How to know if you need a liver detox diet

How to know if you need a liver detox diet
Someday you may notice that your body is so out of sync. You tire easily, have digestion problems, get bloated, struggle to lose weight, and feel your metabolism is practically at a stand still. These may all be signs that the liver is in trouble and needs detoxification or even medical attention.
The liver is the largest organ in the body and has numerous functions. In fact, it is the liver that manages the entire immune system and regulates metabolism, fats and proteins. The liver also acts as a manufacturing plant. When it works properly, the liver turns glucose (sugar) into another form glycogen for storage. It can release glucose when needed to maintain sugar levels in the blood. In addition, the liver acts as a storehouse for vital nutrients, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B, and B complex vitamins. The liver also creates more carbohydrates from fats and proteins.
As a detoxifying machine the liver works hard to rid toxins that attack and cause damage to the liver and other organs. Foods that are no longer fresh contain toxins and so do leftover foods from a previous meal.
You need to heed the signals the liver is putting out. You may have a fatty liver, developing liver failure, or simply have a sluggish liver that needs cleansing. There are many causes of a sluggish liver, liver disease and liver failure. You probably know that the most common cause is alcoholism. Other causes are overeating, diets rich in fats and sugars, analgesics and acetaminophen, some prescription drugs, household cleansers, pesticides, toxic chemicals in the workplace, and infections from hepatitis A, B and C.
If you are having some symptoms of poor liver function and want to reverse the damage, you can detox the liver with an alcohol-free liver tonic. Liver tonics are available at health food stores and pharmacies. You may also want to incorporate some of these suggestions into your daily lifestyle.
1. Limit or avoid alcohol, foods with preservatives, candies, pastries, ice cream, chips, creamy sauces and gravies, fried foods. If your diet contains these, you may end up with a fatty liver which can lead to even more serious diseases of the liver.
2. Avoid eating when you are not hungry. Instead eat a light snack.
3. Avoid getting dehydrated. Drink at least eight glasses of water, preferably filtered water since tap water may contain harmful sediments from the pipes.
4. Avoid sugars. The liver converts sugar into fat. Too much sugar will cause you to get fat and will damage your liver, heart and kidneys.
5. Limit eating meat to two or three times a week. Substitute beans and proteinrich food.
6. Avoid fats, especially saturated fats.
7. Eat carrot, beats, alfalfa and parsley to protect the liver from toxins.
You can find extensive information to cleanse the liver in the book, “The Liver Cleansing Diet.” This book includes an eight-week plan complete with easy recipes to follow. If you need to lose weight, you will probably lose a few pounds with the plan.
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Source:
Cabot, Sandra, M.D. The Liver Cleansing Diet. 1996.
Scottsdale, Arizona, S.C.B. International. 1997.
Internet site: www.whas.com.au.
January 18, 2011 

