The liver cleanse diet is an effective health regimen that allows the liver to work effectively by giving it a break from removing toxins from the body.
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the US, individuals are routinely exposed to around 70,000 chemicals occurring in cosmetics, personal care products, medicines, drinking water, foods, the air and from the surroundings. More astonishing is the fact that over 2,000 new chemicals are introduced into the environment on a yearly basis, according to the FDA.
The liver, as the detoxifying engine of the body, deals with these chemicals that make up the large part of the toxins. To help the liver optimize its function, an individual has to maintain a regular liver cleanse diet that improves health, strengthen the immune function of the body, and helps achieve a healthy body weight.
Foods to Eat for an Effective Liver Cleanse Diet
A liver cleanse diet requires modification of the foods that an individual is used to eating.
The diet should incorporate foods that are organic – foods that are in the same condition as they were when they were created upon the earth, no chemical pesticides and fertilizers – meaning naturally grown. Remember, the more hands and machines that the food passes through before it reaches the consumer, the more likely that there is something wrong with the food.
Unrefined Complex Carbohydrates – foods in this class includes brown rice, oatmeal, barley, and rye products that are essential to the body.
Fruits – are natural antioxidants and contain large amounts of fiber. Fruits such as apples, different types of pears and satsumas and oranges are great intestinal cleansers because they have high content of pectin. Another recommended food is Watermelon as it contains lycopene, an antioxidant called beta carotene plus the minerals zinc and selenium.
All Vegetables – most vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals essential for a healthy body. Legumes, cabbage, garlic and onions contain high amounts of sulfur – aiding the liver to lock on to metallic toxins and getting rid of the body of the harmful toxins.
Nuts and Seeds – raw organic nuts are good source of good fats for the body as well as Vitamin E, potassium, and folic acid. The high content of omega-3 essential fatty acids in flaxseed oil makes it a powerful antioxidant and provides anti-inflammatory protection. Load up on this food group during a liver cleanse diet because they really are packed with nutrients!
Foods to Avoid – bring damage or slow down the liver
Refined Carbohydrates – this group is the biggest culprit when it comes to the liver cleanse diet. Unfortunately, it also contains most of the foods we eat. Examples include white flour and pasta. Also topping the list are cookies, cakes, and crackers that saturate the colon and rapidly increase the blood sugar levels. because the liver regulates blood sugar levels, too, it is good to keep blood sugar levels at a minimum. This is a good way to achieve liver cleansing.
Soft drinks – avoid drinking these beverages at all cost not only on a liver cleanse diet because they not only increase blood sugar but are also high in phosphorus, and makes the blood more acidic which place great burden on the liver. Many fruit juices despite the word fruit and juice are not really good because they contain high-fructose corn syrup that is very harmful to the liver.
Deep fried foods, fast foods, processed foods and junks foods – A big no-no in most diets, particularly in a liver cleanse diet. Stay away from these foods at all costs during the liver cleanse diet.
Also stay clear from saturated fats, trans-fat or hydrogenated oils such as margarine, as well as other vegetable oils including corn, safflower and sunflower in the course of the liver cleanse diet.
Avoid foods with preservatives, additives, and artificial colorings – the best thing to keep in mind, if you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it.
If you can’t say the word, don’t eat it, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) that is very harmful to the liver. Artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and Splenda should be a taboo from the liver cleanse diet or from any other diet.
During the liver cleanse diet; smoking is a big NO, NO!
Caffeine actually increases the detoxifying ability of the liver on certain toxins. However, many coffee drinks contain great amount of sugar and dairy products that hampers the liver. It is best to limit the intake of coffee or switch to green tea instead during the liver cleanse diet.
Live healthy – start on a liver cleanse diet!
