SPRING CLEAN YOUR LIVER!!
Spring cleaning in our homes is an annual ritual that allows us to purge and prepare our space for the beautiful weather to come. Spring is also a great time of the year to clean our body by doing some detoxing.
Over the dark months of winter, we tend to spend more time indoors, with less than optimal physical activity, eating heavier, or more foods that contain processed (pasta, bread, baked goods, etc.) carbohydrates.
The liver is one of the most important organs to annually detoxify in the body. It is responsible for over 500 functions. When your liver is sluggish, it will affect many other processes causing you to feel sub-optimal. Some of the processes that the liver plays a key role in are: metabolizing fat, manufacturing enzymes and hormones, releasing bile for digestion, and detoxifying harmful substances. When spring comes around, the liver is more than ready for a break from all this added stress!
As the temperature warms up, it becomes the perfect time to nourish and cleanse a toxic or overloaded liver. Liver congestion leads to lethargy, since this amazing organ can become overwhelmed with how much it needs to process. When natural cleansing processes slow down, toxic substances start to accumulate in the bloodstream. Lifestyle choices such as experiencing too much stress, anxiety or anger, exposure to chemicals, drinking alcohol, taking medications, eating too many fried, processed or otherwise inflammatory foods, or not getting enough physical activity can all contribute to a liver that becomes sluggish and congested.
Here are a few suggestions to keep your liver working in tip-top shape:
1. Eat your greens! Fresh greens become more readily available in the spring and green foods are ideal for supporting liver health. Kale, dandelion, parsley, cucumber, collard greens, watercress, broccoli, and brussel sprouts are particularly helpful for liver health. Avocados and asparagus are great foods to assist with liver detoxification. Get as many servings of greens foods every day as you can.
2. Drink a glass of warm lemon water first thing in the morning. Water is hydrating and the lemon is stimulating. Adding juice from a freshly squeezed lemon to good quality spring water helps the liver produce bile, which enhances digestion and helps to flush out toxins.
3. Avoid foods which inflame the liver. A lot of so-called “comfort foods” are not comfortable for your liver. Items such as sugar, flour, processed starchy foods, fried, fatty foods and red meat are particularly challenging for the liver to process and add to its toxicity load. Better to minimize those options and choose more fresh, natural foods like fruits and vegetables to ease digestion and give your liver a break.
4. Exercise! Getting some physical activity and movement helps stimulate circulation and increases oxygen intake. Clear out stagnation by taking a walk, going for a hike or bike ride, practicing yoga or anything active where you can get some fresh air and movement. You’ll feel better all over and your liver will thank you.
5. Chiropractic care to ensure that the liver (and every other organ in your body) is receiving as much guidance from the brain as possible. The better the nervous system’s connection to the brain, the better the liver functions.
6. Standard Process makes a wonderful liver cleansing product called Livaplex.
Take 3 capsules a day for 30 days. $23/90 capsules. For an extra boost to the liver take 2 of MediHerb’s LivCo per day for an even deeper cleanse. $28/40 tablets. You can purchase these two amazing products at our office or call for us to drop ship them to you.