We must all be guilty of taking our liver for granted, as unlike our heart it does not thump in our chest and palpitate on exercise or when under duress.
Generally we probably only consciously think about it either when we are diagnosed with an illness, contracted food poisoning or have over indulged on alcohol.
I must admit it is the latter that we read about regularly in the media, and some of the headlines have been very hard hitting at young people and women in particular.
I think many people are not aware of the 'pressure' they are putting their liver under by following an 'unhealthy lifestyle' i.e. excess alcohol and a high fatty diet, and with little or no exercise.
So we need to think about how we can change our lifestyle and adapt to a healthy diet, to include all the vitamins and nutrients needed to keep our liver in good condition - 'good food for good health' - as you know I believe 'we are what we eat' and with that I should include drink, and that we all have choices.
It has been quite a few years since I left school and learnt biology, but one of the facts I remember that stands out about the liver is the amazing way it can heal and re-grow itself, up to three quarters of your liver can be removed and within a few weeks will grow back.
Our bodies are amazing but they do need our help, and the easiest way to do this is with a sensible diet, not needing to have to omit any food type if it is eaten moderately and not on a regular basis.
A diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, poultry and eggs, meat, nuts, seeds and whole legumes is excellent and the best way for detoxing the liver, and do include lemon in your diet as protein digestion is enhanced by the diluted hydrochloric acid contained in lemons.
I can remember my grandmother saying the best way to start the day is with a glass of hot water with a couple of slices or squeeze of fresh lemon, just as her mum before her did, as this is supposed to be a good detox not just for the liver but the whole body.
Obviously the way your food is cooked is of great importance, steamed and grilled is the way to go, with much less roast and fried food.
The liver can work much more effectively if meals are light, small meals more frequent rather than skipping meals and eating a large meal late in the evening.
Avoid the foods that make the liver work harder - fatty foods, processed food, alcohol, margarine and caffeine.
Salt is another ingredient that should be cut down on and not only for the health of your liver, quite often the use of salt is just a habit - something you have always done - and you just need to re-educate your taste buds.
Essential fatty acids that are found in cold pressed oils such as extra virgin olive oil and sunflower are beneficial for your health with avocados being a very good source.
You need to ensure that you eat enough fibre, as this is vital in helping to eliminate fats and toxins through the bile in your liver out of your body, otherwise it is re-absorbed and stored.
Drinking plenty of fluid is important - two litres a day, a mixture of different drinks is the best way to make up your daily requirement -juices, water - tap and bottled, milk, tea and coffee.
Recently it has become popular to use a vegetable juice-drink diet for two weeks (and this is to be drunk cold) to detox the liver, but this really can be quite drastic and importantly before embarking on any type of diet like this you really should seek medical advice.
I believe cutting down or out on some foods - only for a couple of weeks - can benefit the liver and aid detoxification, such as hard cheese, full fat cream and milk, starchy foods including pasta, potatoes and rice, and caffeine.
If you actually feel better after the two weeks having cut out certain foods, why not eat less or less regularly when you re-introduce them.
Eliminate saturated fats, high sugary foods and alcohol, and coming into close contact with chemicals.
This is just as important as what we eat, as what we breathe and absorb through our skin such as household cleaning solvents, gardening pesticides and even air fresheners, are toxins that can damage the liver.
Some herbal supplements are said to help with detoxing , milk Thistle is renowned as a liver-promoting herb, along with dandelion and licorice.
Milk thistle has shown to help protect the cells of the liver from toxins and by eliminating harmful toxins that are already present .
Sillymarin is the active ingredient in milk thistle, found in the seeds of the herb that contain a bioflavanoid complex.
So remember 'good food is good health' and that we are what we eat.
Eat a varied diet including fresh fruit and vegetables daily, why not make a beeline for the fresh produce shelves when you go food shopping and try to miss out the aisles with the processed foods, this can only benefit the health of yourself and your family.
So by eating a varied diet of good food for good health you detox your liver naturally.
If you detox your liver, what method do you use and how regularly, I would be interested to know.
Sandra & Ted
This article was composed by Sandra & Ted Wosko. We have always been interested in health issues especially having children, and as with most people, we all suffer with some type of ailment. We are always researching on more and more topics in the endless task of gaining more knowledge to increase our expertise, benefiting ourselves and other people alike. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Wosko |
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