Detox Your Liver Naturally
Detox is how the body cleanses to heal and repair itself. I’ve talked before about why detox is necessary. This post is meant to offer suggestions on how to detox your liver naturally and gently.
SIGNS THAT YOUR LIVER MAY BE CONGESTED
Dark circles under or around the eyes
Bloodshot eyes
PMS symptoms
Menopause symptoms
Blood sugar imbalance
Liver disease
Itchy skin, hives, or other rashes
Night sweats
Hormone imbalance
Chemical sensitivity
Nausea
Estrogen dominance
The Liver’s Role in Detoxification
Your liver is one of the primary detoxification organs in the body. It is responsible for over 500 functions in the body. Your liver filters toxins from the blood to neutralize and eliminate them. These toxins can include: excess hormones, heavy metals, processed foods, sugar, and synthetic chemicals.
When a toxin arrives at the liver, the livers creates bile, surrounds the toxin with bile, and then sends the bile to the gallbladder. When you eat fats, this sends a signal to the gallbladder to release the bile into the intestinal tract to then be expelled via the bowels.
How Does the Liver Get Congested?
In today’s world, it is almost impossible to completely avoid toxins. Toxins are found in our cosmetics and skincare products, in cleaning products, in our food, in the workplace, and in the air. The more toxins the body is exposed to, the harder the liver has to work to remove them. Over time, the liver can become sluggish and congested which reduces its ability to properly eliminate toxins from the body.
Something To Consider
A very important aspect of detoxification is that it can only happen when you’re in a parasympathetic state. The parasympathetic state is the state which allows the body to rest, heal, repair, and restore itself. If you’re trying to detox, make sure you get enough sleep each night, try to avoid using electronics before bed, and find ways to relax and reduce stress.
Most importantly, remember that it took you a while to build up the level of toxins that are currently in your body. You will not detox them overnight. Detox is a process. It is best to make small, incremental changes to your daily habits that help your liver function at it’s best.
Detox Your Liver Naturally
Keep sugar intake at 20-30 grams or less a day. 20-30g does not include healthy carbohydrates like vegetables or legumes.
Find ways to reduce your stress levels and slow down your pace. If you’re on the go all the time and under too much stress, this will make it very difficult for the liver and other detox organs to do their job.
Do a castor oil pack over your liver 3-4 times a week. Castor oil packs are a gentle and effective way to decongest the liver and lymphatic system. Note: I do not recommend castor oil packs during menses or while pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have an IUD.
Practice forgiveness. Nothing overburdens the liver like unresolved anger.
Eat healthy fats each day to provide the body with plenty of vital nutrients to support the liver. Some of my favorite sources are: duck fat, ghee, and pastured eggs.
Move your body daily. Walk or do other gentle exercise such as pilates, rebounding, or yoga to lower cortisol and stress levels which reduces stress on the liver.
Read more: 5 Things About Detoxing | Castor Oil Packs | Autophagy