How To Improve Liver Health Naturally
Today let’s try to know why our liver becomes toxic? The clear signs our body gives, the best foods, and the three most effective ways, to cleanse the liver without much effort.
The liver plays a vital role in our body, and it is necessary to identify any issues with it as soon as possible.
First understand the importance of liver health. Consider a cloth you use for daily cleaning; if it is overloaded with dirt, at some point, it would need a cleanse to work effectively. Similarly, the liver is a detoxifying organ in the body that converts toxins into waste materials, which are then eliminated through different channels. So, if liver function is compromised, toxins accumulate, leading to various acute and chronic health problems.
How do we know if our liver function is compromised? The liver is one of the most hardworking organs in the body, with over 500 functions attributed to its name. Being such a vital organ, any problem in the liver prompts the body to proactively show signs and signals. The most common signs include pigmentation on the skin and premature graying of hair, which clearly indicate excess heat in the liver. An important function of the liver is to break down fat, so if you have gained weight or reached a weight loss plateau, you might just need a liver cleanse. The liver is the storehouse of iron, so if you are anemic, you need to focus more on your liver.
According to Ayurveda, the liver is the seat of Pitta Dosha. Liver problems that indicate an imbalance of Pitta include skin inflammation, acne, cold sores, and psoriasis. Excess toxins in the liver can lead to digestive issues, hormonal imbalance, itchy skin, dark yellow urine. Prolonged imbalances in the liver may cause serious diseases such as hepatitis, jaundice, cirrhosis, and even cancer. Other important warning signs include chronic fatigue, bad breath, a yellowish appearance of the skin and eyes, loss of appetite, swelling in the legs and other body parts, high triglyceride levels, food and skin allergies, pale or orangish stool color, and a tendency to bruise easily. If not acted upon, these can cause major damage to the body. Therefore, you must naturally detoxify your liver regularly.
So, why does our liver get toxic? Even though the liver is quite resilient, if it gets overburdened, it loses its efficiency. Many factors contribute to this, other than air and water pollution: binge drinking, smoking, pesticides in food, over-medication, usage of refined oils for cooking, and excessive indulgence in preservative-laden packaged foods, refined sugary foods, non-vegetarian food, and fatty foods all overload the liver. Basically, the more toxins you expose your body to, the harder it will be for your liver to detoxify.
Furthermore, every time you get angry or irritated, your liver has to pay the price, as anger is closely related to the health of your liver. It’s a known fact that our body detoxifies during deep sleep. Compromising on sleep doesn’t give the liver an opportunity to recharge.
So, how do you cleanse the liver? It’s simple: reduce the toxic overload, and your liver is capable enough to rejuvenate itself. This can be done by eradicating the causal factors as much as possible. Here are some natural herbs and concoctions that can rejuvenate the liver within a few days. Out of so many, here are selected three ways that are easy, practical, and effective.
The first one is simply to have a glass of fresh sugarcane juice on an empty stomach continuously for about 10-15 days. Fresh sugarcane is a boon for strengthening the liver; no wonder it is recommended by doctors during jaundice. The antioxidants in sugarcane juice protect the liver against infection and maintain bilirubin levels in control. It gets even better with added ginger and lemon juice. You can have it one hour before breakfast in the morning or in the evening, two to three hours after lunch. Avoid it post-sunset. At such an economical price, it’s not only tasty but also easily available all year round.
Another recipe for liver detoxification is liver detox tea. Take half a teaspoon each of ground ginger, fenugreek seeds, and fresh turmeric. Add one teaspoon of lemon juice and two to three peppermint leaves. Boil one cup of water and add all the ingredients. Simmer on medium heat for some time, then strain and drink it early in the morning or in the evening. Ginger contains gingerol, which prevents inflammation and protects against cellular damage, supporting liver health. Fenugreek seeds contain polyphenolic compounds that have liver-protective benefits. The enzymes in turmeric help wash out toxins from the body, particularly from the liver. Lemon juice and peppermint leaves aid in better digestion and detoxification.
The next recipe is for a liver detox salad. Take one cup of grated beetroot, half a cup of sliced cucumber, one cup of pomegranate seeds, half a cup of parsley and mint leaves, one tablespoon of pumpkin seeds, and one tablespoon of ginger and lemon juice. Mix all these ingredients in a bowl, toss well, and serve. Beetroot is high in betalains, which reduce the risk of liver damage. Cucumber has a cooling effect on the body and a detoxifying effect on the liver. Pomegranate is an excellent diuretic and cleanses both the liver and kidneys. Parsley and mint leaves help in the efficient functioning of the liver. Pumpkin seeds are a nutritious addition to this detox salad.
This salad and tea can be consumed daily or on alternate days for 15 days. They have no side effects. Apart from this, for the efficient functioning and detoxification of the liver, you must also pay attention to your overall diet and lifestyle. Diet plays a key role here. Eat organic, raw, and freshly cooked foods. Among fruits, sweet and juicy pears are best for balancing Pitta Dosha and cleansing the liver. Pitta Dosha can also be balanced with sweet juicy fruits, melons, cooked greens, sweet milk products, and grains. Avoid foods laced with preservatives or chemicals, leftovers, alcohol, high-protein foods, and sour or fermented foods. It is also important to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Eating fresh, homely food keeps liver health in check. However, you must also know the best foods for your liver. Turmeric is among the top foods. Other foods like fenugreek seeds, ginger, and jaggery are also great for the liver. In fruits, grapes, pears, lemon, coconut, and amla are highly beneficial. Then, high-fiber foods like whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds help cleanse the liver. Beetroot and carrots in any form are rejuvenating for the liver.
To eliminate the causal factors, there are a few things that can be done: soak fruits and vegetables in a baking soda solution to remove pesticides, start using traditional cold-pressed oils for cooking, practice a minimum of 15 minutes of yoga daily to stay calm and happy, avoid foods that play havoc with the liver, and start using cast iron utensils for cooking to optimize liver health.
To sum up, try to reduce the toxic overload on your liver as much as possible. Include foods that will help strengthen your liver. Do not compromise on your sleep. Then, pick any one of these three remedies as per your preference. When it comes to fighting toxins, the liver is our best friend, so it is paramount that we take good care of it. Following the above tips regularly and your liver will renew, and you will feel lighter, more energetic, your hormones will come into place, the body will absorb nutrients better, weight loss will become easier, immunity will improve, and you will experience a heightened state of health.
