Do you enjoy an occasional glass of wine at night? Do you go out drinking on the weekend? Does your cheat meal include greasy burgers, cheesy pizzas, or fried chicken? Do you absolutely love eating samosas with your evening tea? Can you not go a day without desserts? If you’ve answered yes to any one of the questions, then you need to start thinking about your liver. Ask any doctor, the key factors linked to liver damage and fatty liver are alcohol, fatty foods, and obesity. And by indulging in your indulgences, be it once a week or every single day, you’re putting a lot of strain on your liver.
Let’s think of this from a different perspective. During the summer months, you won’t step out of the house until you’ve got a thick layer of sunscreen on your face. And anything less than 50 SPF won’t do. You’ll carry an umbrella in case the sun gets too strong. You’ll cover your face with a mask or swear gloves so that you don’t tan. You’ll even wear sunglasses so that your eyes don’t feel the burn of those strong sun rays. You do so much to protect yourself on the outside; but what do you do for your insides?
This summer, make the change to overall health care. If you’re putting SPF on your face every morning, why aren’t you taking preventive measures for a liver detox? If you’re having collagen capsules to make your skin look healthier, why aren't you having a pure form of Vitamin C for your insides? If you’re going for pilates every day to tone and shape your body, why aren’t you opting for a digestive cleanse or a liver cleanse to fix your insides? Our point being, your inside is just as important as your outside. While beauty may be outwards, overall health is always inwards.
Let’s start by talking about one very important organ in our body, one which we don’t even think about. One of the most overachieving yet underrated organs in our body, the liver. The liver filters the blood that is coming from our digestive tract before it passes it along to the rest of our body, it metabolizes fats, protein, and carbohydrates, it stores vitamins and minerals, it produces bile and helps in secretion and the liver even promotes enzyme activation. We all studied this in class eight, but do you remember any of it? Doubtful, because as we said before, the liver is pretty underrated. This summer, we’re urging you to take a liver detox, because your overall liver health is essential.
Diet is everything. The liver metabolizes everything that goes into your body, so the better your diet, the easier the liver has to work. You need to ensure that you follow a balanced diet that includes a majority of carbohydrates, a balance of proteins and fats, a large amount of green leafy vegetables, a rich fiber content as well as fruits and vegetables. Avoid high-calorie meals, and at all costs, stay away from processed foods, as these put a lot of pressure on the liver.
There is nothing that exercise cannot cure. By exercising, you’re maintaining a healthy weight, which in turn helps maintain an overall healthy liver. People who are obese are more prone to fatty liver disease, which only damages the liver. Also, exercise is known to reduce the stress on the liver. Try to exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes every day – this could be a brisk walk, a jog, a pilates class, a few laps in the pool, or just a walk in the garden.
The liver can only break down so much alcohol in a day. When you go above and beyond this limit, you’re doing nothing but harming your liver and getting extremely drunk. You should limit your intake to only one or two standard drinks in a day – this could be one glass of beer, one glass of wine, or 30 ml to 60 ml of your go-to alcohol.
There are so many over the counter medications that have a strong impact on your liver because they contain a high amount of toxic metals. As mentioned before, your liver metabolizes everything, yes everything, that you put into your body. This includes unknown toxins and heavy metals that are found in medicines.
P.S, antibiotics are one of the main culprits of liver damage.
You should get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B because both of these diseases cause viral liver infections which can cause irreversible harm to your liver. Hepatitis A is usually contracted through contaminated water or contained foods such as raw seafood, while hepatitis B is contracted from contaminated blood, contaminated needles, and sex.
Diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol have a direct impact on the liver. If you are suffering from any of the above-mentioned diseases, then you should try to keep your levels intact so that there is a minimum strain on your liver and prevent the chances of fatty liver disease. For overall liver health, you need to focus on your overall health.
Research has shown that smoking is directly linked to liver cancer. While we know that smoking can cause cancer, who thought it could be liver cancer too? If you are a smoker, or if you’re already suffering from liver damage, it’s time to puff your cigarettes goodbye.
A detox is a way for your body to get rid of all the harmful toxins and chemicals and just repair itself. In this day and age, it is essential that everyone opts for a detox. Not only a liver detox but also a digestive track detox and overall body detox. We put so much junk in our mouths, we breathe such polluted air, we drink sodas that are filled with chemicals and are constantly exposed to toxins and chemicals – and the only way to prevent these environmental factors from affecting our body is by opting for a proper liver cleanse.
Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, kale, and cauliflower contain an antioxidant called glutathione. Glutathione is known to trigger the cleansing enzymes of the liver which get rid of harmful toxins. Turmeric is also known to remove toxins and even help repair liver cells. Beetroot is a natural blood cleanser that can break down toxic waste and help in extraction, hence reducing the job of the liver. Olive oil is known to decrease fat levels in the liver. Sometimes, all you need to do is eat the right food for a natural liver cleanse.
This beetroot juice cleanse will help your liver in its natural metabolizing, cleaning, and excretion process, which in turn reduces the stress on the liver. Also, drinking juice is a quick and efficient way to get nutrients into your body faster; hence you will see better results. Here are the ingredients you need – one beetroot, one carrot, two small red apples, one stalk of celery, and some peeled ginger. Mix all the ingredients in a blender and drink up. Alternatively, you can also have the juice of 4 beets along with a pinch of salt.
All you need is a glass of warm water and half a lemon, squeezed. Research shows that the enzymes in lemons help rejuvenate the liver, which heals and repairs the liver hence promoting overall liver health. Lemon water also helps to flush out the toxins from your body, which in turn helps to cleanse your liver. This also promotes optimal digestion, which is always good for your overall health. Think of this as a daily routine as opposed to a ‘detox’; but, it does the work of a liver detox!
The fenugreek plant has been used for centuries to treat type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Now, research has suggested that fenugreek seeds can also be helpful in promoting overall liver health. Studies have shown that fenugreek seed extracts are known to reduce liver damage caused by alcohol. Fenugreek is also known to help manage blood sugar – with balanced levels of diabetes and blood sugar, the harmful effect of these diseases on the liver is reduced. To reap the benefits, soak one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds in warm water overnight. You can drink the water on an empty stomach or after a meal. As for the soaked seeds, you should have one spoon of these seeds before every meal.
One of the best ways to detox your liver and promote overall liver health is by eating Meadbery’s Liver Detox Shield capsule on a daily basis. The main ingredient in this capsule is milk thistle extract which is known to have liver-protecting effects, it cleanses the liver and can even be used to reverse liver damage. It also contains dandelion extracts which are a common ingredient in ancient Chinese and traditional American medication. This extract is beneficial for liver functions, it helps detoxify the liver and reduces levels of fat in the liver. Kutki extract or Picrorhiza kurroa, is known to heal the liver and support liver function. It also helps keep your liver enzymes at a balanced level and can be used as a complementary treatment for people with liver cirrhosis. Another important ingredient is licorice extract, which reduces liver injury. This capsule also contains black pepper extract, amla, and kansi extract, which are known to improve liver health and heart health.