Liver Detox Diet

A liver detox diet is important to overall healthy because the liver is the largest internal organ and it is critical to removing toxins from the blood. When the liver is not healthy, the entire body suffers.

A sick liver can cause you to suffer headaches, muscle pain, tiredness, skin irritation, mental confusion, and coordination problems. The entire digestive tract sends foods to the liver for the filtering of toxins. The liver also produces enzymes that assist the body in converting raw food into chemicals that the cells can use to maintain life and to grow. It also helps the body eliminate substances that are harmful to cell life and growth.

Before beginning a liver detox diet, eliminate coffee, alcohol, cigarettes and sugar one week prior in order to reduce any side effects caused by the cleansing. Usual side effects of liver detoxification include headaches, constipation, and tiredness. These effects are short term and are usually caused by the elimination of caffeine and sugar from the diet.

There are over the counter liver cleansing herbal treatments available at many health food and grocery stores. For those about to embark on a first time cleansing, it is recommended to change the kinds of food eaten and add herbs and spices to the diet before considering taking an over the counter herbal treatments. There are hundreds of diets, some liberal and some more restrictive.

A simple liver detox diet should not make you feel deprived, but help you feel energized. Light fasting while drinking plenty of water should help cleanse your liver in a few days. For the first two days, drink several quarts of water per day to help flush away the toxins that will be released from the cells into the blood stream. Lemon juice added to water can make it easier to drink. Lemons also help clean the liver. Eat fresh raw fruits and vegetables and drink juice made from raw fruits throughout the day. A banana and pear smoothie for breakfast will give your cells the needed vitamins and minerals that they need. Fresh raw salads with nuts like walnuts, almonds, or pecans are good for your body and will help fill your stomach so that you do not feel hungry.

After a about 3 days of light fasting, you can increase your food intake if you want to, but you should avoid certain foods for about a week. Foods to avoid include red meats, sugar and sugar substitutes, salty foods, alcohol, soft drinks, fried food, caffeine and processed foods.

The initial effects of a liver detox diet can last a few days and may be somewhat unpleasant for some people. As your liver is cleansed and toxins are removed from your body, you may have a loss of appetite, feel nauseous, feel tired, suffer mild diarrhea or feel dizzy at times. If these symptoms persist consult your doctor. But they should subside in a couple of days. The benefits of a cleansed liver and body far outweigh any unpleasant, temporary side effects.

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