The liver is an important organ present in our body. It is responsible for the detoxification of chemicals and metabolising the drugs.
The liver is the largest organ in the body. This organ, which is a part of the digestive system, is very vital for synthesising protein and producing various biochemicals necessary for digestion. The liver produces bile. Bile is a digestive liquid that contains cholesterol which is responsible for breaking down fat.
As we read about the importance of the liver, we need to understand that it is crucial to protect and keep healthy liver. This is why we need to know the concept of liver detox.
What is a detox?
Detox is when a person restrains his body from toxic or unhealthy substances over a period of time. This is called detoxification. The time he restrains himself is known as the detox period.
Eliminating the toxic substances in the body doesn’t require special efforts. It is done through the natural detoxification system.
What is Liver Detox?
Liver detox is when the body undergoes a cleansing process or a flush program that would remove the toxins present in the liver and improve overall health.
The liver is responsible for cleaning and removing the toxins in the body. Most people have a misconception that a liver cleanse will help them to get rid of the toxins after consuming excess alcohol and unhealthy foods that damage the liver.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that.
Liver detox is done in a specific manner. The liver detox process would put a person to fast or drink only juices for a particular number of days.
There are proper medical treatments for liver infections, but there is no solid evidence to prove that detox programs can completely cure liver damage.
The liver detox program would help to cut down all the unnecessary substances entering the body. It would make a person feel healthier, but there is no guarantee that it would cure liver disease.
By following a detox program, we can help the liver with the space it needs to start processing the toxins again. By restricting the toxins entering the body, we make the work of the liver easier.
Even though there is no solid proof that liver cleansing works entirely, there are a few ingredients that may be beneficial to our health.
Symptoms of Liver Detox
The following signs imply that the liver is detoxing.
- Anxiety - During the first few hours of liver detox, psychological symptoms like anxiety occurs.
- Headache - While missing a prolonged habit like alcohol during liver detox, the body reacts in the form of headaches.
- Confusion - There is a feeling of confusion, and the person finds it hard to focus.
- Fatigue - Fatigue occurs a day after the detox starts.
- High blood pressure - Since the individual is at considerable pressure, the blood pressure increases.
- Insomnia - Sleeping troubles transpire as a withdrawal symptom for people detoxing from alcohol or other drugs.
- Increased heart rate - With the rise in temperature and pressure, heart rate is also increased.
- Nausea - While the liver is detoxing from alcohol, abdominal pain and nausea are known to occur.
- Diarrhoea - While the liver is cleansing itself from toxins, gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea are common.
Effective ways to cleanse the liver
Liver flush and liver detox are fancy terms that claim to cleanse the liver and help it to function better.
Some of the natural ways we can detox the liver are:
- Consuming a lot of water is one of the best ways to flush out the toxins in the body. Water is a natural agent responsible for flushing out all the toxins and waste from our bodies.
- The basic concept of liver detox is to minimize the toxins in our bodies. Restricting alcohol plays a crucial role in liver detoxification.
- Consuming a balanced diet with nutritious food which doesn’t contain artificial additives could keep her liver healthy. Some of the food or ingredients may help the body cells to heal. Garlic, lemon and turmeric have such effects.
- Choosing a variety of foods
- Incorporating foods from various food groups provide the essential vitamins and minerals that support liver detoxification.
- Cutting down fatty foods would prevent fatty liver diseases.
- Avoiding table sugar would provide a lot of benefits to the body. High blood sugar levels increase the function of the liver.
- Managing the stress level is also very important to control the cortisol level in the body. Reducing stress can minimize the negative effects caused on the liver.
- Consuming liver detox juice may improve liver health. For a long time, beetroots have been considered a natural liver remedy as they activate the enzymes of the liver and increase bile production. Moreover, beetroot juice is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins C and iron which protect the liver from inflammation and can remove toxins from the body.
- Peppermint tea is also used for flushing out toxins as peppermint is packed with essential oils, which would enhance digestion and detox the body.
- Turmeric is one of the most powerful spices used for centuries in ayurvedic medicine. Mixing a teaspoon of turmeric is one of the best ways to get rid of toxins in the body.
- Fibre
Dietary fibre boosts the antioxidant activity and detoxes the liver enzymes. Being high in fibre, consuming cruciferous vegetables increases the production of glucosinolate in the body, which aids in removing carcinogens and other toxins.
These are some of the ways we can naturally detoxify our liver in the comfort of our homes. It is essential to understand the detox process or liver flush process is just a way in which a person would cut down the entry of toxins into the body. There is no guarantee that a liver flush would eliminate liver disease or an infection.
Sometimes medical assistance is mandatory as the liver may be infected, and the symptoms would be moderate or painful. These liver infections would require medications prescribed by a professional.
Side effects of Liver detox
Liver cleansing diets may lack nutrition.
Balanced nutrition is not provided while consuming liver-cleansing foods. Due to a lack of essential nutrients, malnutrition can occur and lead to deficiency disorders.
Enemas can be harmful.
Enema is often used for liver detoxification and may be dangerous when not used properly.
Liver cleanses cannot replace medical treatment.
Liver detox focuses only on its primary target, and other diseases or co-morbidities are left untreated. This can be taken care of by medical treatment.
Prevention of Liver problems
Limit the amount of alcohol
Chronic alcohol misuse can cause permanent damage to the liver. Restricting or quitting alcohol would be best for preventing liver problems.
Eat a well-balanced diet.
A healthy, balanced diet gives the body adequate nutrition. Consuming unhealthy food rich in saturated fat causes inflammation and ultimately results in cirrhosis.
Healthy weight
Unhealthy lifestyle choices, including poor diet pattern, makes a person obese. Excess calories from such foods are stored in the form of fat in the liver, which may lead to fatty liver disease. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight prevents the risk of liver problems.
Regular exercise
According to a PubMed study, a low level of physical activity is linked to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. So, regular physical activity of at least 150 minutes per week is recommended for better liver health.
When to see a doctor?
Doctor consultation becomes mandatory when any of the following symptoms are noticed.
- Yellow discolouration of the eyes and skin due to jaundice
- Gray, chalky stools
- Vomiting and nausea
- Pain in the upper right abdomen
- Joint discomfort
- Stomach bloating or swelling
- Appetite loss
It is equally crucial for professional medical help when a person has
- Been exposed to hepatitis?
- Symptoms that cannot be attributed to a recent illness or injury
- Symptoms that worsen over time
Conclusion
Many people believe that there is no scientific evidence to prove that detox actually helps our body.
This is why we need to understand that detox is just a process of restricting the entry of harmful toxins into the body and making the function of the organs easier.
If there are problems prevalent despite the detox process, medical assistance is always required. Only a doctor would identify the cause of a disease and would suggest remedies and measures to prevent it.
Even though detox juices can help the body in many ways, having a healthy lifestyle is vital for the prevention of diseases.
