How To Safely Detox Your Liver

I often get asked how to safely detox your liver. It’s a great question. After all, our bodies are constantly being bombarded with toxins. The liver is your body’s filtration system. It works the same way as your HVAC and car filters. It also works similarly to water filters that clean out toxins and heavy metals. As with any filter, when toxins accumulate to an unhealthy level, it’s time to bring in additional support. Doing a liver detox can help.

Your body has many systems in place to remove waste. In a healthy person, these systems include the lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, lungs, and liver. These organs work together to regulate the flow of toxins within your body. Some of the most common toxins you are exposed to include metals and environmental pollutants. Alcohol, caffeine, and medications can also add to your toxin burden. Today’s modern lifestyles means you are constantly exposed to toxins from the food we eat, as well as the water we drink. Additionally, the clothes we wear and our beauty products often contain toxins. It doesn’t take long before these systems are overworked. This puts added stress on your detoxification organs. In time, they can no longer keep up and will struggle to flush your body

I don’t want you to worry. I’m going to tell you how to detox your liver, why you would want to, and provide you with the tools to optimize your liver. Before we get into that, I’m going to tell you what your liver does. 

The Functions of the Liver

The liver may not be the CEO of your body, but it’s on the executive team. It’s your body’s second-largest organ after your skin. Additionally, it is the only organ that can lose up to 75% of its mass and regrow to its full size.

Your liver weighs about three pounds, yet it can hold about one pint of your body’s blood supply at any given moment. The functions of the liver are vast. In fact, it can perform more than 500 vital functions! Some of these include producing cholesterol and proteins for blood plasma. Another function of the liver is it carries fats through your body. It also converts excess glucose into glycogen for storage. In addition, the liver regulates amino acids such as glutamine. Yet another function of the liver is that it works with your immune system to eliminate harmful bacteria from the body.  

The liver is also a crucial part of the digestive process. When you eat food, it travels through the mouth and into your stomach. Your stomach and intestines break down the food you eat. Then, the intestines absorb nutrients through your gut lining. 

Signs Your Liver Isn’t Functioning Optimally

As I mentioned earlier, our modern lifestyles expose us to numerous toxins. Proper liver function is essential to obtaining optimal health. Many risk factors can impair liver function, such as:¹

• Alcohol use
• Low potassium levels
• The use of NSAIDs or acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• Intravenous drug use
• Unprotected sex 
• Autoimmune disease 
• Tattoos or body piercings
• Obesity and a high-fat diet
• A diet full of processed foods, including artificial sweeteners. 

As I mentioned earlier, a poor diet and alcohol use are the most common risk factors for liver disease. So, how do you know your liver isn’t functioning optimally? Here are signs to look out for:²

• Bloating and gas
• Acid reflux
• Constipation
• Inability to lose weight
• Changes in mood 
• Dark urine
• Yellowish skin or eyes 
• Poor appetite
• Bruising easily
• Chronic fatigue or feeling tired all the time  

There are many steps you can take to protect your liver. Limiting alcohol use and losing weight helps. Protecting the functions of the liver also involves keeping your gut health in check.

When your gut functions optimally, the liver can do its job. Nutrients are absorbed into your blood and pass through the liver. Afterwards, waste goes into the large intestine and forms stool. However, if you have a leaky gut, your liver must work harder to filter out particles from the blood. These particles enter the bloodstream through a breach in the gut lining. You would be amazed how the gut and liver connect. Let’s talk about that. 

You don’t need a fancy juice cleanse or an expensive “liver detox” program to get your liver back on its feet. These natural steps promote detoxification and facilitate healthy liver function.

The Gut and Liver Connection 

A poor diet is one of the main causes of leaky gut. Gluten, dairy, and toxic foods can trigger an inflammatory response in the gut. Alcohol and caffeine can do this, too. Add in chronic stress, heavy metals, and medications, and you may develop gut infections such as SIBO and Candida overgrowth. This toxic combination often leads to leaky gut. When your gut is leaky, foreign particles can escape into your bloodstream. These particles are then transported to your liver for elimination. This forces the liver to work harder to remove them from your blood. 

The gut and liver connection also has a third component: the immune system. Your immune system detects toxins in the bloodstream and sounds the alarm. As they go out to attack the foreign invaders, waves of inflammation flood the body. If this state of high alert becomes chronic, this can cause your immune system to become overstressed and fire less accurately. What happens next is that your tissues get caught in the crosshairs. This is when you begin to notice certain symptoms that weren’t there before. If not addressed, this can develop into full-blown autoimmunity.

One way to not overburden your liver is by fixing your leaky gut. Problems in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract can cause more than just stomach pain, gas, bloating, or diarrhea. A leaky gut can be the root cause of many chronic health problems. Yes, this includes problems such as skin issues, hormonal imbalances, and even autoimmunity.

The gut is the gateway to health. It’s where nearly 80% of your immune system lives. It’s also where up to 95% of your serotonin is produced. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter responsible for your mood.

If you have a healthy gut, chances are the rest of you is healthy. However, if you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune or thyroid condition, or experience any of the following symptoms, you likely have some degree of leaky gut. 

Repairing your leaky gut is the first step in how to safely detox your liver. At the same time, giving your liver additional support to get it functioning optimally is always a good idea. What else can you do to detox your liver? Furthermore, what is a liver detox? Let’s discuss. 

How to Detox Your Liver

Before I get into how to detox your liver, it’s important you understand what a liver detox is. The good news is that you don’t need a fancy juice cleanse or an expensive “liver detox” program to get your liver back on its feet. These practical steps show you how to detox the liver naturally and effectively.

The most common belief is that a juice cleanse is the perfect detox for your liver. It’s true that there are foods that detox the liver, and juice cleanses can help. However, there is more to it than that. You will need to take a comprehensive, holistic approach to liver detox in order to get the best results.

Drink Filtered Water

Sometimes the most straightforward step can be a giant leap. The simple truth is that drinking plenty of filtered water can keep your liver in tip-top shape and your kidneys. Your liver and kidney work together to move toxins from your bloodstream. They then turn them into water-soluble substances transported in your urine. Water helps your kidney and liver transport toxins out of your body. If you’re dehydrated, your urine will be dark. You may also feel other symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.

Filtered water is the best option for this. Remember, your liver’s main job is to filter out toxins. If the water you drink includes heavy metals and toxins, it doesn’t truly detoxify your liver. Drink filtered water throughout the day to get the full effect. I have Aquasana water filters throughout my home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and my office in Austin, Texas. 

Remove Toxic and Inflammatory Foods 

In addition to filtered water, removing toxic and inflammatory foods can help with your liver detox. Filtered water and diet are the first places to start detoxing your liver. Caffeine, alcohol, and processed foods must be eliminated. Remove all refined sugar, unhealthy fats, additives, and preservatives from your diet.

You should also remove inflammatory foods such as gluten and dairy. Gluten damages the gut and causes intestinal permeability. This allows toxins and particles to get into your liver, forcing it to work harder.

Trans fats have higher levels of saturated fats. Saturated fats increase the risk of heart disease and cholesterol levels. Trans fat can also lead to inflammation, triggering an inflammatory response. 

If you want to know how to safely detox your liver, eat a diet full of organic fruits and vegetables. Grass-fed meat is also ideal. In addition to this, taking Complete Enzymes with each meal supports optimal digestion and nutrient absorption.

Eat Potassium Rich Foods

Studies suggest that low potassium levels may increase metabolic disorders. Some of these metabolic disorders include fatty liver and type 2 diabetes.³ Optimal amounts of potassium are around 4,700 mg daily! I’d be willing to bet you aren’t getting nearly that much in your diet. Potassium offers many great health benefits. For example, it can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It also supports heart health and optimal functions of the liver. 

It’s easy to add potassium-rich foods to your diet. You might think that bananas are the potassium superstar, yet that’s not quite true. Sweet potatoes are the most potassium-dense food you can eat! In fact, one medium sweet potato contains 700 mg of potassium. Furthermore, sweet potatoes are rich in other essential nutrients. It includes beta-carotene, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin D. They also have magnesium and iron. Bananas and spinach are also excellent sources of potassium. 

Reduce Your Toxic Exposure

It can be hard to avoid toxins altogether. Today’s toxic world is full of heavy metals, plastics, mold, and synthetic chemicals. Every single one of us is exposed to an unprecedented amount of toxins. Over 80,000 chemicals are registered for use in the United States, and another 1,700 are added each year. 

These industrial chemicals are the primary ingredients in our cosmetics and personal care products. The U.S. government approves an average of seven new industrial chemicals daily. Furthermore, 80% of these get approved in three weeks or less. The worst part about it is that all of these are with little or no safety testing done.

Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle is an excellent place to start when it comes to knowing how to detox your liver. I recommend a two-step approach for taming the toxins: 

1. Minimize your exposure
2. Support your detox pathways

However, all the environmental toxins that bombard us each day require us to turn to our body’s most powerful methods of detoxification to keep up with our toxic burdens. Remember, these toxins come in the form of water and air pollution. You can also find them in pesticides and herbicides in our food. They also come from chemicals in our beauty products and cleaning products.

Another way to detox your liver is through supplements. The best liver detoxing supplements will contain selenium, glutathione, and milk thistle. I’m going to tell you about the best way to get these three potent ingredients to help with your liver detox.

What Supplements Support Your Liver?

Diet and water are the two best ways to get your liver back up and running. In most cases, your liver needs additional support to reduce its toxic burden. As I mentioned earlier, the best liver detox supplements will have glutathione, selenium, and milk thistle in them. Let’s dive deeper into each nutrient.

Selenium

Selenium isn’t your average antioxidant. This trace mineral powerhouse is not only a potent antioxidant, it also helps kickstart your body’s glutathione production cycle. Selenium protects your liver tissue from oxidative stress. It also supports normal inflammation levels and helps detoxify liver enzymes.

Glutathione

Glutathione is famously known as the master antioxidant. Your liver produces it naturally. Glutathione helps remove heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum, and cadmium from your body. Additionally, it can also help eliminate plastics and mold. Our body’s glutathione production can be halted by many factors. This is why supplementation is essential for optimal liver detox.

Milk Thistle

Ahh, milk thistle. Milk thistle is a fantastic herb that is famous for supporting liver health. In fact, people have used it for over nearly 2,000 years. Milk thistle contains a polyphenol called silymarin that has a powerful propensity for liver cells. It helps protect liver cells from the damage done by toxins and heavy metals. Milk thistle also supports bile flow and viscosity. Together, this all supports a healthy inflammatory response in the liver. 

What if I told you that you could get all these crucial ingredients in one easy-to-take supplement? Well, you can! I formulated Liver Support to promote optimal liver function. Liver Support helps detox and optimize your liver function with a powerful blend of selenium, milk thistle, and NAC.

Fancy liver cleanses aren’t going to get you the results you’re looking for when figuring out how to detox your liver. Changing your diet and drinking filtered water are key steps. In addition to this, supporting your body with detoxifying supplements helps optimize liver detox and put you on the path to optimal health. 

Final Word On Safely Detoxing Your Liver

Detoxing is a practice that should be done regularly. Your liver filters out toxins and promotes equilibrium in the body. Sometimes, however, the liver becomes overtaxed with the onslaught of toxins around us. Some of these toxins come from food, water, clothing, and cleaning products. 

Knowing how to safely detox your liver can promote optimal health and wellbeing. Helping your liver detox with clean food, filtered water, and liver detox supplements can encourage normal functions of the liver. Liver Support combines milk thistle, NAD, and selenium to flush toxins from the body. Looking for even more support? Check out my Detox Collection to find functional, comprehensive liver support!