...hay feverish? Having digestion problems? ... Can't burn fat? These are signs of a congested liver. Other signs include pain beneath your shoulder blades, yellowing of the skin or eyes and allergies. Because spring is when the liver is most active, you may notice such symptoms are worse in this season. Spring is thus the ideal time for detoxing your liver.
I hear a lot about detox programs. Unfortunately few are focused on the liver, the very organ that when detoxed, can help every other organ, as well as energy, moods, weight and emotions. A water-fast is dangerous. Because of the volume of toxins in our bodies, some people end up poisoning themselves when they do this. Juice fasts just make your liver work to handle all the sugar. Avoid these as well.
Your liver is the body's center for detoxification for neutralizing and excreting drugs, hormones, alcohol and other toxins. Unfortunately our livers are often overwhelmed by today's toxin levels. When overburdened, your liver can't balance hormones, burn fat, nor can it get rid of caffeine so you can sleep at night. An overburdened liver affects moods, often ramping up anger and irritability. Some link increasing world violence with our overburdened livers.
Detoxify Your Environment
Be vigilant about avoiding liver-clogging substances. Throw away your cans of Raid. Bug poisons drift, filling the air you breathe with hormone-like substances that must be cleared by your liver.
Avoid synthetic fragrances. I was in a bank recently and noticed a small box misting room freshener. Such chemicals, whether in cans, plugged into a wall or dangling inside your car, are toxic. They head straight for your liver. So do perfumed laundry detergents, cleaning products and perfume itself. Cleaning chemicals are almost always found in cancer tissue. Wear essential oils instead of synthetic fragrances. Make your own natural house cleaners from white vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice. These natural items actually work better than fancy specialized cleaners.
Buy organic. The pesticides used on vegetables and fruits must pass through your liver.
Question the medications you take. All drugs, like alcohol, impair the liver's ability to do its job. Many drugs can permanently damage the liver. There is almost always an herb or nutrient that used correctly can replace a drug. Ask your doctor about alternatives.
Look for natural alternatives to synthetically perfumed, chemical-based skin and hair products.
Plastic further challenges our livers. Plastic from bottles migrates into beverages. Plastic containers and cling-type wraps release plastic into food, feeding our livers estrogen-like chemicals. Choose foods in glass or hard plastic or buy bulk goods and meats in paper wrap and bags. Avoid wrapping food leftovers in plastic.
Sick building syndrome happens when we move into new homes and breathe in all the new paint, treated fabrics, formaldehyde, carpet adhesive and other chemicals. New cars are loaded with off-gassing chemicals. And we haven't even got to diet yet.
Signs you need a liver cleanse:
Irritability/Anger
Fatigue
Depression
Mood swings
Nausea
Headaches
Allergies/hayfever
Eye pain/red eyes, or yellow
Yellowish complexion
Pain in right side under rib cage (liver area)
High cholesterol
For women, PMS or hormonal problems
Indigestion after fatty meals
Difficulty burning fat
Steps to Detoxing Your Liver
Reduce stress (try yoga, massages, walks...)
Replace drugs with natural remedies
Avoid pesticides (mimics estrogen)
Reduce plastic use (especially microwaved, heated)
Avoid cleaners (use lemon, baking soda, vinegar)
Avoid/reduce alcohol, coffee and tobacco
Clean up your diet
Dietary Strategies for Cleansing Your Liver
You can help detox your liver by avoiding liver-clogging substances and increaseing liver-cleansing foods. Begin by eliminating processed foods. Choose foods you can recognize in their original state. Avoid bad oils. Avoid fried foods, margarine, and heated corn, safflower and sunflower oils. Choose sustainabley-raised meats. Meats and dairy from commercial feedlots contain hormones and pesticide residues. Choose free-range poultry and grass fed meats.
Load up on organic vegetables, use only extra virgin fresh olive oil, grass-fed butter and organic coconut oil for cooking. Go alcohol-free for a few weeks.
Spring Liver Flush
The following liver cleanse is ideal for spring or early summer. It will leave you feeling younger, more energized, leaner and healthier. Add to the results by avoiding stressful people and situations. The ideal duration is 10-14 days, although even 7 days can bring about changes. For best results, take some time off work during your cleanse. You may experience anger or worsening of symptoms for a few days, but know this is a sign of cleansing.
The cleanse involves a morning liver cocktail followed by a special tea, also consumed throughout the day. Your meals should be primarily lightly cooked pesticide-free spring vegetables (include at least two servings leafy green and two servings broccoli family veggies daily) and some raw greens. Spring vegetables, ideal for a cleanse, include artichokes, lettuce, arugula, spinach, chard, pea sprouts, parsley, mustard greens, broccoli, asparagus, other wild or cultivated green leafy vegetables, leeks, spring onions, beets, carrots, peas, and fava beans. Steam or poach vegetables and drizzle with olive oil and lemon. Make soups and salads. Avoid potatoes, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes during your cleanse as they can be de-mineralizing. Use only cold-pressed, unheated olive oil. Avoid ALL other oils during the cleanse.
Include 10-12 peeled and soaked organic almonds daily. Chew these very well. Drink plenty of purified water throughout the day. If you have a juicer, small amounts of carrot, beet and green vegetable juices are helpful but go easy as the carrot and beet juice as they are also sources of sugar. Herb teas are also fine. Artichoke leaf infusion is a particularly beneficial liver-cleansing remedy.
If you feel overly weakened, a small amount of organic rice or other grain such as millet, quinoa or amaranth is acceptable, although well cooked, and ideally in a soup.
During this time, avoid all sweets, even honey, artificial sweeteners, bread, crackers, pasta, spaghetti, coffee, oily, fried or greasy foods, meats, eggs, dairy products, nightshade family vegetables, coffee, and black tea. Avoid spicy seasonings. Avoid all fruit and fruit juice, except those in the citrus cocktail and lemon for flavoring. Fruit and juices, even though natural, will elevate blood sugar and thus insulin, burdening the liver.
Each morning drink the following on an empty stomach:
Citrus Flush Cocktail
1 lemon, peeled
1/2 grapefruit or 1 orange, peeled
1-2 cloves freshly squeezed garlic* (use less garlic with heat signs)
1/2 - 1 tsp ginger juice (grate fresh ginger root then press in garlic press)
1-2 tbsp. cold pressed organic olive oil
Blend all, adding water if thinner consistency is desired. Follow with two cups Liver Cleansing Tea.
Liver Cleansing Tea
1 part milk thistle seed
1 part fennel seed 1 part fenugreek
1 part flax seed 1/2 part burdock root
1/4-1/2 part licorice root part peppermint tea
1 part marshmallow root (cut and sifted)
*For heat symptoms add 1 part Oregon grape and one part dandelion root
*For cold symptoms add 1/2 part ginger and 1/2 part cardamom
Use 2-3 parts water per one part herb blend
Using a ceramic container, simmer all herbs 30 minutes (except peppermint) then add the peppermint and let steep an additional 10 minutes. Drink 2 cups tea right after drinking citrus flush. Drink another 1-2 cups throughout the day. Wait at least one hour before eating.
Some people notice their elimination slows when they cut back on food. A daily enema can be useful for this. Also, taking 2-3 tablespoons ground flax seeds, sprinkled on moist cooked food, or stirred into water, will help.
* for customized herb and food choices for your constitution see my book, Live in the Balance.
As you cleanse, you may feel some unpleasant detoxing symptoms such as heightened irritability, anger, fatigue or headaches. Know this means it is working.
If you suffer low energy or a health problem, turn your life around with a personalized nutrition plan.
Click here for programs and rates.
|
