In our previous blog, we explained how your liver, the "builder" of your body, functions. In this blog, we will delve deeper into how you can optimally support your liver during a detoxification process.
Don't detox
The capacity to detoxify well or not depends on many factors. Many people swear by detox cures, such as drinking only juices or doing a liver cleanse with Epsom salts. There is a lot to say about detox methods, particularly that they are not always advisable. If you already have low energy or an imbalance of the right nutrients in your body, detoxing can even exhaust you further and place an enormous burden on your system.
Ways to support your liver
Below, you can read how to safely promote effective detoxification in the body:
- Support your digestion and gut flora
Choose healthy, preferably organic food without E-numbers, eat more vegetables, and drink plenty of pure water. Avoid alcohol and excessive sugars.
When the gut flora is disrupted, waste products also accumulate in the intestines. Therefore, support your intestines with prebiotics and probiotics, and fiber-rich vegetables and fruits.
- Ensure toxins are released from fat cells
Toxins are stored in fat tissue, which the body considers the safest place if they cannot be fully eliminated. Polyphenols are substances that boost metabolism and stimulate fat cells to release toxins; think of sources like vegetables, fruits, good olive oil, and green tea extract (including Matcha).
- Stimulate the liver's detoxification capacity
Detoxification enzymes in the liver neutralize toxins circulating in the blood. These processes require nutrients as resources, as described earlier in this blog.
The algae chlorella and spirulina can also help eliminate toxins, which are then excreted through the bladder and intestines.
- Active sweating is important
By sweating during exercise, you ensure that toxins are properly transported. Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes intensely enough to sweat well. Visiting a sauna or taking a very hot bath also helps to increase sweating.
- Reduce your meal frequency
By limiting yourself to a maximum of three eating occasions a day, including snacks, you ensure that you also go hours without eating. This gives your entire digestive system, especially your liver, the necessary rest to recover and regenerate.
- Relaxation and stress reduction
Ensure sufficient sleep, because at night, the liver helps keep your blood sugar level balanced. This allows other organs to continue their functions throughout the night.
Stress and simultaneous detoxification do not go well together. During stress, the liver, again through gluconeogenesis, supports the fight-or-flight response because it demands more glucose. Other tasks are then put on the back burner.
In summary, to help the liver, it is important to eat well, exercise sufficiently (sweat), eat less frequently, relax, and support detoxification with vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, herbs, green tea extract, probiotics, B vitamins, proteins, fibers, and enzymes. If you would like help in your journey towards a healthier diet, please contact our team of therapists for a free consultation and we can assess together what you need in your process.
