5 simple and cheap ways to detox the liver

Amber Long
Aug 23, 2017 · 3 min read

Did you know that your liver is the second hardest working organ in your body? It has over 400 functions.

Your liver filters your blood before sending it back to the heart. It also plays a huge role in digestion. When our livers are overburdened with the toxins in everyday life, it has little chance to do what it’s supposed to, this is when how to detox the liver comes in. After all, our whole existence kind of relies on it.

These are just some of the many signs that we are overworking our livers and it’s time for a detox.

1. Pain or discomfort in the right, upper abdominal area under the rib cage

2. Excessive fat

3. Excessive perspiring of the body

4. Trouble digesting fatty foods

5. Heartburn and indigestion

6. Bad skin — acne prone, itchy, blotchy

7. Dark spots on your skin, also called liver spots

8. Sluggishness, fatigue, lethargy, headaches

Detoxing the liver can vary from person to person, but there are some simple and common things we all can do to keep our livers healthy, despite the toxins we can’t control by limiting the ones we can!

Warm water and lemon each morning

When we sleep at night, our bodies go into an intense detox mode. They work overtime to rid us of the perils of the day, not only mentally but also physically. Adding the juice of half a lemon to warm water each morning is a way to gently move those toxins out of our bodies.

Turmeric

When you see yellow curry, the yellow part of it is made up of turmeric. It’s all the rage as an anti-inflammatory as studies grow supporting its effectiveness. Not only does it have this anti-inflammatory effect throughout the whole body, including the liver, it’s also an excellent way to fight a liver virus or infection.

Drink water

Water is the best way to detox the liver. It should be our first stop when making changes in our diet. Drinking sufficient fluids throughout the day — including teas, herbal teas, helps nutrients flow and remove toxins out of our liver.

Skip the alcohol

Alcohol is toxic to our livers, no matter what studies tell you. Yes, maybe your red wine has some antioxidants but you can get the same antioxidants from alternative sources without putting your liver through all the work.

The right food

Food is processed beyond belief! It is hard to go into a grocery store and know where to begin in finding the healthiest foods to help us detox. It seems like everything comes with a warning.

Eat the highest quality foods possible, including eating organically as much as possible. Raw foods, uncooked, fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, the fresher the better!

Eating the right fats is an important step too in liver detox. By saturated fats coming from animals, we lower the wear and tear on our liver from it having to process it. On the other hand, the right fats are heroes to your digestive system.

There you have it. Some easy changes we can make in our day to day lives that can help us attain optimal liver health. Something as simple as adding lemon to your water or cutting down on candies, each better choice made ensures a healthier liver.

It isn’t necessary to go overboard with fad diets or programs. The fact remains that, you are what you eat. What you put into your body ultimately dictates how your body functions, everything from how you feel to your mood to your emotional wellness, everything.

We must cut our livers some slack and give them the respect they deserve because without them, we literally wouldn’t be alive. Think about that next time you want another beer.

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Written by

Toronto-based electronic musician, wanderlust wordsmith and total health food fanatic that likes to climb mountains.

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