Spring Cleaning for Your Body: The Refreshing Benefits of a Liver Detox
Spring is our opportunity for a fresh start and an even better time to reflect on who we are, where we are in life, and where we want to go. Although we know this could relate to various areas such as our careers and personal lives, the two of us think spring is an opportune time of the year to deep-clean our bodies.
Are you craving to hit the reset button on your health?
Just like our homes need to be tidied or freshened up from time to time, so do our bodies. Think of your body as your home or living space. Many of us can probably relate to overflowing closets, junk drawers, and settled dust on our bookcases.It's life. We've all been there. Yet, clutter piles up over time, and dust and dirt set in. Our bodies are the same way and no matter how hard we try, we still encounter many toxins year after year. Whether we are exposed to pesticides sprayed on our produce, preservatives on our meats and processed foods, household cleaners or toxins that seep into our skin from lotions, shampoos, soaps, deodorant or even cosmetic makeup, the reality is toxins are everywhere.
Nonetheless, they pile up over time and settle within our bodies. Like our forbidden junk drawers, those chemicals and toxins are stored in our bodies and often forgotten. Unfortunately, the more time passes, the more it builds up. Instead of the clutter being contained in a drawer, it spreads to other cabinets, closets, and corners. Within the body, this clutter is found in our joints, muscles, fat cells, or even in our brains. As a result, our bodies present us with a vast range of symptoms ranging from joint pain to tummy troubles and even low energy levels.
Are we right to say our physical homes are easier to maintain with less stuff in them? Similarly, our bodies will perform better with less toxic overload. Just like our homes, which we are oh-so-proud of, our bodies need a little spring cleaning or detox every now and again, too.
What is a Detox?
Simply put, detoxes are like cleaning the leaves, sticks, and debris out of the gutters of our homes. A liver detox, commonly referred to as a liver cleanse or liver flush, is the process of eliminating or getting rid of toxins from your liver so that it has the ability to function optimally(1). Sounds amazing, right?
It is also important to note that our liver is a powerhouse organ whose primary job is to process and eliminate toxins when they enter the body. Toxins can be classified into two categories. Endotoxins are byproducts that our body makes. Meanwhile, exotoxins are substances that originally come from outside of our physical body. While both are important to our overall wellness, it is easier to note the external toxins so many of us are exposed to . They are anything from pollutants, synthetic chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, mold and viruses (2). Yet, also include cosmetics, cleaning products, air pollutants, fragrances, pesticides and cleaning products (3) . The list does not stop there. As you can see, it could literally go on and on.
The good news is that your body has a sophisticated way of getting rid of toxins with the help of our liver, kidneys, digestive system, skin and lungs. To be real with you, our organs must be healthy to successfully eliminate unwanted toxins throughout our systems. (4) A great analogy is our handy dryer vent. Its job is to catch as much lint in the filter so that it does not remain on your clothes or get trapped in the dryer vent. If not properly cleaned, it gets clogged and is the leading reason for dryer fires. So, just like those dryer vents that often get forgotten about or overlooked, our bodies, specifically our liver, must be cleaned out or detoxed, too.
All in all, liver detoxes are strongly recommended to "improve liver function, detoxify your liver, and rejuvenate liver cells." (5)
We dream of a clean house, but who actually dreams of doing the cleaning?
- Victoria J. Brown
Are you questioning whether you really need to jump on the detox bandwagon?
It takes work to make changes in our life and while the process or transition may take some extra work, the benefits far outweigh the costs. Here are some common symptoms that our bodies often use to communicate with us that they are crying out for a deep-cleaning.
We whole-heartedly desire for everyone to feel better, but the truth of the matter is nothing will change until each of us makes the choice to change ourselves. In comparison to a liver or body detox, we can certainly agree the grass is greener on the other side. Because when we actually make those lifestyle changes, we get to enjoy the benefits of increased energy, clear thinking, healthy skin, a happy digestive system, weight loss, more mental clarity, emotional boost and less inflammation just to name a few! Haha! All this to say, we'll look better and feel better. It's totally worth it. Besides, what do we have to lose?
What we water will grow. (8) Let's stop and think about what we are watering in our bodies.
12 Ways to Detox the Body Naturally So Your Body Will Blossom and Bloom Wherever it is Planted.
As Dr. Raisen explains: "It's a bad idea to live an unhealthy lifestyle all year and then do an extreme liver cleanse at the end of it." If you know your liver needs a lot of support, start slow and cleanse over a period of 40 days or so. "If you try to overhaul your lifestyle in 10 days, you might feel really sick," says Dr. Raisen. (6) Just like Dr. Raisen suggests, we, too, recommend starting slowly to see the degree of detox your body can handle. The more toxic our bodies are, the slower we must detox.
We can take many significant steps to support natural liver detox, but please note that these suggestions only scratch the surface. Count them like tiny seeds to be planted and watered, but in order to truly detox and clean out our organs, tissues and joints we will need to dig a little deeper. We'll share more later on safely doing a deeper cleanse.
Water Works Wonders- Water naturally flushes out toxins within our system, so drinking ample filtered water each day is essential. Additionally, many experts recommend starting our day with a warm glass of lemon water each morning. Not only does the water flush out our liver, but the lemon also aids in detoxifying the body and boosting lymphatic function.
Take a B Vitamin- Vitamins B6 and B12 play a pivotal role in making Glutathione, a natural detoxifier made in the liver (10) . Glutathione aids our liver in the removal of heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum, and cadmium from our body, on top of eliminating toxins found in plastics, conventional cosmetic products or mold. (11)
Spice Up Your Diet- No, we do not mean you have to eat spicy foods, but rather, many herbs and spices have natural detoxification properties. This would include garlic, clove, basil, cilantro, and oregano, to name just a few. Additionally, ginger is loaded with antibacterial properties. When eaten, garlic activates the liver's detox enzymes, which help eliminate them from the body. Turmeric is an extra special spice, which consists of curcumin. Curcumin is known for being the active ingredient in turmeric, which flushes out toxins from the body and restoring liver cells.
Eat Leafy Green Vegetables- If you are not used to eating leafy green vegetables in your diet, you will want to add them slowly over time so that you do not detox too rapidly. These amazing veggies are high in chlorophyll and soak up a lot of toxins from the bloodstream. They're jam-packed with vitamins, minerals ls, and fiber (9).
Indulge in Cruciferous Vegetables- With anything, we always recommend enjoying them in moderation, but the benefits of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli are bountiful. They are a significant source of Glutathione. Remember the detoxing agent within the liver? When you have enough Glutathione, it "triggers cleansing enzymes that help flush out carcinogens and other toxic compounds in the body." (9)
Avoid Processed Foods (like weeds avoid pesticides)- Most processed foods such as chips, crackers, cookies, breads and pastas consist of filler ingredients. They make our stomachs feel full, but they don't add much nutritional value. Processed foods contribute to inflammation and are where you will find many additives, artificial flavorings, unhealthy oils, sweeteners, and ingredients we cannot read. If we cannot read the ingredients, it probably means we do not know what we are eating. And if we don't know what it is, then why the heck are we eating it?
Green Tea- There are a variety of teas that offer detoxifying properties, but green tea is the cream of the crop when it comes to ridding the liver of toxins. Please be picky and only choose organic teas.
Sweat it Out—Sweating is one of the body's natural ways of releasing toxins. So, whether you go for a brisk walk, lift weights, swim, do yoga, or play a sport, we strongly suggest finding a way to sweat. Saunas are also a great way to sweat.
Limit or Eliminate Alcohol- Alcohol is tough on the liver and can lead to a vast array of other health conditions. We highly encourage you to drink in moderation on special occasions, or skip the alcoholic beverages altogether.
Kick out the Chemicals- Let's be honest! We want you to consider the products around your home that contain toxins or chemicals. For most, thousands of chemicals labeled "generally safe" lurk in your cabinets. This is because not enough studies have been released on them to keep them out of our products. As a result, they are wreaking havoc on our health. Be mindful of the shampoos, soaps, detergents, cleaners, tampons/ pads, hair products, lotions, and even cosmetics. Over time, little bits of exposure do add up.
Avoid Medications (When possible)—While we do not advocate stopping medications without the support of a health care practitioner, we do encourage you to understand that every medication is made up of horrific compounds that put additional toxins into your system. If at all possible, please consider consulting with a professional to help you swap prescriptions for supplements that will support the restoration of your health.
Take Liver-Supporting Supplements—Yes, our bodies are supposed to detox naturally, but like our hidden junk drawer or lint filter, they need additional help to be cleaned out. Please read below to learn what we do At the Living Tree to support our clients locally and long distance.
Shed what no longer serves you to make room for new growth. (8)
Looking to do some deep cleaning and take your cleanse to the next level?
We are beyond excited you're considering doing a liver cleanse to take your health to the next level. With that said, we cannot stress enough the importance of doing a liver cleanse or detox with the supervision and guidance of a natural health practitioner. When clients detox too quickly they may face additional symptoms during the cleansing process, but we can avoid that.
Our role as practitioners at The Living Tree is to determine which form of detox your body tests for. We do this through a form of kinesiology, or muscle testing, known as Quantum Nutrition Testing. When you meet with us, we will test your body to receive a muscle response, which leads us to answers.
We can determine where toxins are stored in your body, which supplementation will detox the body, and the right dosage your body needs or craves. In fact, our form of testing enables us to find out the rate of detox your body needs so you cleans your body at the right pace.
Sounds amazing, right? It is! Maid Sailors once stated, "A recurring cleaning will make you a happy person." She was referencing cleaning your home, but we can certainly say "cleaning out the body" will lead to positive results, too.
We highly encourage you to cleanse this spring so you will have the energy to stop and smell the roses. Besides, you only live once, so we want you to go out there, feel your best, look your best, and live in full bloom.
XOXO-
Robin and Julie
Resources
The Biostation. Benefits of a Liver Detox: https://thebiostation.com/bioblog/benefits-of-a-liver-detox/
Van De Walle, MS, RD, Gavin; November 14, 2023. What is a Full Body Detox?: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/how-to-detox-your-body
Aronsohn, MD, Andrew. December 21, 2022. Is Detoxing Good for You? https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/gastrointestinal-articles/do-detoxes-work#:~:text=A%20detox%20is%20the%20process,the%20liver%20and%20other%20organs
Hum, J. December 28, 2015. Detox Diets for Toxin Elimination and Weight Management: a Critical Review of the Evidence: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25522674/
The LifeCo Holistic Well-Being: https://www.thelifeco.com/en/blog/5-signs-of-liver-detox-working/
Lidicker, Gretchen. November 17, 2019. Cleanse Your Liver Naturally With These Doctor Approved Tips: https://www.parsleyhealth.com/blog/how-to-cleanse-your-liver/
Gupta, Dr. Manoj. 6 Ways to Detox Your Liver: https://psrihospital.com/simple-ways-to-detox-your-liver/
Lookman, RVT, Saleema. January 24, 2022. 48 Spring Quotes to Renew Your Hope: https://www.lovetoknow.com/quotes-quips/daily-life/48-spring-quotes-renew-your-hope
Kims Health. Best Foods to Cleanse Your Liver: https://www.kimshealth.org/trivandrum/blog/best-foods-cleanse-your-liver/
PlantaCorp GmbH. 2023. Taking Care of Your Liver Through B-complex Supplementation:
Myers MD, Amy. How to Safely Detox Your Liver: https://www.amymyersmd.com/article/how-to-detox-your-liver
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