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The liver is one of the most important organs in our body that is responsible for removing all toxins from it. Whether talking about environmental toxins, toxins from medications or food, the liver is responsible for getting rid of them.
Since the liver has to deal with tons of toxins on a daily basis, it’s our job to help the liver work properly. And while environmental toxins mainly from air pollution are something we cannot escape from, we try to balance food.
Supplements and Liver Detoxification
Even though the liver can detox on its own, sometimes the use of additional vitamins and supplements might be needed for improving its well-being. In times when your liver is overloaded with toxins and cannot filter them on its own, you may use vitamins to help detox the liver.
However, this should be done in accordance with your doctor, otherwise, you risk doing more harm than good to your liver. And if you’re in real need of liver detoxification, you can take a doctor’s prescribed vitamins to help detox the liver and improve its function.
By making the right choice and choosing quality and natural supplements, you can detoxify both the liver and kidneys, promote overall liver health and function, protect liver cells from inflammation, increase metabolism and support respiratory and immune system function.
What Is the Best Nutrient to Detox the Liver?
Milk Thistle
This herb also goes under the name silymarin and is one of the most popular and commonly used herbs for liver problems. Milk thistle extract contains around 50% silibinin which is the active ingredient in this herb that acts as an antioxidant, neutralising free radicals. This free radicals neutralisation is paramount for reducing the chances of inflammation.
This supplement is great for optimising liver function and detoxification. It also repairs damage to the liver cells that is mainly caused by alcohol, disease and drugs. Having this into account, it isn’t strange knowing that this herb precisely is used for treating alcoholic hepatitis, viral hepatitis and cirrhosis which is quite a common liver disease.
Artichoke Leaf
Artichoke leaf is a type of vegetable that can be used for liver support. It contains cynarin which is great in increasing the production of bile in the liver and helping the liver and other organs in the body to clear out harmful toxins. Aside from cynarin, artichoke leaf also contains flavonoid silymarin which has proven as great in protecting the liver.
Aloe Vera Juice
Aloe Vera surely is one of the healthiest drinks that can support good well-being. But aside from this, it’s said that drinking Aloe Vera juice in particular can maintain your liver healthy. That’s because the liver can function at its best when the body is properly hydrated and nourished, and Aloe Vera is rich in phytonutrients which can reduce the risk of fatty liver.
Turmeric Root
Turmeric root is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties which are also beneficial for reducing the risk of fatty liver. Because of its extremely powerful antioxidant properties, turmeric root can also defend the liver from harmful free radicals and may even reduce the chances of cancer-forming cells in the body.
Licorice Root
This root contains glycyrrhizic acid which is a powerful active compound that may reduce liver inflammation. It’s said that it may also regenerate damaged liver cells mainly caused by excessive fat accumulation and alcohol use. It’s said that Licorice root may also help in reducing the symptoms of chronic hepatitis C, however, more research needs to be done on this.
Dandelion Root
Dandelion root can help the liver function by improving its ability to remove toxins. It can also boost bile production, and its antioxidants can protect the liver cells and keep them safe from free radicals. Aside from being quite helpful for improving liver function, Dandelion root has also proven effective against oxidative stress that is linked to atherosclerosis.
How to Maintain a Healthy Liver?
One of the most basic and important things you can do to maintain good liver function is to limit saturated fat intake. Practice shows that high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood can create fat deposits around the liver which can lead to NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease) and long-term liver damage.
Limiting alcohol intake is also important for keeping the liver healthy since the liver produces toxic chemicals when it metabolises alcohol. This unfortunately can lead to developing liver disease and many other chronic diseases that can compromise your health.
You can also improve liver health by limiting your exposure to tobacco smoke, pesticides and cleaning products since all of them can damage the liver since its main job is to filter every toxin that we breathe and eat. Excess medications and drug use like some antibiotics, acetaminophen, some cancer drugs, immunosuppressants, anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications can also damage the liver.
