Liver Detox: The Effects & How You Can Help! - Enlighten Functional Medicine

Liver Detox: The Effects & How You Can Help!

Liver Detox: The Effects & How You Can Help!

Do you feel like you could use a detox? Believe it or not, your liver is probably screaming for one too. The good news is that you can help the liver detox more optimally with some simple tips. In this post, we’ll explore the effects of liver detox and give you some tips on how to get started. So, why not give your liver the break it deserves? Read on to learn more!

 

 

The liver is the only organ that can regenerate itself. Our liver is responsible for filtering out all of the blood and the toxins from our body. By detoxing it, we can improve our overall health and wellbeing. First of all, how do we know if our liver even needs a detox? 

You can look into these to assess if you need to liver detox: 

  • Having symptoms such as sluggishness 
  • Feeling fatigued
  • You did have some pain in your abdomen 
  • You’re an alcohol drinker
  • You’re a woman and you have too much estrogen 
  • Having way too heavy periods
  • You’re a man and you also have too much estrogen (making you have “man boobs”)

 

There’s many different things that can show and result as symptoms. Maybe you’ve had some blood work done and your doctor has spoken the term – fatty liver, as well. It could also be that you’ve seen a little bit elevation in some ALT (alanine aminotransferase) or AST (aspartate aminotransferase) markers in your lab work. Live detox may also be needed when your triglycerides are elevated a little bit and maybe you’ve had some sluggish gallbladder issues.  Detox is also ideal when the gallbladder is removed. These are signs that your liver needs some love.

 

What is a liver detox? 

 

Imagine when we get an oil change in the car. We want to replace the bad oil with the good oil. This way, we know things are well-oiled and they’re working appropriately. In our body, we need to make sure that it’s working well too. In other words, it’s well oiled. 

 

One of the biggest things our liver makes is bile. Bile gets stored in the gallbladder. Now, if you don’t have a gallbladder to slowly drip that bile, the bile flows directly into the intestine anytime the liver produces it. Thus, there still is bile in the intestine to mix with food and fat. Bile needs to say liquidy because it eliminates wastes with it. It eliminates hormones’ by-products and toxins. If we don’t have good bile production, to begin with, you’re not really getting stuff out of your body. We need to support the pushing effect of toxins out of the body. 

 

We’re exposed to a very toxic world, which I’m sure you’re aware of. It’s toxic in so many ways. Just the difference between the chemicals we get exposed to these days versus those a hundred years ago. It’s massive. We need to help the liver push out these toxins and we can bring in a little support for that.

 

When people talk about detoxing, they usually mean getting rid of the bad stuff that comes out of your liver. You can do this by drinking lots of fluids and eating healthy foods to push the bad stuff out of your body. There are many different techniques that can help with this, including taking supplements and using special diets. This is the push component of liver detoxification.

 

However, no one ever really talks about the catch component. We need to make sure all this stuff that’s being pushed from the liver into the small intestine gets caught and gets traveled down the pipe into the toilet. This catch component is something that people really don’t talk about. Fibrous foods are essential for this piece, as well as other binding agents that I use frequently in my functional medicine practice.

 

There are some things that you can add to your diet today that will help promote the gentle detoxification that we should normally be doing. 

 

Dandelion root tea. 

Dandelion root tea has been shown in the literature to help support the detoxification pathways of the liver. This is likely due to the fact that dandelion root is a source of antioxidants, which help to protect cells from damage. It is also a diuretic, meaning that it helps to promote urination. This can help to flush toxins from the body and reduce inflammation. Dandelion tea is often enjoyed for its earthy flavor, but it can also be helpful for those looking to support their liver health.

 

Water and minerals 

We all know that water is essential for life. But did you know that minerals are just as important? Minerals are essential for proper hydration, and they also play a role in detoxification. Make sure that you are hydrating properly with minerals to help with that detox. The best way to get the minerals your body needs is to drink purified water that has been enriched with minerals. You can also find mineral-rich waters at many natural food stores. Next time you reach for a bottle of water, make sure it contains the minerals your body needs to stay healthy and hydrated.

 

Fasting 

Fasting is an ancient practice that has been used for religious and spiritual purposes for centuries. But it can also be an effective way to detoxify your body and give your digestive system a much-needed break. Whether it’s just for skipping breakfast or maybe it’s delaying your onset of eating, fasting supports elimination and detoxification. It is essential to hydrate and remineralize the body while fasting. This is what  I love to coach patients on in my practice. 

You might be thinking about what happens to you after detox. You’ve probably done a detox before and maybe you want to do it again differently. (By the way, there are many different kinds of detox out there.) Look for these different things to appear: 

  • You probably feel more energetic
  • You feel a little bit lighter
  • You’ll have more regular bowel movements because things are moving cleaner 
  • Your skin is brighter 
  • Your mental clarity is on point

 

Perhaps you’re looking for a heavier type of detox or you really want to dig into detox. This is where I love working with patients in this manner. I love liposomal delivery products focusing on the detox pathways. When we look at genetics and physiology, it is imperative that we see how these pathways are working methylation supports, and the right binding agents to bring in. One more thing to make sure of is working with someone who is trained.

Detoxing is all the rage right now and for good reason – it can offer a variety of health benefits. If you’re looking to improve your liver function, detoxification is one of the best ways to do so. We hope this article has given you a better understanding of what detoxing is, how it works and why it’s beneficial. If you’re interested in learning more or want help getting started on your own liver detox journey, we’d be happy to chat with you. Schedule a free discovery call today and let us help you get on the road to better health!

 

Book a discovery call with mehttps://enlightenstl.com/work-with-me

 

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DISCLAIMER:  The information in this email is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content is for general informational purposes only and does not replace a consultation with your own doctor/health professional 

About Enlighten Functional Medicine

Known for her successful treatment of mystery illnesses, Dr. Emily Hecker and her team at Enlighten Functional Medicine combine an integrative, functional medicine approach with the appropriate lab testing.

Our unique approach to diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders recognizes that lasting health depends on resolution of the root causes of your disease. Click here to learn more »

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