There are different sources of toxins. Mostly, they come from the food we consume, from the water that we drink, the air, from our own body and the environment and it is the liver’s job to wash away all of the toxins that we get from them.

The liver detoxifies in three ways, blood filtration, neutralization of fats and cholesterol and breaking down of toxins with enzymes. The breaking down of enzymes is a two-step process called the phase I and phase II detoxification.

To improve the function of the liver, one of the best ways is to go on a liver detox diet. In a liver detox diet, one must consume fresh fruits and vegetables abundantly to give the body all of the necessary nutrients.

There are several things that you can try for your liver detox diet such as the following:

• High-fiber diet

Intake of foods high in fiber is a good liver detox diet. Fiber basically sticks to the bile in the intestines which aids in the elimination of toxins through the bowels.

• Consume high-nutrition foods

Eating foods rich in antioxidants is also necessary in a liver detox diet. Foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin E and beta carotene are good sources of antioxidants while eating foods high in B vitamins, calcium and trace minerals help protect the liver against damages.

• Intake of B vitamins

Adequate intake of foods rich in B vitamins like methionine, betaine, choline vitamin B6, vitamin B12 and folic acid help decongest the liver. It also helps improve liver function and fat neutralization.

• Fasting

Fasting can rapidly increase waste elimination as well as enhance the body’s natural healing process. However, not everyone can go fasting. It is important to talk to a doctor about this for your safety.

High-fiber diet involves intake of fruits and vegetables. Foods high in Vitamin C and E contain antioxidants needed to treat and protect a damaged liver. When the liver is overworked due to alcohol consumption and toxins, B vitamins are depleted. It is important to replenish it by eating plant-based foods.

The following are good sources of Vitamins C, E and B vitamins:

- Parsley
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Strawberries
- Asparagus
- Mangos
- Tomatoes
- Peanuts
- Sesame seeds
- Egg yolks
- Garlic
- Onions
- Onions
- Lettuce

Going on a liver detox diet is a great way to help you keep a healthy liver. To know more about it, it is best to consult your healthcare provider.

• Serves: 1
• Calories: 300
• Protein: < 10 gm
  

  Mean Green Smoothie

• Total Fat: < 2 gm
• Carbs: < 60 gm

Ingredients:

• 1 Cucumber
• 4 Celery Stalks
• 2 Apples
• 6-8 leaves Kale
• 1/2 Lemon
• 1 tbsp Ginger

Add or subtract Apples and lemons to enhance flavor.  Granny Smith apples are popular favorite in juices and smoothies.

Green Smoothie Recipe Below

Dark leafy greens are a rich source of vitamins, minerals and a cocktail of nutrients that our bodies, even down to our smallest cells need to thrive and survive.  They contain Vitamin C, D, E, K and many B Vitamins as well as fiber, proteins and Omega-3 fatty acids.  Being rich in antioxidants such as Chlorophyll, which can help stabilize and detoxify the body.  Dark leafy greens not help us to boost our immune system and help prevent illness, they also assist in curing many ailments.

What are some powerful Dark Leafy Greens?

Dark geens include spinach, Kale, Swiss chard, green and red leaf lettuce, mustard greens, beet greens, collard greens  and more.

Lets face the facts.  It is not easy in our fast paced world to eat all of our Dark Leafy Greens.  The problem lies in convenience in consuming all our greens.  A nice green salad seems easy enough but in an era where fast food is meant to solve dietary problems that fact is it is not always convenient.  A recent trend that has started to pick up some steam recently in the healthy living communities is Green Smoothies.  Green smoothies are an excellent way to get concentrated greens into our daily food intake without all the wasted time in preparation that is normally required.

Green Smoothies don’t have to taste bad, they can be delicious and versatile.  The most common green to add in the green smoothie is spinach because it blends well.  When combined with Fruit, frozen or raw, yogurt or other nutritional supplements there is no overpowering taste of green.  Green smoothies can be energizing and provide a powerful way to increase our vegetable servings throughout the day, weeks and months.

Green Smoothie Juice Recipe

Green Smoothie Drink

• 2 Large handfuls of spinach
• 1/2 cup of chopped mango or melon
• 1/2 an apple
• 1/2 cup of greek yogurt
• 1 large frozen banana
• 1 cup of skim or almond milk
• dash of cinnamon

Green Tea

Green tea has long been part of traditional medicine in many Asian countries including China, Japan, India and Thailand. In ancient Chinese medicine, green tea is given to a person as a diuretic, stimulant and astringent as well as to aid in improving digestion, brain function, and heart conditions.

Over 500 studies conducted in the past years have proven the health benefits of green tea from boosting metabolism to fighting cancer cells as well as aiding the liver’s function, which is why green tea liver detox is very popular.

Scientific researches suggest that green tea offers a two-fold benefit to the liver. First, green tea protects the liver’s cells and at the same time, boosts the immune system. The antioxidants in green tea have been proven protect the liver from the damaging effects of alcohol, cigarette smoking and other toxins. Moreover, one research reported that green tea may help prevent the growth of cancer cells in the liver and in many other organs of the body.

All these scientific findings make green tea liver detox one of the most effective ways to strengthen your liver and protect it from disease, allowing it to perform its vital function of cleansing the body, which in turn leads to optimum health.

Aside from regular green tea liver detox routine, there are several important things that you should do in order to make your detox program successful. Eat as much fresh fruits and vegetables as possible to give your body an abundance of fiber and essential nutrients. Eliminate foods that contain harmful substances in your diet such as fatty foods and coffee.

In addition to your green tea liver detox, you can take supplements with whey protein that will provide you with the essential amounts of taurine, glutamine, methionine and glycine – amino acids that are required for the body’s detox process. Certain supplements can also help your liver improve its production of its own antioxidant, glutathione.

While green tea has numerous health benefits, green tea liver detox is not for everyone. Those with heart diseases, kidney problems, stomach ulcers, or suffering from chronic anxiety should not take green tea. Likewise, expectant and nursing mothers should not drink green tea. It is recommended that if you are currently taking any medication that you consult with your doctor first regarding the safety of drinking green tea.<

Detox or detoxification is the elimination of potentially harmful substances from our body. It is typical for people to associate the word “detox” with rehabilitation of alcohol or drug-dependent individuals but it is a broad term that also refers to other methods of removing toxins from the body such as a detox diet to cleanse liver or other organs of the body.

Focusing on liver cleansing, a detox diet to cleanse liver support the body’s natural cleansing process by taking away the foods that contain harmful substances and providing the liver the nutrients that it needs to function normally. If want to find out if you need to undergo a detox diet to cleanse liver, there are screening quizzes available online from reputable health sites to help you identify symptoms. However, it is strongly recommended to consult your doctor if you suspect that you need to start a detox diet to cleanse liver. Do not attempt to go on a detox diet without first consulting your doctor because you may have certain medical conditions that need to be addressed first such as adrenal fatigue.

There are many types of cleansing diets so you can choose which detox diet to cleanse liver is the most suitable for you but such diets share these fundamental principles:

* to reduce the intake of chemicals by selecting organic foods instead of processed foods,
* to increase the consumption of foods with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that liver needs for proper detoxification
* to eat foods that stimulate the elimination of toxins, resulting in more frequent bowel movement and urination

Basically, a detox diet to cleanse liver includes all fresh fruits and vegetables. Broccoli, artichokes, green and red vegetables, onions, garlic are some foods that are excellent in detoxification. Other foods included in a detox diet to cleanse liver also include brown rice and other grains that you can easily buy from health food stores, beans (lentils, split yellow beans, green peas), unsalted nuts and seeds (almonds, walnuts, cashews, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, etc.) and extra-virgin olive oil.

Condiments such as sea salt and vinegar as well as spices and herbs are also great for your detox diet to cleanse liver. Drink herbal teas (green tea) and non-caffeinated beverages (water, all-natural fruit juices and vegetable juices).

Of course, any detox diet to cleanse liver will not work without avoiding certain foods such as refined sugar and artificial sweeteners, grains containing gluten, dairy products, foods and drinks containing caffeine, foods with food additives, high-fat foods, chocolate and alcohol.