Cleanse Your Liver Naturally

Reader Contribution by Susan Melgren and Web Editor
Published on July 7, 2010
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Spring cleaning may be long behind you, but cleansing your body is never out-of-season. Our bodies naturally cleanse themselves, thanks to our livers, but the high number of toxins we encounter on a daily basis, from pesticides in foods to hidden chemicals in cosmetics, leave our livers overworked.

This vital organ plays many important roles in the body. Apart from ridding the body of toxins, the liver is also responsible for metabolizing and storing fats and carbohydrates, regulating hormones and controlling cholesterol levels. Take a moment this week and give your liver some TLC with these tips for cleansing your liver.

Add a little bit of lemon juice to a glass of water for a detoxification drink. Photo By Andreas Levers/Courtesy Flickr.

Water and lemon juice: Starting your day with a glass of water helps flush out the liver and kidneys. That extra squeeze of fresh lemon juice will encourage your liver to produce bile, stimulating digestion. Lemon juice also keeps undigested nutrients from entering the bloodstream, meaning the liver doesn’t have to work as hard. Lemon juice is also rich in antioxidants, which remove toxins from the body.

Turmeric: Long used in Indian cuisine, this ancient herb stimulates digestion and increases the flow of bile. Apart from its digestive support, turmeric has anti-inflammatory powers that make it useful for treating ulcers. Try adding turmeric to your usual cooking, or take a 50 milligram supplement.

Dandelions: This common weed has powerful medicinal properties, providing support for your liver, kidneys and digestive system. Like turmeric, it stimulates the flow of bile. Don’t pick dandelions off your lawn as many yards contain traces of pesticides. Boil 2 tablespoons of dandelion roots to make dandelion root tea, or take 500 milligrams of dandelion extract.

Dandelions provide support for your liver, kidneys and digestive system. Boil dandelion root to make a tea or take a supplement of dandelion extract. Photo By Aina/Courtesy Flickr.

Milkthistle: This plant protects the liver by producing silymarin, which prohibits damage to liver cells and stimulates the liver’s ability to generate new cells. Milk thistle is also an antioxidant. Take 175 milligrams of milk thistle two to three times a day.

Chlorophyll: Chlorophyll drinks or “green drinks” can detoxify the liver.

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