Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Liver Detoxification: The Rundown

By Lee Dobbins


In the past, liver detoxification was not considered because there really wasn't a need. Foods were whole and had not been treated with hormones, preservatives and chemicals. The air was cleaner and water was pure. Now, because of all the changes that have occurred because of the industry and population growth, our livers are taking on more toxins and hormones than they can handle at one time. Toxic chemicals are staying in our bodies because our livers are overworked. More and more people are recognizing the benefits of liver detoxification on our health.

There are certain kinds of foods and herbs that aid the liver in detoxifying the body as well as foods that do not cause undue stress on the most vital organ of our body besides our heart. It is not surprising to vegetarians that these foods are fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The problem is that many of these products now contain chemicals and preservatives which were never meant to be consumed by living organisms.

The best foods are organic. If you cannot afford to buy organic foods or do not have the time or space to grow them yourself, the next best thing is to wash every vegetable and fruit before you eat it.

Never smoke, drink alcohol or use any kind of drug while you are detoxifying your liver. If you are an addict or alcoholic, do not detox without the supervision of a medical doctor. A medically unsupervised detox from drugs or alcohol can be harmful. It has even been known to be fatal. If you really want to try this kind of detox, wait until you have gone through a treatment program.

When it comes to tobacco, a good liver detox immediately upon quitting smoking or chewing can really help you by clearing your body of nicotine very quickly. After a good detox, you will find cravings are much milder than quitting without a detox.

Consuming hormones through meat and dairy is a controversial issue. The majority of doctors admit these extra hormones can't be healthy and many point to research that shows a tendency toward early sexual development and even some kinds of cancers. Regardless of your liver detoxification decision, to keep your liver and the rest of your body healthy, consume hormone free meat and dairy products in place of the rest.

Depending on the detox plan you choose, you will either be eating specific foods and forgoing others, drinking elixirs, or doing a combination of the two. It takes a little longer to detox your liver if you choose an eating plan, but it is also less stressful on your body.

If you decide to opt for the formulated beverages in place of food for your liver detoxification plan, ease into the program slowly by giving up the foods that are worse for you and then cutting back on the rest before diving into the liquid fast. When you have finished out your liquid detox, add foods back slowly. If you want to remain healthier after you have finished your detox, you should eat not give up on healthy foods.

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