Liver Love
Spring has sprung! It is a time of renewal and rebirth, and for the naturally-minded among us, it is a time to cleanse.
Does the body need help cleansing? Not always. Can you overdo cleansing? Yes! Can cleansing make a difference in how you feel? For sure. There are considerations, and I do not recommend continual cleansing. You must be strong enough to handle a cleanse. If you support your body with building foods and nutrients, it will eventually cleanse itself. But I do like following the seasons and doing some internal spring cleaning. In the end, cleansing is a way to help support your body and bring your health into focus and help establish a new sense of wellness.
Liver Cleansing
Three of my favorite gentle liver cleanses involve using foods to help support the body. Because more invasive cleanses can be a commitment, I prefer to offer less drastic solutions. I also use these frequently myself, especially the beet salad. I adore beets!
Raw Beet Salad
- 3 raw beets, shredded
- 1-3 raw garlic cloves, grated
- Fresh juice of 1 lemon
- 1-3 tbsp olive oil
Combine these 4 simple ingredients in a glass container and store covered in the refrigerator. Allowing them time overnight to combine flavors leads to the best taste. Simply eat 1-3 tbsp daily with your meal as a condiment. I have to admit, I have been known to get 1/4 cup or so and have it for a snack as well!
Liver Loving Juice
- Alfalfa
- Beet
- Black Radish
- Dandelion Greens
If you own a juicer or good blender, you can use these ingredients to help support the liver naturally. If you have a juicer, it removes the fiber. If you only have a good blender, you will need to then strain your juice to remove the fiber. You can also make this as a smoothie and leave the fiber if you prefer the whole food. I have to admit, this is what I usually do since I don’t own a juicer yet.
Lemon Water
- Room-temperature water or slightly warmer water (good quality, no tap please)
- Fresh juice of 1/2-1 lemon
This is a simple way to help alkalize your body daily and support your liver. Sour taste is associated with the liver in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Lemon water is a wonderful way to start your day. To use it, simply drink a glass (4-8 ounces) of lukewarm or slightly warmer water with the juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon in it upon rising.
Natural Ideas
Foods
- Beets
- Alfalfa
- Wheat Grass
- Black Radish
- Liver (cow, chicken, etc)
- Turmeric
- Coriander
- 2+ tbsp Healthy Fats daily (avocados, organic butter, coconut oil, olive oil, etc), probiotics, adequate pure water (1/2 your body weight in ounces a day (100lbs = 50oz))
- AVOIDS: sugar, wheat, dairy, alcohol, allergenic foods, caffeine, meat tenderizers, soy sauce, yeast extracts, MSG, non-organic foods, gluten, tobacco, hydrogenated oils, food additives, fake sugars (especially aspartame), coffee, fried foods, refined foods, table salt, processed/canned/frozen foods.
Nutrients
- Selenium
- Choline
- Inositol
- Vitamins B1 and B12
- Vitamin K
Natural Therapies
- Meridian Tracing
- Reflexology
- Emotional Release
- Craniosacral Therapy
- Energy Work
- Magnets & Polarity Therapy
- Sound and Color Therapy
Other Help
- Expose your bare skin above your liver to the spring wind. This might sound strange, but the spring winds can help our bodies work more in sync with nature. Simply going outside without a shirt on (or pulling your shirt up enough to expose your liver region just under your ribs on the right side) while those spring winds blow can bring your body into balance naturally.
- Essential oils: Geranium, Grapefruit, Dill, Rosemary, Caraway
- Cell salts: Calc Sulph, Kali Mur, Nat Sulph
Spring is the perfect time to show your liver some love. While it works hard and can do its job usually on its own, all of us could sometimes use a helping hand. These ideas are simple enough to incorporate to benefit your overall wellbeing.
Please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment if you need further assistance.
Also, let me know if you have any requests for natural suggestions for other health conditions!
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Note: Everything here is for information only. This is not meant to treat or diagnose any medical condition. Seek a qualified medical professional.