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The liver is an essential organ; you can't live without it. Its function is to detoxify the body by filtering the blood, breaking down harmful substances like alcohol, and producing bile to carry away the waste products. That's a lot of vital work to handle. Over time, though, the liver may start to struggle with its objective. When that happens, other parts of the body are also affected, and the liver becomes more vulnerable to damage and diseases. Fortunately, a liver detox can help bring it back to fighting form.

What Is a Liver Detox?

A liver detox, which also goes by the terms "liver cleanse" and "liver flush," is the process of cleaning your liver of toxins so that it functions optimally. Performing a liver detox might involve any or all of the following:

  • Fasting or going on a juice fast.
  • Avoiding foods and other substances that may harm the liver for a prolonged time.
  • Cleansing the colon with an enema.
  • Taking a supplement specially formulated to rid the liver of toxins.

Seven Benefits of a Liver Detox

Detoxing your liver is a lot more than just cleaning out an organ. There are many life-changing benefits that can result in a healthier and happier version of you. Here are seven of the most significant benefits:

Prevention of Life-Threatening Diseases

A struggling liver can become a diseased liver, but a strong one can stave off diseases. Specifically, detoxifying your liver can help prevent the onset of life-threatening conditions, such as:

  • Cirrhosis of the liver.
  • Alcoholic hepatitis.
  • Hepatitis A, B, and C.
  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Stronger Immune System

Many people might not realize that the liver has a tremendous impact on the immune system. In fact, the liver is on the front lines of your body's immune response system because of its role in processing harmful substances in your body. It detects bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that enter the body through your gut and works to clear them out before they can make you sick.

Better-Functioning Body

The immune system isn't the only system the liver interacts with. In fact, the liver has a major influence on virtually all the body's organ systems. Some of the most important associated functions of the liver relate to:

  • Blood clotting.
  • Protein synthesis.
  • Heme breakdown.
  • Sex hormone metabolism.
  • Reproduction and development.

So, by proactively working to improve your liver function, you're also maintaining your body's ability to carry out numerous other processes that keep you alive, healthy, and thriving.

Cellular Youth

Toxins and free radicals naturally enter the body whenever we eat, drink, or breathe. A weakened liver struggles to clear out the toxins, thus overloading the body and exposing its cells to an increased risk of degradation. Preventing cellular degradation helps keep the cells young, which also helps to keep you looking young.

Increased Energy

Consuming liver-harming substances such as processed foods, refined carbohydrates, and alcohol tends to cause sluggishness. If your liver detox involves fasting or cutting these substances out of your diet, you prevent sluggishness from taking hold. If you're supplementing, the formulation can help flush out such substances from the body.

Fat Loss

Remember, the liver breaks down harmful substances and carries away the by-products, and one of those substances is fat. A healthy liver is a champion at metabolizing fat. But should your liver become overburdened with toxins, its metabolic efficiency diminishes. In turn, you start to feel lethargic, and your body may struggle to absorb nutrients, exacerbating fat gain and further damaging the liver. Detoxifying the liver, though, can ensure that it produces bile how it should, thus preventing fat accumulation in the body.

Clearer Skin

If you're experiencing skin issues such as acne and pockmarks, it might stem from your liver. When the liver struggles to clear out toxins via bile, the body may begin to expel it through the pores. Interactions between your skin and the toxins can cause unsightly skin. Preventing toxins from seeping from the pores also prevents irritants from causing such visible damage.

What Else Can I Do To Maintain a Healthy Liver?

Although the following strategies are not considered a detox or cleanse, you can help support your liver's health so it can perform optimally. Here are some ways to help your liver and boost your overall health at the same time:

  • Maintain a healthy weight: Being overweight can lead to a fatty liver, which may cause you to develop liver diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Shedding some pounds and maintaining a healthy weight reduces your chances of negative outcomes for the liver.
  • Adopt a gut-friendly diet: A balanced, mindful diet is crucial for preventing liver problems, so try to avoid calorie-rich meals, particularly those heavy in sugars, refined carbohydrates, and saturated fat. Instead, eat a fiber-rich diet focusing on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and "good" fats, and remember to drink plenty of water.
  • Exercise regularly: Regular exercise helps to reduce liver fat as well as triglycerides, high levels of which can lead to a fatty liver.
  • Use medications correctly: Taking the wrong medications, taking too much of a particular medication, mixing medications, and combining medications with other substances can all lead to liver damage.
  • Moderate your alcohol intake: Because the liver breaks down toxic substances like alcohol, excessive drinking can damage the organ.
  • Avoid exposure to toxins: Aerosols, insecticides, smoke, and illicit drugs can cause serious liver damage.
  • Practice smart hygiene: Regularly wash your hands with soap and water, and don't share personal hygiene products, particularly those likely to be contaminated with body fluids, such as toothbrushes, razors, or nail clippers. Smart hygiene practices can prevent the spread of liver-damaging viruses like hepatitis.
  • Practice safe sex: Unprotected sex with multiple partners can lead to the contraction of hepatitis.
  • Get vaccinated: Arming yourself with a hepatitis A or B vaccination can help prevent infection and liver disease.

Restore Your Liver and Your Life

Refreshing the liver means reinvigorating the entire body and improving the overall quality of your life. Reach out to the biostation today for a consultation. We offer effective, safe seven-day detox cleanses that can help you achieve and maintain optimal health.

a picture of the human body with a diagram of the human body by julien Tromeur  is licensed with Unsplash License