The liver is a major organ with a great deal of responsibility. It works hard on a daily basis to filter out all the toxins that you eat, drink and breathe. The liver works hand-in-hand with the gallbladder to store and produce the bile necessary to digest fats, and a great deal more. The liver is also responsible for the functioning of your metabolism. If you consume unhealthy foods and/or come into contact with toxins on a regular basis, then your liver will eventually become damaged. A faulty liver can make you more susceptible to allergies, chronic fatigue, and even headaches. A damaged liver can also lead to liver disease, and since the liver is a vital organ, unlike the gallbladder, liver disease can be deadly. Fortunately, the liver has the amazing ability to regenerate, so if you are willing to make some changes in your diet and lifestyle, then you can improve the condition of your liver, therefore improving your overall health.
Smoothies & Freshly Squeezed Juices
Not only are smoothies and freshly squeezed juices fun to make and delicious to drink, but they can also be very healing to the liver, depending on what you add to them. If you aren’t familiar with juicing or making smoothies, then you will soon learn how easy either can be. All you need is a simple blender and/or juicer to get started and the rest is a breeze: simply gather all of the ingredients, toss them in and blend, or if you’re using a juicer, press them through the chute. Some of the best fruits and vegetables to put in your smoothies and juices to encourage good liver health are apples, carrot, beets, garlic, kale, cherries, peppers, and broccoli, in addition to many others.
Choose your sweeteners wisely
Many sweeteners that people use on a daily basis are not liver-friendly. Aspartame and other artificial sweeteners have been implicated in certain cases where liver damage and even cancer has been diagnosed. A diet that includes high amounts of sugar is definitely not liver-friendly, either. Sugar is a main contributor to fatty liver, a serious condition of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and other deadly liver diseases. Some healthier sweetener choices are raw honey, stevia, and agave nectar.
Herbs and Supplements
If you’re unable to eat liver-friendly 100 % of the time, then there is no need to fret. The body can withstand a diet that consists of “bad” foods for a small percentage of the time, so treating yourself occasionally will not totally erase all your efforts. Some helpful supplements that you might want to add to your diet to help accelerate the improvement of your liver include milk thistle, artichoke, chicory root, dandelion root, turmeric, and peppermint. You might also want to take special liver tonics that contain a combination of these and other helpful and healing herbs.
Making a commitment to nourishing and regenerating your liver is a wise choice. It can help you to lose weight, feel better and live longer. Adapting to a more liver-friendly lifestyle doesn’t only include your diet. You will want to avoid toxins in the form of harsh cleansers, perfumes, paints, and similar items. Non-toxic alternatives are available in health food stores and online. If you absolutely must use these regular toxic products, then you will want to make sure there is adequate ventilation, which can lessen the impact on your liver. Improving the health of your liver doesn’t have to be dreaded, because not only will you improve the health of your liver, but you can improve your overall well-being in the process.
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