Give Yourself a Liver Detox
NOW!
Do you need a liver detox?Well, have you ever considered the damage we do to our livers due to today's unhealthy lifestyles?
Yes? Then do your body a favour and give yourself a liver detox today!
Your liver is the biggest organ in your body and one of the most important, performing over 500 vital functions, including destroying toxins and creating energy. Unfortunately, too many of us are destroying our livers due to our own abusive habits, regularly binge-drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, eating fatty foods and taking drugs, resulting in irreversible liver damage and even liver disease. The ideal solution would be to limit your alcohol intake and eat healthily. If you don't feel you can completely change your lifestyle however, it is essential to at least have a liver detox regularly to keep it in good working order and to ensure your body continues to work as it should. Alcohol is by far the the biggest cause of liver problems and the list below details how it effects each part of your body on its trail of destruction through your system. It all begins when it hits your... Stomach
When alcohol reaches your stomach, digestive enzymes begin to break it down, reducing the amount of alcohol entering your blood by around 20%. Intestine
The upper portion of the small intestine then quickly absorbs the alcohol before the alcohol-rich blood makes its way to your liver. Liver
Everything you eat, drink, breath or absorb through your skin will eventually reach your liver. Once it's reached its destination, 300 billion cells begin to metabolise it into nutrients and useable by-products. Kidneys/Urethra
Once the liver has done the work of breaking down the toxic by-products such as alcohol, it routes the results to the kidneys to be excreted as urine. Around 10% of the alcohol you drink is urinated away. Eyes
Liver cells can only metabolise one unit of alcohol per hour, so if you are drinking faster than this the level of alcohol in your blood rises, causing double vision. Heart
As with all of your organs your liver needs water to enable it to work. Unfortunately, being a diuretic, alcohol leaves your body dehydrated, meaning your liver has to divert water from your other organs so that it can do its job effectively. This leaves your heart and other organs working extra hard to cope with the water shortage. Head
A small part of the alcohol processed by your liver is broken down into acetaldehyde, which is toxic to the liver, brain and stomach. This is the reason we get headaches and hangovers the following morning. AVOID the Hair of the Dog technique!
As your body re-hydrates the day after an alcohol binge, your liver can begin to process and flush out the toxins. However, if you continue to drink alcohol the following morning this process will not begin because your body cannot re-hydrate. A 'Hair of the Dog' may make you feel better but drinking again puts dangerous strain on the liver. Try to give yourself at least 2 days worth of liver detox before drinking again.
So, we know alcohol is the main problem, but what are the other big liver killers?High-Fat Food
Foods high in fat and salt play havoc with your liver, reducing its ability to do it's job effectively. Avoid processed and fast foods and eat more lean meats, wholegrains and vegetables to keep your liver in good condition. Drugs
Many drugs including ecstasy, steroids and even excessive use of paracetamol can put strain on your liver. You should never exceed the stated dose on either prescribed or over the counter medications and keep to the RDA for vitamin pills. It may be worthwhile asking your doctor for a liver function test if you have experimented with recreational drugs in the past too. Tattoos
You are nine times more likely to get the liver disease hepatitis C if you have a tattoo. If you just have to have one, make sure you observe all needles being taken from a sealed packet to ensure they are brand new and un-used. Holiday Sex!
Many people are contracting hepatitis B after having un-protected sex while abroad on their holidays, especially after visiting Eastern Europe and Asia, where the disease can be more common.
What can you eat and drink to give yourself a thorough liver detox?Vitamin C
Daily doses of vitamin C help prevent fatty build-up and cirrhosis. Make an orange one of your five-a-day fruits and vegetables to ensure your liver gets that vit C hit! Live Yogurt
A daily helping of live yogurt can help repair the damage caused by fast food. The 'good' bacteria can contribute towards helping to grease-proof your liver and other vital organs. Nuts and Seeds
Protect your liver from atmospheric damage by regularly consuming vitamin E and selenium, which you can do by eating a daily handful of nuts and seeds (or an avocado). Artichokes
Artichokes help to improve the liver's eliminative function, meaning it can flush toxins out of your body faster. Whey Protein Shake
Glutamine, an amino acid found in whey powders, helps your liver to build new cells. Consume one protein shake each day to feel the full liver detox benefit. Coffee
Two cups of coffee each day have been shown to reduce the risk of liver cancer by over 40%. The caffeine it contains keeps an enzyme linked to liver damage at normal levels. Milk Thistle
Research has shown that silymarin, an active compound found in milk thistle plants, can help to repair liver damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption and can even ease hangovers! Red Wine
Surprisingly, one type of alcohol that makes this list is red wine. It must be stressed however, it is just one glass a day that is recommended. This is due to research that suggests a glass a day can reduce the odds of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by around 49%.
So what have we learnt?In conclusion, your liver is a very important but also very resilient organ. It will take a certain amount of abuse and can repair itself to a certain degree. Mis-treat it too much however, and the damage could be irreversible. If you can commit to a full-on lifestyle change your body will love you for it. If not, a regular liver detox can still make a huge difference. Look after your liver and it will look after you, doing some amazing things including helping to produce 80% of your body's energy!
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