Spring is the ideal time to think about your liver. The liver is not only the largest organ inside the body, It is the most important organ of detoxification in our body with a BIG JOB.The liver is our own personal filtering system, it literally cleans our blood removing harmful toxins and bacteria before they get to our cells. It helps our immune system fight infections.
It is essential for digesting our food. When our liver is functioning optimally it works as our body’s fat burning organ. It produces bile, which is key for digesting fats, regulating our cholesterol and triglycerides. It converts nutrients from our meals into components producing proteins and enzymes to balance our hormones. It also stores vitamins and minerals for use when needed.
Spring is a good time to think about your liver. After a long winter diet of eating heavier foods you may have put on some winter insulation. No problem this is as nature intended.
Come spring, it has got to go! If kept on for an extended period of time, this extra fat congests the liver. The good thing is, nature has a plan. Early spring roots and greens like dandelion, arugula, broccoli sprouts and spring onions are loaded with liver-cleansing and bile-moving alkaloids that cleanse all the congestion out of the liver.
Clearly we live in a toxic world. As a result toxins and fats build up in our body causing congestion. But there is something you can do about it. IF YOU DO NOTHING, your ability to digest the foods you love will decline. You will have less ENERGY and the toxins may even affect your hormones making you cranky! Start by eating these foods.
My Favorite Liver Cleansing Foods
Leafy Greens
Leafy greens like dandelion, arugula, sprouts and tender baby lettuce will scrape the mucus off the intestines and clean the blood while helping the liver do its big spring cleaning job. Those tender young shoots are rich in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll acts as a fertilizer for good bacterial growth in your intestines. Chlorophyll neutralizes metals and chemicals helping your liver to get rid of them.
Garlic
This powerful plant stimulates your body to activate liver enzymes that can flush out stored toxins.
Garlic contains high amount of allicin and selenium, two natural compounds that aid in liver cleansing.
Beets
This root cleanses the liver and purifies the blood improving the overall functions of your liver. It supplies your body with iron to give you energy.
Sprouts
Spring is a great time to eat sprouts of all kind, because this is exactly what nature is doing- sprouting.
Sprouts support your liver with the vitamins and nutrients and chlorophyll they contain. They are a natural blood cleanser.
Avocados
I love avocados, it may just be the perfect food, if there is such a thing. Avocados encourage your body to produce glutathione that the liver needs to filter out harmful toxins.
Grapefruits
Eating grapefruits increases the production of liver detoxification enzymes that help your liver clear out carcinogens and toxins. Grapefruits are high in Vitamin C and antioxidants
Green Tea
You liver loves green tea. It is is full of plant antioxidants known as catechins, which have been known to improve the functions of our liver. Since it does contain caffeine limit to two cups a day.
This is only a partial list. The other liver cleansing foods I also like are lemons, kale, asparagus and turmeric. By including the foods listed you will help your liver clean out the winter congestion. If you want your liver to keep functioning properly I highly recommend doing a liver cleanse once each year.
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