Practiced for centuries by cultures around the world — including Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine

systems — detoxification is about resting, cleansing and nourishing the body from the inside out. By
removing and eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help
protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health through a range of
methods including yoga, meditation and more.

HOW DOES DETOXIFICATION WORK?

Basically, detoxification means cleansing the blood. This is done by removing impurities from the blood
in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the
kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymphatic system, and skin. However, when these systems are compromised,
impurities aren't properly filtered and the body is adversely affected.

A detox program can help the body's natural cleansing process by:

Resting the organs through fasting;

Stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body;

Promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys, and skin;

Improving circulation of the blood; and

Refueling the body with healthy nutrients.

"Detoxification works because it addresses the needs of individual cells, the smallest units of human
life," says Peter Bennett, N.D., co-author of 7-Day Detox Miracle with Stephen Barrie, N.D., and Sara
Faye.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED TO DETOXIFY?

Bennett suggests that everyone should detox at least once a year. However, Bennett cautions against
detoxing for nursing mothers, children, and patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or
tuberculosis. Consult your healthcare practitioner if you have questions about whether detoxing is right
for you.

Today, with more toxins in the environment than ever, "it's critical to detox," says Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D.,
the author of Detoxification: Programs to Cleanse, Purify and Renew. Page recommends detoxing for
symptoms such as:

Unexplained fatigue

Sluggish elimination

Irritated skin

Allergies

Low-grade infection

Puffy eyes or bags under the eyes

Bloating

Menstrual problems

Mental confusion

HOW DO YOU START A DETOX?

First, lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars, and saturated fats,
all of which act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process. Also, minimize use of
chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products (cleansers, shampoos,
deodorants, and toothpastes), and substitute natural alternatives.

Another hindrance to good health is stress, which triggers your body to release stress hormones into
your system. While these hormones can provide the "adrenaline rush" to win a race or meet a deadline,
in large amounts they create toxins and slow down detoxification enzymes in the liver. Yoga, Qigong and
meditation are simple and effective ways to relieve stress by resetting your physical and mental reactions
to the inevitable stress life will bring. Gaiam carries yoga mats, props and accessories for beginner yogis
to advanced practitioners and a meditation seating to help you relieve stress.

WHICH DETOX PROGRAM IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

There are many detoxification programs and detox recipes, depending on your individual needs. Many
programs follow a seven-day schedule because, as Bennett explains, "it takes the body time to clean the
blood." His program involves fasting on liquids for two days, followed by a carefully planned five-day
detox diet to allow the digestive system to rest. Page recommends a three- to seven-day juice fast
(drinking only fresh fruit and vegetable juices and water) as an effective way to release toxins.
Here are our five favorite detox diets:

Simple Fruit and Veggie Detox

Smoothie Cleanse

Juice Cleanse

Sugar Detox

Hypoallergenic Detox

TOP 10 WAYS TO HELP YOUR BODY DETOXIFY

After a detoxification program, you can cleanse your body daily with these diet supplements and lifestyle
practices:

Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Beets,
radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying foods.

Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root, burdock, and milk thistle, and
drinking green tea.

Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound that drives away toxins.

Drink at least two quarts of water a day, made easy by bringing our 32 oz. Stainless Steel Wide Mouth
Water Bottle with you everywhere you go!

Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate more completely through your system.

Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.

Practice hydrotherapy by taking a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing the water to run on your
back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Do this three times, and then get into bed for 30 minutes.

Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate waste through perspiration.

Dry-brush your skin or try detox foot spas/foot baths to remove toxins through your pores. Special
brushes are available at natural products stores.

What’s the most important way to detoxify? "Exercise," says Bennett. "Yoga or jump-roping are good.
One hour every day." Also try Qigong, a martial arts based exercise system that includes exercises
specifically for detoxifying or cleansing, as well as many other exercises with specific health benefits.
Full Body Detox: 9 Ways to Rejuvenate Your Body

Detoxification — or detox — is a popular buzzword.

It typically implies following a specific diet or using special products that claim to rid your body of toxins,
thereby improving health and promoting weight loss.

Fortunately, your body is well-equipped to eliminate toxins and doesn’t require special diets or
expensive supplements to do so.

That said, you can enhance your body’s natural detoxification system.

This article explains some common misconceptions about detoxing along with nine evidenced-based
ways to rejuvenate your body’s detoxification system.

Common Misconceptions About Detoxing

Detox diets are said to eliminate toxins from your body, improve health, and promote weight loss.

They often involve the use of laxatives, diuretics, vitamins, minerals, teas, and other foods thought to
have detoxing properties.

The term “toxin” in the context of detox diets is loosely defined. It typically includes pollutants, synthetic
chemicals, heavy metals, and processed foods — which all negatively affect health.

However, popular detox diets rarely identify the specific toxins they aim to remove or the mechanism by
which they supposedly eliminate them (1Trusted Source).

Moreover, no evidence supports the use of these diets for toxin elimination or sustainable weight loss
(2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
Your body has a sophisticated way of eliminating toxins that involves the liver, kidneys, digestive system,
skin, and lungs.

Still, only when these organs are healthy, can they effectively eliminate unwanted substances.

So, while detox diets don’t do anything that your body can’t naturally do on its own, you can optimize
your body’s natural detoxification system.

SUMMARY

While detox diets have a seductive appeal, your body is fully equipped to handle toxins and other
unwanted substances.

1. Limit Alcohol

More than 90% of alcohol is metabolized in your liver (4Trusted Source).

Liver enzymes metabolize alcohol to acetaldehyde, a known cancer-causing chemical (5Trusted Source,
6Trusted Source).

Recognizing acetaldehyde as a toxin, your liver converts it to a harmless substance called acetate, which
is later eliminated from your body.

While observational studies have shown low-to-moderate alcohol consumption beneficial for heart
health, excessive drinking can cause a myriad of health problems (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source,
9Trusted Source).

Excessive drinking can severely damage your liver function by causing fat buildup, inflammation, and
scarring (10Trusted Source).

When this happens, your liver cannot function adequately and perform its necessary tasks — including
filtering waste and other toxins from your body.

As such, limiting or abstaining entirely from alcohol is one of the best ways to keep your body’s
detoxification system running strong.

Health authorities recommend limiting alcohol intake to one drink per day for women and two for men.
If you currently don’t drink, you shouldn’t start for the potential heart benefits associated with light-to-
moderate drinking (11Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Drinking too much alcohol reduces your liver’s ability to carry out its normal functions, such as
detoxifying.

2. Focus on Sleep

Ensuring adequate and quality sleep each night is a must to support your body’s health and natural
detoxification system.

Sleeping allows your brain to reorganize and recharge itself, as well as remove toxic waste byproducts
that have accumulated throughout the day (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).

One of those waste products is a protein called beta-amyloid, which contributes to the development of
Alzheimer's disease (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source).

With sleep deprivation, your body does not have time to perform those functions, so toxins can build up
and affect several aspects of health (16Trusted Source).

Poor sleep has been linked to short- and long-term health consequences, such as stress, anxiety, high
blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity (17Trusted Source, 18Trusted Source,
19Trusted Source, 20Trusted Source).
You should sleep seven to nine hours per night on a regular basis to promote good health (21Trusted
Source).

If you have difficulties staying or falling asleep at night, lifestyle changes like sticking to a sleep schedule
and limiting blue light — emitted from mobile devices and computer screens — prior to bed are useful
for improving sleep (22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source, 24Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Adequate sleep allows your brain to reorganize, recharge, and eliminate toxins that accumulate
throughout the day.

3. Drink More Water

Water does so much more than quench your thirst. It regulates your body temperature, lubricates joints,
aids digestion and nutrient absorption, and detoxifies your body by removing waste products (25Trusted
Source).

Your body’s cells must continuously be repaired to function optimally and break down nutrients for your
body to use as energy.

However, these processes release wastes — in the form of urea and carbon dioxide — which cause harm
if allowed to build up in your blood (26Trusted Source).

Water transports these waste products, efficiently removing them through urination, breathing, or
sweating. So staying properly hydrated is important for detoxification (27Trusted Source).

The adequate daily intake for water is 125 ounces (3.7 liters) for men and 91 ounces (2.7 liters) for
women. You may need more or less depending on your diet, where you live, and your activity level (28).

SUMMARY

In addition to its many roles in your body, water allows your body’s detoxification system to remove
waste products from your blood.
4. Reduce Your Intake of Sugar and Processed Foods

Sugar and processed foods are thought to be at the root of today’s public health crises (29Trusted
Source).

High consumption of sugary and highly processed foods has been linked to obesity and other chronic
diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes (30Trusted Source, 31Trusted Source, 32Trusted
Source).

These diseases hinder your body’s ability to naturally detoxify itself by harming organs that play an
important role, such as your liver and kidneys.

For example, high consumption of sugary beverages can cause fatty liver, a condition that negatively
impacts liver function (33Trusted Source, 34Trusted Source, 35Trusted Source).

By consuming less junk food, you can keep your body’s detoxification system healthy.

You can limit junk food by leaving it on the store shelf. Not having it in your kitchen takes away the
temptation altogether.

Replacing junk food with healthier choices like fruits and vegetables is also a healthy way to reduce
consumption.

SUMMARY

Excess junk food consumption is linked to chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. These conditions
can cause harm to organs important to detoxifying, such as your liver and kidneys.

5. Eat Antioxidant-Rich Foods

Antioxidants protect your cells against damage caused by molecules called free radicals. Oxidative stress
is a condition caused by excessive production of free radicals.
Your body naturally produces these molecules for cellular processes, such as digestion. However, alcohol,
tobacco smoke, a poor diet, and exposure to pollutants can produce excessive free radicals (36Trusted
Source).

By causing damage to your body’s cells, these molecules have been implicated in a number of
conditions, such as dementia, heart disease, liver disease, asthma, and certain types of cancer
(37Trusted Source, 38Trusted Source).

Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help your body fight oxidative stress caused by excess free radicals
and other toxins that increase your risk of disease.

Focus on getting antioxidants from food and not supplements, which may, in fact, increase your risk of
certain diseases when taken in large amounts (39Trusted Source, 40Trusted Source, 41Trusted Source).

Examples of antioxidants include vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, lycopene, lutein, and
zeaxanthin.

Berries, fruits, nuts, cocoa, vegetables, spices, and beverages like coffee and green tea have some of the
highest amounts of antioxidants (42Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Consuming a diet rich in antioxidants helps your body reduce damage caused by free radicals and may
lower your risk of diseases that can impact detoxification.

6. Eat Foods High in Prebiotics

Gut health is important for keeping your detoxification system healthy. Your intestinal cells have a
detoxification and excretion system that protects your gut and body from harmful toxins, such as
chemicals (43Trusted Source).

Good gut health starts with prebiotics, a type of fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut called
probiotics. With prebiotics, your good bacteria are able to produce nutrients called short-chain fatty
acids that are beneficial for health (44Trusted Source, 45Trusted Source).
The good bacteria in your gut can become unbalanced with bad bacteria from use of antibiotics, poor
dental hygiene, and diet quality (46Trusted Source, 47Trusted Source, 48Trusted Source).

Consequently, this unhealthy shift in bacteria can weaken your immune and detoxification systems and
increase your risk of disease and inflammation (49Trusted Source).

Eating foods rich in prebiotics can keep your immune and detoxification systems healthy. Good food
sources of prebiotics include tomatoes, artichokes, bananas, asparagus, onions, garlic, and oats
(43Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Eating a diet rich in prebiotics keeps your digestive system healthy, which is important for proper
detoxification and immune health.

7. Decrease Your Salt Intake

For some people, detoxing is a means of eliminating excess water.

Consuming too much salt can cause your body to retain excess fluid, especially if you have a condition
that affects your kidneys or liver — or if you don’t drink enough water.

This excess fluid buildup can cause bloating and make clothing uncomfortable. If you find yourself
consuming too much salt, you can detox yourself of the extra water weight.

While it may sound counterintuitive, increasing your water intake is one of the best ways to eliminate
excess water weight from consuming too much salt.

That’s because when you consume too much salt and not enough water, your body releases an
antidiuretic hormone that prevents you from urinating — and therefore detoxifying (50Trusted Source).
By increasing your water intake, your body reduces the secretion of the antidiuretic hormone and
increases urination, eliminating more water and waste products (51Trusted Source, 52Trusted Source,
53Trusted Source).

Increasing your intake of potassium-rich foods — which counterbalances some of sodium’s effects —
also helps. Foods rich in potassium include potatoes, squash, kidney beans, bananas, and spinach (54).

SUMMARY

Consuming too much salt can increase water retention. You can eliminate excess water — and waste —
by increasing your intake of water and potassium-rich foods.

8. Get Active

Regular exercise — regardless of body weight — is associated with a longer life and a reduced risk of
many conditions and diseases, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and certain
cancers (55Trusted Source, 56Trusted Source, 57Trusted Source).

While there are several mechanisms behind the health benefits of exercise, reduced inflammation is a
key point (58Trusted Source, 59Trusted Source).

While some inflammation is necessary for recovering from infection or healing wounds, too much of it
weakens your body’s systems and promotes disease.

By reducing inflammation, exercise can help your body’s systems — including its detoxification system —
function properly and protect against disease.

It’s recommended that you do at least 150–300 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise — such
as brisk walking — or 75–150 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity physical activity — such as running
(60Trusted Source).

SUMMARY

Regular physical activity lowers inflammation and allows your body’s detoxification system to work
properly.

9. Other Helpful Detox Tips

Although no current evidence supports the use of detox diets for removing toxins from your body,
certain dietary changes and lifestyle practices may help reduce toxin load and support your body’s
detoxification system.

Eat sulfur-containing foods. Foods high in sulfur, such as onions, broccoli, and garlic, enhance excretion
of heavy metals like cadmium (61Trusted Source).

Try out chlorella. Chlorella is a type of algae that has many nutritional benefits and may enhance the
elimination of toxins like heavy metals, according to animal studies (62Trusted Source).

Flavor dishes with cilantro. Cilantro enhances excretion of certain toxins, such as heavy metals like lead,
and chemicals, including phthalates and insecticides (63Trusted Source, 64Trusted Source).

Support glutathione. Eating sulfur-rich foods like eggs, broccoli, and garlic helps enhance the function of
glutathione, a major antioxidant produced by your body that is heavily involved in detoxification
(65Trusted Source).

Switch to natural cleaning products. Choosing natural cleaning products like vinegar and baking soda
over commercial cleaning agents can reduce your exposure to potentially toxic chemicals (66Trusted
Source).

Choose natural body care. Using natural deodorants, makeups, moisturizers, shampoos, and other
personal care products can also reduce your exposure to chemicals.

While promising, many of these effects have only been shown in animal studies. Therefore, studies in
humans are needed to confirm these findings.

SUMMARY

Some lifestyle and dietary modifications may enhance your body’s natural detoxification system.

The Bottom Line

Detox diets are said to eliminate toxins, in turn improving health and promoting weight loss.

But these diets — while seductive — aren’t needed as your body has its own, highly efficient
detoxification system.
That said, you can enhance your body’s natural detoxification system and improve your overall health by
staying hydrated, consuming less salt, getting active, and following an antioxidant-rich diet.

Written by Gavin Van De Walle, MS, RD on March 11,

DETOX FOODS : DETOXIFICATION IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF OPTIMAL HEALTH.

written by Narayana Health October 25, 2013

Detox Foods : Detoxification is an essential part of optimal health.

Lemon: Lemons are a staple of many detox diets, and there is good reason for this. Firstly, lemons are
packed with antioxidant vitamin C, which is great for the skin and for fighting disease-forming free-
radicals. Furthermore, the citrus fruit has an alkaline effect on the body, meaning that it can help restore
the body’s pH balance, benefitting the immune system. Try starting your day with hot water and a slice
of lemon to help flush out toxins and cleanse your system.

Ginger: If too much fatty food or alcohol has caused problems for your digestive system, it may be
worthwhile adding some ginger to your diet. Ginger is not only great for reducing feelings of nausea, but
it can help improve digestion, beat bloating and reduce gas. In addition to this, ginger is high in
antioxidants and is good for boosting the immune system. To give your digestion a helping hand, try
sipping on ginger tea or adding some freshly grated ginger to a fruit or vegetable juice.

Garlic: Garlic has long been known for its heart benefits, however the pungent food is also good at
detoxifying the body. Garlic is not only antiviral, antibacterial and antibiotic, but it contains a chemical
called allicin which promotes the production of white blood cells and helps fight against toxins. Garlic is
best eaten raw, so add some crushed garlic to a salad dressing to boost its flavour and your health at the
same time.

Artichoke: If you have recently been overindulging in fatty foods and alcohol, adding some steamed
globe artichoke leaves to your meals is a great way to help get your body back on track. Globe artichokes
are packed with antioxidants and fibre and can also help the body digest fatty foods. On top of this,
globe artichoke is renowned for its ability to stimulate and improve the functions of the liver – the body’s
main toxin-fighting tool.
Beetroot: For those needing a quick health-boosting shot of nutrients, you can’t do much better than
beetroot. Packed with magnesium, iron, and vitamin C, the vegetable has recently been hailed as a
superfood due to its many reported health benefits. Not only is beetroot great for skin, hair and
cholesterol levels, but it can also help support liver detoxification, making it an ultimate detox food. To
enjoy its benefits, try adding raw beetroot to salads or sipping on some beetroot juice.

Green tea: While it’s not technically a food, no detox plan would be complete without regular
consumption of essential liquids. Fluids are essential for keeping our organs healthy and helping to flush
toxins from the body, and drinking green tea is a great way of boosting your intake. Green tea is not only
a good weight-loss drink, but it is extremely high in antioxidants. Research has also suggested that
drinking green tea can protect the liver from diseases including fatty liver disease .

Cabbage: Many celebs have resorted to the cabbage soup diet to help lose weight and get in shape
quickly before a big event, however cabbage is not only good for weight loss – it is also an excellent
detoxifying food. Like most cruciferous vegetables (including broccoli and sprouts), cabbage contains a
chemical called sulforaphane, which helps the body fight against toxins. Cabbage also supplies the body
with glutathione; an antioxidant that helps improve the detoxifying function of the liver.

Fresh fruit: Fresh fruits are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fibre= and are also low in
calories, making them an important part of a detox diet. If you’re after brighter eyes and skin, shinier
hair and improved digestion, try boosting your intake of fruit and eating from a wide variety of different
kinds. The good news is fruit is easy to add to your diet, so try starting your day with a fresh fruit salad or
smoothie and snacking on pieces of fruit throughout the day.

Brown rice: If you want to cleanse your system and boost your health, it is a good idea to cut down on
processed foods. Instead, try supplementing your diet with healthier whole grains such as brown rice,
which is rich in many key detoxifying nutrients including B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and
phosphorous. Brown rice is also high in fibre, which is good for cleansing the colon, and rich in selenium,
which can help to protect the liver as well as improving the complexion.

Watercress: Like most green herbs and vegetables, watercress is an excellent health-booster and detox
food. Firstly, watercress leaves are packed with many vital detoxifying nutrients, including several B
vitamins, zinc, potassium, vitamin E and vitamin C. Secondly, watercress has natural diuretic properties,
which can help to flush toxins out the body. To reap the benefits of this nutritious food, try adding a
handful of watercress to salads, soups and sandwiches.
Every person’s health and well-being depends on how well their body removes and purges toxins. With
exposure to environmental toxins, toxic body care products and processed foods, most people are in
desperate need of a serious detox! A liver cleanse is a great way to do this.

One of the main ways that the body rids itself of toxins is through the liver. In fact, the liver is one of the
hardest working organs in the body. It works tirelessly to detoxify our blood; produce the bile needed to
digest fat; break down hormones; and store essential vitamins, minerals and iron. When liver function is
not optimal, we cannot digest our food properly, especially fats.

Some of the essential functions of the liver include: (1)

Processing nutrients absorbed by the intestines so they are more efficiently absorbed

Regulating blood composition to balance protein, fat and sugar

Destroying old red blood cells

Producing essential chemicals to help blood clot properly

Breaking down and metabolizing alcohol and medications

Producing essential proteins and cholesterol

Removing toxins from the bloodstream, including bilirubin, ammonia and others

Storing of minerals, iron and vitamin A

For the liver to take care of the body, it must be able to perform optimally. When many people think of
liver disease, they often think of alcohol-induced cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a serious health condition, but
contrary to popular thought, alcoholism is not the only cause.

In fact, there are a number of nonalcoholic factors that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver
damage, including: (2)

Eating uncooked shellfish

Some medications (including acetaminophen)

Chronic malnutrition
Eating poisonous wild mushrooms and exposure to chemicals

Chronic hepatitis B

Cirrhosis occurs when scar tissue replaces the healthy cells in the liver. As the scar tissue continues to
grow, the liver’s ability to function is diminished. Liver failure is the next biological step and occurs when
the scar tissue has created so much damage that it no longer functions.

Liver Cleanse Effectively Removes Toxins

Today, we are faced with so many environmental toxins occurring in our homes, places of work and in
our food supply. It is essential for our general health and well-being to maintain good liver health. Below
are some of the risk factors associated with impaired liver function. (3)

Low potassium levels (4)

Heavy alcohol abuse

Intravenous drug use

Blood transfusions prior to 1992

Exposure to certain industrial chemicals and environmental toxins

Unprotected sex

Obesity and a diet high in saturated fats, and processed foods

Tattoos or body piercings

High levels of triglycerides in the blood

Prescription medications including acetaminophen

Viral infections

Autoimmune diseases

Signs and Symptoms Your Liver Isn’t Functioning Optimally

If you have recently noticed any of the symptoms listed below, you could be suffering from impaired liver
function. It is particularly important to consider these symptoms if you identify with one or more of the
risk factors mentioned above.
Bloating and gas

Acid reflux and heartburn

Constipation

Skin and/or eyes that are yellowish (a symptom of jaundice)

Inability to lose weight

High blood pressure

Moodiness, anxiety or depression

Dark urine

Rosacea

Chronic fatigue

Excessive sweating

Bruise easily

Poor appetite

Fortunately, you can help improve your liver’s functioning. Through a thorough liver cleanse, you can
start to feel better in a matter of a couple of weeks.

Liver cleanse - Dr. Axe

6-Step Liver Cleanse

Follow these six steps to help boost your health and vitality:

1. Remove Toxic Foods from Your Diet

If you are eating a diet high in processed foods, you are putting the health of your liver at risk as these
foods basically work against liver health. Hydrogenated oils, refined sugar, convenience foods and lunch
meats are notoriously toxic to your system.

Hydrogenated oils, also known as “trans fats,” have higher levels of saturated fat. The chemical structure
of the oil itself has been altered to increase shelf life. Consumption of trans fats dramatically increases
the risk for heart disease by 25 percent or more. In addition, it is believed that trans fats cause problems
with our immune system and can lead to inflammation throughout the body.

Added nitrates and nitrites, commonly found in convenience foods, fast foods and lunch meats, have
been linked to serious health conditions. These chemicals are used to preserve foods to make them last
longer, inhibit bacteria growth and preserve color. Replace these foods immediately with liver friendly
healthy choices. Healthy foods taste great, and, with a bit of creativity, you can create healthful meals for
your family that will support liver health.

Roast your own organic chicken breast and turkey breast to replace deli meats for quick lunches and
after school snacks. Replace chips and other processed snacks with fresh fruit, carrot sticks, nuts and
homemade granola bars.

In addition to eating a healthy diet, it’s important to be sure your digestive enzymes are functioning
properly. Problems with liver enzymes can also contribute to liver disease and may be related to other
digestive illnesses such as Crohn’s disease.

2. Drink Raw Vegetable Juice

It can be nearly impossible to eat all of the raw vegetables you need to make your liver cleanse effective.
However, by juicing a variety of raw vegetables, you can easily get the 4–5 servings of fresh, organic
vegetables you need. Even vegetables that aren’t your favorites can be disguised and enjoyed in a fresh
vegetable juice!

With impaired liver function, juicing vegetables has the added benefit of making the vegetables easier to
digest and more readily available for absorption.

Vegetables ideal for liver cleanses include cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. While that
combination may not sound very enjoyable, you can add other vegetables that you enjoy to the mix
including carrots, cucumber, beets and greens.

All of these vegetables help to reduce acid levels in the body, helping to create a more friendly pH
balance. Experiment with your favorite flavor combinations; you can add fresh herbs including parsley,
mint and others to make the juices more enjoyable.

Try my kid-friendly Orange Carrot Ginger Juice. Fresh, organic carrots are essential to any liver cleanse
(5). In the liver, the beta carotene is converted into vitamin A to help flush out the toxins in the body
while reducing fat in the liver.

The high fiber content helps support a healthy digestive tract, hastening the elimination of toxins in your
body. The ginger root helps to soothe the digestive tract, reduce intestinal gas, and has strong anti-
inflammatory compounds. The fresh oranges in this recipe not only add tangy sweetness, but also add
significant vitamin C, additional vitamin A and vitamin B6.

3. Load Up on Potassium-Rich Foods

Are you getting the recommended 4,700 milligrams per day of potassium? Chances are, you aren’t.
Potassium-rich foods help to lower systolic blood pressure, lower cholesterol and support a healthy
cardiovascular system, in addition to helping cleanse your liver. If you have been tempted to take
potassium supplements, instead add these healthful foods to your diet.

Sweet Potatoes

Surprisingly, it is not the banana that is the richest in potassium. It is the sweet potato. A single medium
sweet potato contains nearly 700 milligrams of potassium, not to mention the high fiber and beta
carotene content.

A sweet potato only has 131 calories, yet is rich with vitamins B6, C, D, magnesium and iron. While
naturally sweet, the sugars actually are slowly released into the bloodstream through the liver, without
causing a spike in blood sugar.

Tomato Sauces
Potassium, and the other beneficial nutrients in tomatoes, is significantly concentrated as a sauce, puree
or as a paste. As an example, 1 cup of tomato puree contains 1,065 milligrams of potassium, but 1 cup of
fresh tomatoes contains only 400 milligrams. When selecting tomato sauce, paste or puree, be sure to
choose those made only from organic tomatoes.

To make your own concentrated tomato sauce, slice organic tomatoes in half and roast face down in the
oven for 30 minutes at 425 degrees F, until the skin has shriveled. Remove from the oven, and let cool.
Slide the skins off and gently crush in your food processor or blender. Strain to remove seeds, if you
desire. Pour into a Dutch oven, and let simmer until thick, 1 to 2 hours.

Beet Greens and Spinach

Rich in antioxidants, beet greens contain over 1,300 milligrams of potassium per cup. Add beets and beet
greens to your fresh vegetable juice recipe; finely chop and add raw to salads; or sauté lightly, like other
greens. Beets also naturally cleanse the gallbladder and improve bile flow.

Fresh organic spinach is easily added to your diet, and it’s a good source of potassium, containing 840
milligrams per serving.

Beans

White beans, kidney beans and lima beans are all rich in potassium, protein and fiber. Swap out garbanzo
beans for one of these potassium-rich beans in your favorite hummus recipe. Enjoy it with carrot sticks
and celery sticks.

Blackstrap Molasses

Just 2 teaspoons of this rich all-natural syrup contains 10 percent of the daily-recommended amount of
potassium. In addition to potassium, blackstrap molasses is rich with iron, calcium, manganese and
copper.
Incorporate blackstrap molasses into your diet by replacing other natural sweeteners with it. You can use
it to create barbecue sauces and to top oatmeal or quinoa porridge in the mornings. Two teaspoons
added to coffee intensifies the richness of the coffee, while lowering the acidic taste.

Bananas

And finally, add a banana to your favorite smoothie. While in comparison to the other high potassium
foods on this list, the banana’s 470 milligrams of potassium are only part of the story. Bananas assist in
digestion, and help to release toxins and heavy metals from the body — all of which are essential during
a liver cleanse.

Please note: If you have high levels of potassium in your kidneys, foods rich in potassium should be
consumed moderately.

4. Coffee Enemas

Coffee enemas help with constipation, reduce fatigue, and aid in liver detoxification.

An enema targets the lower portion of your large intestine and can be done at home, unlike colonics,
which include the entire bowel and are performed outside the home by a professional.

During the enema, organic coffee is retained in your bowel, allowing the fluid to enter the liver through
the intestinal wall.

This has a stimulating effect that increases bile flow, helping to jump-start both your gallbladder and
your liver. This sparks the production of the chemical glutathione, a strong cleansing compound that
helps to release the buildup of toxins in your system.

Flushing the toxins out during liver cleanses is critical so they don’t build up and are moved quickly out
of your system.
Combine 2 tablespoons of organic ground coffee with 3 cups of filtered or distilled water in a pot and
bring to a boil. Simmer gently for 15 minutes and allow to cool. Strain the mixture through cheesecloth
and use in your enema kit. Try to retain the mixture for 10–15 minutes and then release.

If you’ve experienced complications from using enemas in the past, it’s best to talk to a doctor before
trying to perform a coffee enema on your own. The first time you try a coffee enema, it’s a good idea to
do so under supervision or with guidance of a medical professional, although some people feel
comfortable jumping right into the process. Coffee enemas aren’t usually recommended for pregnant
women or children since they can be sensitive to the effects of caffeine.

5. Take Milk Thistle, Dandelion and Turmeric Supplements

Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is considered the “king” of detoxifying herbs, making it ideal for a liver cleanse. Milk thistle
helps to eliminate the buildup of heavy metals, prescription medications, environmental pollutants and
alcohol in the liver.

In addition, it helps to reduce the negative effects on the liver after chemotherapy and radiation. The
active ingredient silymarin helps to strengthen the cell walls in the liver, while supporting healthy
regeneration. (6)

Milk thistle can be taken as a supplement or as a liver cleansing detox tea.

Turmeric

Turmeric reduces joint pain; is an effective antidepressant; aids in digestion; helps to restore a healthy
blood sugar balance; and supports healthy liver tissue and liver metabolism (7).

Currently, researchers are studying turmeric for a variety of health benefits for diseases and conditions,
including: Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, depression, osteoarthritis, breast health, prostate health and
chronic pain.

Dandelion Root

Most homeowners hate the dandelion, as it populates yards every spring. But, this flower, and its root, is
actually packed with vitamins and minerals.

Dandelion root has a natural diuretic effect, allowing your liver to more quickly eliminate toxins. It also
helps to strengthen the immune system, balance blood sugar levels, relieve heartburn, and soothe
digestive upset.

Burdock root is another option in the same plant family as dandelions that can help detox your system
by cleansing the blood, therefore helping to support liver function. Like milk thistle, both dandelion root
and burdock root can be taken in both supplement form or as a detox tea.

6. Eat Real Liver or Take Liver Tablets

Liver from young, healthy, grass-fed cattle or chicken liver is rich with vitamins A and B, folic acid,
choline, iron, copper, zinc, chromium and CoQ10. Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods we can
eat.

Boosting liver health to remove toxins from the body has been an integral part of Ayurvedic and Chinese
medicine practices for thousands of years. Referred to as the ultimate multitasking organ, ancient
practitioners believed that the liver was one of the primary organs that needed to be treated in sick
patients. In ancient Chinese medicine, it’s said that “the physician who knows how to harmonize the liver
knows how to treat the hundred diseases.”

Today we know that without a healthy liver, it’s impossible to have a properly working metabolism,
healthy circulation, balanced hormones, clean blood and strong digestion. Experiencing symptoms like
fatigue, abdominal pain, bloating and hormonal imbalances? These can all be signs that your liver isn’t
functioning properly. In this case, it might be time for a liver cleanse and other liver-boosting lifestyle
changes, such as adding more bitter foods to your diet and using herbal medicines, for example.
What Is the Liver?

What is the liver, and why is it considered one of the hardest working organs in the body?

The liver, the largest internal organ in the human body, is a digestive organ that sits on the upper right
side of the belly. What does the liver look like? It’s described as being “meaty” due to its reddish-brown
color. If you were to touch your liver, it would feel rubbery and semi-firm.

The liver is always communicating with other digestive organs, receiving information about the level of
available nutrients or the presence of threats like prescription medications, heavy metals or toxic
substances. As the main organ involved in detoxification, it’s the liver that recognizes toxic substances
and converts them into harmless material that can be released. As described in the World Journal of
Hepatology in a 2017 article, “Beyond the metabolic functions, the liver recently has been defined as an
organ of immune system (IS) … The liver keeps a delicate balance between hepatic screening of
pathogenic antigens and immune tolerance to self-antigens.”

The liver is said to be of the “wood element” and is crucial for the transformation of food into energy, or
qi, according to Chinese medicine. Since it’s associated with wood qi, the liver is characterized by
“upward momentum and the innate desire to be straight.” A healthy liver results in better blood flow
upward and outward, throughout our vessels, veins and capillaries, which transport oxygen and
nutrients to our cells.

What can improved liver function do for your health? A well taken care of liver can help bring you:

Increased energy levels

Clearer skin

More regular menstrual cycle with reduced PMS

Freedom from sinus pain

Fewer infections and stronger immunity

Less digestive complaints and more regularity

Fresher breath and oral health

A positive mood and sharper mind

Liver Anatomy and Structure

Where is the liver located in the body? An adult human liver weighs in just over three pounds and sits in
the upper right side of the abdomen, underneath the rib cage, where it’s connected to the gallbladder.
The gallbladder is where bile is stored, which is also very important for digestion. The liver takes up the
space below the diaphragm and most of the space under the ribs.

There are two large sections/lobes that make up the liver. Within the liver, there’s a specific type of
tissue that is made of lobules, which transport blood and cells.

The liver has two main veins, one that delivers blood from the gastrointestinal tract and the other that
supplies blood from the heart. The liver connects to other digestive organs via a system of tubes that
collect bile, digest foods, and drain waste.

Liver Function

What is the liver’s function? The main functions of the liver include:

Filtering blood coming from the digestive tract … It’s involved in storing blood, making blood clotting
possible and breaking down damaged blood cells so they can be eliminated.

Producing bile

Dissecting and converting nutrients available in foods once they reach the digestive system … For
example, the liver helps metabolize proteins by changing amino acids so they can be used for energy, or
used to make carbohydrates or fats.

Helping to spread nutrients throughout the body via the bloodstream and keeping the amount of
nutrients in the blood supply at optimal levels

Eliminating toxic waste that’s left behind once foods/substances are broken down

Breaking down and removing excess hormones

Storing certain vitamins and minerals for when they’re needed

Managing the conversion of fats from your diet and manufacturing triglycerides and cholesterol
Taking the carbohydrates you consume and turning them into glucose, a form of energy, to be stored for
later use

The liver also interacts with other organs like the gallbladder, stomach and spleen, since it receives
digested particles or toxins and decides what to do with them: circulate them around through the blood,
or eliminate them before they can cause damage.

Liver Regeneration

Something that makes the liver unique and amazing is that it has the ability to regenerate after it’s
become damaged; in fact, it’s capable of doing this more than any other organ in the body. Tissue that
has become scarred or damaged can be replaced when healthy liver tissue grows and takes its place.
This occurs with the help of growth factors, cytokines and matrix remodeling.

In extreme cases, even if only 25 percent of the liver remains, regeneration can still happen. When the
liver becomes so badly scarred that healthy cells can no longer grow back, this results in liver failure.

When someone undergoes a living-donor transplant, a portion of a donor’s liver replaces the patient’s
diseased liver and then regenerates as it grows back to full size.

Liver Disease Symptoms, Signs and Types

Liver disease and liver failure is the result of so much scar tissue forming that the liver can no longer
function. There are many different forms of liver disease and damage. According to the American Liver
Foundation, one out of every 10 Americans is affected by liver disease, making it one of the top 10
causes of death in the United States yearly. Globally, liver disease is a major cause of illness and death —
especially viral hepatitis (predominantly hepatitis C and B viruses), nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and
alcoholic liver disease.

Some of the most common types of liver diseases include:

Cirrhosis, which develops when scar tissue replaces the healthy cells in the liver. This can result in long-
term damage to the liver that can lead to permanent scarring.

Alcoholic liver disease — when the liver becomes damaged by heavy drinking because it is the primary
site of ethanol (alcohol) metabolism. Alcohol abuse can lead to steatosis (retention of fats), hepatitis and
fibrosis/cirrhosis. Among problem drinkers, about 35 percent develop advanced liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver, when fat builds up in the liver. This type occurs more frequently with obesity,
insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD has become a leading cause of
chronic liver disease in Western countries, with some estimates showing that it may impact about 16
percent or more of the general population in some way.

Hepatitis, usually caused by viruses like hepatitis B, A and C. Hepatitis can also be caused by heavy
drinking, drugs, allergic reactions or obesity.

Liver cancer, including the most common type called hepatocellular carcinoma

Liver failure, which occurs when scarring becomes so severe that the liver cannot function anymore

Ascites, when the liver leaks fluid (ascites) into the belly

Bile duct infection (cholangitis)

Genetic disorders such as Wilson’s Disease, Gilbert’s Disease or Hemochromatosis, which occurs when
iron deposits in the liver and throughout the body

Infections including Epstein Barr virus/mononucleosis, adenovirus, cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis

Not every person experiences symptoms of liver disease, especially in the early stages. As scarring of the
liver and inflammation worsen, symptoms are more likely to become noticeable.

If you’re suffering from liver disease, you’re likely to experience at least some of these liver disease
symptoms:

abdominal pain … Where do you get pain from the liver? Usually liver damage causes pain in the center
or right upper part of the belly. If the liver becomes enlarged and swollen, it will also extend across the
abdomen and also down toward the belly.

jaundice, or yellowing of the skin

fatigue/always feeling tired

nausea, vomiting, weight loss and loss of appetite

tenderness over the liver, or enlarging or shrinking of the liver (an inflamed liver in hepatitis may be
tender and bigger, while a cirrhotic liver may be small and shrunken)

weakness
confusion and trouble concentrating

enlarged liver

bloating and gas

dark urine

bruising easily

excessive sweat

constipation

pale or dark tar-colored stool

dry and dark patches on neck and under arms

swelling in the legs and ankles

symptoms due to hormonal imbalances, such as high cholesterol levels, PMS, irregular periods, acne and
mood swings

What are the early signs of liver problems?

The first signs of liver damage tend to be abdominal pain, digestive issues, loss of appetite and bloody
stools. As liver damage and scarring progresses, symptoms can include edema, chronic fatigue, cognitive
impairment, changes in the skin and other issues.

What improved liver function means - Dr. Axe

Causes of Liver Damage

Because it has such widespread roles in the body, just about any form of metabolic, digestive, immune or
hormonal disorder can impact liver health. In addition, your lifestyle can make or break the health of
your liver.

Some of the major causes of damage to your liver can include:

Too much alcohol

Prescription medication or antibiotic use, including use of over-the-counter or prescription pain
medications, statins and antibiotics like amoxiciilin-clavulinic, nitrofurantoin or tetracycline

Unprotected sex that spreads viruses/infections

High stress levels and hormonal imbalances

Air pollution and environmental toxin exposure

Autoimmune or inherited liver disease

Exposure to chemically sprayed crops

Using chemical household and beauty products

Obesity, such as due to eating many packaged foods that contain refined oils and high amounts of sugar

There are a number of risk factors that increase your chances of developing liver problems, some of
which are:

Gastric bypass surgery

High cholesterol

High levels of triglycerides in the blood

Type 2 diabetes

Metabolic syndrome and obesity

Autoimmune disease

Sleep apnea

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)

Underactive pituitary gland (hypopituitarism)

Being a man, especially over the age of 65 … Aging is a major risk factor for most chronic diseases,
including liver disease. In general, men are twice as likely to die from chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
than are women.

Why is your liver so vulnerable to damage and the effects of a harmful diet or high toxin exposure? The
liver is somewhat like the body’s digestive control center. When substances reach the liver, they’re
processed and either circulated, stored, altered, detoxified or flushed away through urine and stool.
Can liver disease be prevented? In most cases, yes. You can lower your risk for liver disease greatly by
only consuming alcohol in moderation, avoiding drug use, practicing safe sex, managing stress levels,
eating an organic, whole-food diet and maintaining a healthy weight to prevent metabolic problems.

Conventional Treatment of Liver Disease

Which types of doctors treat liver disease? Depending on the condition being treated, a patient might
work with a gastroenterologist, hepatologist (a liver specialist), interventional radiologist, surgeon,
infectious disease specialist and/or oncologist.

What are liver function blood tests that doctors use to make a diagnosis? If your doctor suspects you
have a problem with your liver function, they may choose to do a physical exam and run a number of
different tests, including: blood tests to check levels of liver enzymes, a complete blood cell count (CBC),
hepatitis virus screen, blood clotting tests, tests to check levels of bilirubin, albumin and ammonia,
ultrasound and CT scan.

Blood tests can reveal if the liver is inflamed and not properly making proteins, which are needed for
blood clotting. A physical exam, ultrasound and CT scan are also performed to assess the anatomy and
structure of the liver and surrounding tissues, in order to check for shrinking, swelling, edema, etc.

What is a liver biopsy? Is it painful? A liver biopsy is done to check for liver problems that can’t always
be detected from other blood or imaging tests, and to determine the severity of damage. A liver biopsy
involves inserting a thin needle into the liver to retrieve a small bit of tissue that is examined under a
microscope. The procedure is usually done with use of a local anesthetic so it’s not very painful. Pain
after a liver biopsy is usually only mild and goes away within a week or so.

Once liver disease is diagnosed, treatment options include:

Abstaining from alcohol, quitting smoking and avoiding any unnecessary or recreational drugs

Stopping use of medications or lowering the dose.

Eating less unhealthy foods, losing weight (if needed) and managing metabolic risk factors
Hepatitis B treatment with antiviral medications

Liver cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation

Removal of fluid from the abdomen using an inserted needle

Intravenous (IV) fluids to maintain blood pressure

Medications such as laxatives or enemas

Surgical resection of the liver

Liver transplant if the liver is no longer functioning … In 2017, more than 8,000 people in the U.S.
received liver transplants.

How to Improve Liver Function (5 Natural Ways)

1. Avoid Heavy Drinking and Drug Use

Alcohol is primarily processed in the liver, so a night of heavy drinking means the liver must work
overtime to bring the body back to balance. You can help protect your liver by only consuming alcohol in
moderation, which means no more than one drink per day for adult women, or one to two for adult
men.

If you take medications and are worried about your liver, talk to your doctor about alternative options,
such as switching types or lowering your dose.

Another “risky behavior” to avoid is unprotected sex, especially with multiple partners, since this
increases your risk for catching hepatitis and other viruses or infections.

2. Eat an Anti-inflammatory Diet and Choose Organic

Your diet itself drastically impacts how hard your liver works. Because the liver breaks down fats,
converts protein and sugar and removes substances from the blood, it can become overwhelmed when
it has too much to handle.

A low-sugar, low-toxin diet that’s filled with high-fiber foods is crucial for supporting your liver. High
amounts of antioxidants and fiber can even help to reverse liver damage and disease, according to
certain studies.
Keep things balanced by eating real, whole foods (preferably organic), including unrefined sources of
carbohydrates, veggies, fruits and healthy fats. When it comes to fats and proteins in your diet, focus on
quality sources (cage-free eggs, grass-fed meat or wild-caught seafood, for example) so the liver can
properly break down fats and remove excess cholesterol and toxins.

Choosing organic foods is one of the few proven ways to lower pesticide levels in the body. Organic, high-
antioxidant foods fight the negative effects of stress, pollution and a poor diet on the health of your liver,
while increasing natural liver detoxification and the ability to flush toxins out through urine.

The liver function diet - Dr. Axe

Some of the best anti-inflammatory foods for liver function include:

Sour foods — Bitterness is usually a sign that beneficial enzymes, which nourish the liver, are present.
Sour foods are high in essential minerals that balance fluids and reduce heavy metals within the blood.
Examples include bitter green vegetables (mustard greens, chicory, arugula, dandelion, etc.) and leafy
greens, like collards or Swiss chard.

Probiotic foods — This includes foods like yogurt, kombucha, kefir and cultured vegetables that support
gut health by providing healthy bacteria.

Leafy greens — Green vegetables of all kinds come loaded with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
properties, plus they may also increase levels of glutathione, a vital component in the destruction of free
radicals within the body.

Cruciferous veggies and grasses — Green grasses (like chlorella, barley or wheat grass) hold a form of
chlorophyll, a structure that’s built into plant cells that helps escort damaging substances like dioxin out
of the liver, while increasing antioxidants like superoxide dismutase. And cruciferous veggies (broccoli,
kale, cage, etc.) improve low potassium levels and contain indole compounds, a byproduct that’s known
to be a help fight cancer and eliminate carcinogens from the body. Cruciferous vegetables can increase
production of digestive enzymes called glucosinolates that help detoxify the liver and increase the liver’s
ability to usher out carcinogens and heavy metals from the blood.

Fresh herbs — Herbs including turmeric, coriander, parsley, cilantro and oregano are great to boost
glutathione production and also lower inflammation. For example, turmeric contains curcumin, a
compound helpful in restoring healthy blood pressure, improving circulation and fighting toxin buildup.

High-antioxidant fruits — Fruits like berries and melons provide and balance electrolyte minerals needed
by the liver, including magnesium, calcium and potassium. In addition, they’re beneficial for improving
healthy circulation by acting similar to hemoglobin.

Local, raw honey — Raw honey is the kind that’s not heated or refined. It’s a natural antibacterial,
antimicrobial and anti-fungal product. It helps lower liver inflammation and eliminate bacteria, parasites
and viral infections, especially when you source it locally.

Green tea — Green tea, especially concentrated, powdered matcha green tea, is known to contain
powerful compounds known as catechins that act as antioxidants in the body, combatting free radicals
within the blood, reducing liver inflammation and lowering the effects of oxidative stress on the digestive
organs.

Coconut oil — Considered one of the best sources of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), coconut oil
contains beneficial healthy fats, including lauric acid. Acids found in MCFA have anti-fungal, antimicrobial
and antiviral properties that help the liver detox, reduce cravings for unhealthy foods and support energy
levels.

Apple cider vinegar — A fermented product made by combining apple juice with live bacteria in the form
of yeast, apple cider vinegar contains beneficial enzymes and antioxidants, such as acetic acid and malic
acid that help establish a healthy ratio of acid to alkalinity.

The worst foods for liver function include:

Too much alcohol or caffeine

Packaged goods that contain refined vegetable oils, artificial ingredients, sweeteners and colors

Fruits and vegetables heavily sprayed with chemical pesticides and herbicides (non-organic crops)

Factory-farmed animal products, farm-raised fish and conventional dairy (that has been pasteurized and
homogenized)

Processed meats like cold cuts that contain nitrates

Foods made with hydrogenated oils, refined vegetable oils and artificial sweeteners/ingredients

Sugary drinks and snacks

Refined grains

3. Use Liver-Boosting Supplements

Natural herbs have been used for centuries to help the liver metabolize chemicals found in prescriptions,
antibiotics, hormones and nutrients like proteins and fats. While herbs are not necessarily effective for
treating liver disease and not intended for this purpose, several powerful herbs known to give the liver a
boost in converting nutrients and removing toxins include:

Milk thistle — Milk thistle is an excellent source of the antioxidant called silymarin, which prevents
depletion of glutathione in the liver and also fights liver disease.

Holy basil — Holy basil contains essential oils that help combat bacteria, heavy metals and even strains
of fungus.

Dandelion root — Dandelion root (yes, the same kind found in your yard that you might consider a
weed!) has a natural diuretic effect. This means it helps balance fluid levels and boosts the liver’s efforts
to quickly eliminate toxins, strengthening the immune system, helping with blood sugar balance and
relieving indigestion.

Licorice root — Licorice root extract has anti-inflammatory properties and can help soothe
gastrointestinal problems.

Bupleurum — Bupleurum is a medicinal root used for fighting infections and improving digestion
problems like acid reflux, diarrhea and constipation. It helps improve adrenal gland function, reduce
effects of stress and make the immune system work harder.

If you’re lucky enough to visit a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, you might also be
recommended various other herbs that are proven to help improve kidney, liver and spleen function
when combined with other traditional treatment methods.

4. Reduce Stress and Practice Forgiveness

What does forgiveness have to do with your liver? Most of it comes down to your hormones. Historically,
holistic practitioners tied emotional troubles to liver damage and, therefore, overall poor health. As you
probably know, high amounts of chronic stress — which can be caused by emotional issues, relationship
problems and holding on to guilt, anger or shame — all have an impact on your endocrine, reproductive,
digestive and immune systems.

Research shows that changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis caused by stress promotes
inflammatory response and worsens liver damage, even contributing to liver diseases.

A damaged liver is said to block healthy emotional flow, produce frustration and cause anger — and
believe it or not, these have physical implications. (11) Poor liver function has been tied to physical and
psychological symptoms, including: brain fog, rib pain or fullness, dizziness, headaches, cramping, joint
or tendon problems, menstrual problems, blurry vision and digestive disorders. This can also create a
vicious cycle, because the more stress you’re under, the more dysfunction in the liver can result.

Since the liver is closely tied to functions of the uterus, involved in regulating reproductive hormones, a
woman’s menstrual cycle and libido, it’s important to let go of built-up anger and keep positive energy
moving by avoiding conflict and stressing over the small things.

5. Exercise and Move Your Body More

Studies show that exercise reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in obesity-related liver diseases.
Because the liver stores and processes your blood, circulation is important for allowing its cleansing
effects to unfold. The body can become stagnant and more susceptible to disease when blood isn’t
flowing, but during physical activities, the heart pumps more blood. The liver is then better able to
release blood to your brain, organs, tendons, joints and muscles. Exercise also helps blood and nutrients
reach reproductive or digestive organs, which is helpful for managing liver-related symptoms.

Final Thoughts on Liver Function

The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body; it sits on the upper right side of the belly and
connects to the gallbladder.

What is the function of the liver? The liver is involved in dozens of bodily functions, including: removing
toxins from the body, cleaning the blood, converting nutrients from foods, producing bile, converting fats
and storing glucose.

There are many types of liver disease, including: cirrhosis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease, hepatitis, liver cancer, genetics disorders and others.

Some signs and symptoms of liver damage/disease can include: abdominal pain, digestive issues, loss of
appetite, fatigue, jaundice, skin issues, dark stool and bleeding.

Ways to protect the liver and boost liver function include: avoiding heavy alcohol consumption and drug
use, protecting against hepatitis, eating a healthy diet and avoiding obesity, reducing toxin exposure,
using herbal supplements, exercising and managing stress.

kidney cleanse

Surprisingly, most people tend to focus on doing a liver cleanse and/or a colon cleanse, while ignoring a
kidney cleanse. Those two cleanses are very important, but probably just as important, and one of the
top three cleanses people should be doing on a regular basis, is a kidney cleanse.
A kidney cleanse is especially important if you’ve ever suffered with any type of infection, any type of
fluid retention or any type of urinary tract infection — or if you have any kidney stone symptoms.

In order to do a kidney cleanse, you need to eat the best herbs, fruits and vegetables for kidney health.
So continue to learn exactly how to do a proper, safe and effective kidney cleanse.

The Kidney Cleanse Diet

Here are the top herbs and foods that can make up a kidney cleanse:

Kidney Cleanse Herbs

First off, when it comes to herbs, the best three herbs are stinging nettle, burdock and rehmannia.

1. Stinging nettle

Stinging nettle is really high in vitamin C, and this herb has been shown to help to start filtering out extra
fluids through the kidneys. While more research is needed, it’s been used for centuries as a kidney
remedy and healing herb. (1)

So you want to start using stinging nettle. I recommend is getting it as a tea and drinking three glasses of
nettle tea a day.

2. Burdock root

Also, another tea you can mix in is burdock root tea. Diuretics stimulate the kidneys and help the body
get rid of excess fluid, mainly water and sodium. Burdock root is a natural diuretic so through burdock
consumption, you can naturally and easily help your body to eliminate excess water by increasing urine
output. By elevating the rate of urination, burdock root can help to remove waste from the blood and
body. (2)

If you have issues with fluid retention, you should ask your doctor about trying burdock root before
resorting to prescription products.
3. Rehmannia

You also can get a rehmannia supplement, a Traditional Chinese Medicine herb that’s been shown to
help cleanse the kidneys. (3)

Kidney Cleanse Foods

Your kidneys are responsible for your body detoxifying and getting rid of certain toxins, and they also
balance out fluids in your body ,which is very important for circulation and even for microbial balance in
your body.

So as we start to look at the health of your kidneys, you typically want to consume foods that are
nutrient-dense, such as high-antioxidant foods and foods loaded with electrolytes. So remember, if you
want to heal your kidneys, you want to consume foods that are high in electrolytes and antioxidants. By
the way — a kidney cleanse is great for anybody with kidney stone symptoms as well.

1. High-antioxidant fruit

Let’s talk about the best fruits specifically for the kidneys. No. 1 are cranberries, No. 2 black cherries and
No. 3 blueberries. These are very dark, antioxidant-rich “superfruits” that are nutrient-dense.

Cranberries are a great option because they’ve been shown to prevent and treat UTIs, which really do a
number on the kidneys. In one study, women who drank 1.7 ounces of cranberry-lingonberry juice
concentrate every day for six months lowered their risk of getting a UTI by 20 percent compared to
women who didn’t use any intervention. In another study, older adults who ate cranberry products were
about half as likely to have bacteria and white blood cells in their urine, a sign of urinary tract infections.
(4)

A third study involved 20 women with recurrent UTIs who consumed one serving of sweetened and
dried cranberries daily for two weeks. Over half of the patients did not experience a UTI within six
months of consuming sweetened, dried cranberries, and the mean UTI rate per six months decreased
significantly. The results of this study indicate a beneficial effect from consuming cranberries to reduce
the number of UTIs in susceptible women. (5)
So drinking cranberry juice throughout your day or making a morning smoothie and throwing
cranberries in there, whether they’re frozen or fresh, is a great way to jump-start a kidney cleanse. You
can even buy cranberries at your local health food store and actually make a kidney cleanse juice.

Ideally, if you’re going to do a kidney cleanse, you want to also drink celery juice along with cranberry
juice. Those are by far the two best things as you’re cleansing your kidneys. They work fantastic, so if you
want to make a vegetable juice, I suggest combining celery and cranberry juice because just like
cranberry, celery benefits the kidneys by preventing UTIs.

Meanwhile, blueberries and black cherries contain resveratrol, a very specific type antioxidant that’s
great for gout and eliminating uric acid. Resveratrol is one of the most important compounds for kidney
health. It’s been shown to delay polycystic kidney disease progression, rescue kidney mitochondrial
function following hemorrhagic shock and work as promising therapy for chronic kidney disease. (6, 7, 8)

2. Beets

The third thing you want to do during your kidney cleanse is add certain foods into your diet that
support the kidneys, the adrenals and also cause your body to increase circulation. The No. 1 food is
beets. Beets are high in what’s called NO2, nitric oxide, which is really good for naturally cleansing the
blood.

Nitric oxide is vital to kidney function as well, and research published in the Indian Journal of Nephrology
found that decreased production of NO2 can contribute to kidney damage. (9) Since beets are high in
NO2, it makes them a blood cleanser that’s perfect for a kidney cleanse.

3. Seaweed

Seaweed is incredible because it’s one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, so adding a
tablespoon of spirulina or chlorella, or just even a teaspoon — or green superfood powder — to a
smoothie in the morning is a great idea.

Both of these seaweed byproducts have been shown to detox heavy metals from the body, which in turn
cleanses the kidneys. (10, 11) In addition, brown seaweed has been proven to cleanse both the liver and
kidneys. (12)
So seaweed like spirulina, chlorella, or even eating a seaweed salad or kelp noodles are all great ways to
help cleanse your kidneys.

4. Lemon juice

Fresh-squeezed lemon in some water upon wakening is a great thing to do as well when you’re on a
kidney cleanse. Lemon water benefits the kidneys by aiding in digestion and detoxification. Lemon juice
is even recommended as a way to prevent kidney stones due to its benefits on the kidneys. (13)

5. Spinach

Last but not least, in terms of vegetables to eat on a kidney cleanse, spinach is a necessity. We know
spinach is a powerhouse food. It’s high in B vitamins and high in certain antioxidants that help cleanse
the entire body, especially the kidneys.

Of course, as is the case with beets, you want to be careful to not overconsume spinach, because too
much can actually lead to kidney stone formation. (14) However, in appropriate portions, both spinach
and beets can help detox the body overall, including the kidneys.

Kidney Cleanse Protocol

Now, let me talk about putting this whole thing together. What I recommend in a kidney cleanse
program is to do a three-day cleanse where basically the only thing you consume is a veggie juice or
smoothie that’s made of celery, cranberries and blueberries, and then add in a little bit of collagen
protein powder. You can drink that 2-3 times for three days and afterward follow a nutritional kidney
cleanse diet.

Here’s what a full day’s worth of meals should look like on a kidney cleanse:

Breakfast: Smoothie with about half a cup each of cherries, blueberries and cranberries, along with some
protein powder and coconut milk — or collagen protein powder and coconut milk — along with green
powder like spirulina.

Lunch: Consume another smoothie or juice similar to the one you had for breakfast.
Dinner: Eat a big salad with a chicken breast. Feel free to add a third smoothie or juice along with dinner.

Final Thoughts

If you can follow that kidney cleanse protocol, I’m telling you, you’re going to feel your energy levels go
absolutely through the roof. This isn’t only just good as a kidney cleanse, either — it’s a good way to
reset your adrenal glands. So if you struggle with adrenal fatigue, the kidney cleanse protocol doubles as
an adrenal fatigue diet. Talk about incredible.

So remember, make sure to incorporate herbs like stinging nettle, burdock and rehmannia, along with
following the kidney cleanse diet, and you’re sure to feel better and improve your overall health.

When kidneys work the way they should, they play an important role in keeping the whole body clean,
strong, well-fueled and functioning properly. Conversely, kidney failure puts the body at risk, allowing
waste to accumulate and wreak havoc, which is why it’s a good idea to do a kidney cleanse from time to
time.

Healthy people normally have two kidneys, which are both about the size of a fist and located near the
waste at either side of the spine. The kidneys sit just below the rib cage and have the primary role of
helping the body with detoxification by getting rid of waste products.

Waste products that the kidneys filter include extra fluids, particles left behind in the digestive system,
sodium/salt or other electrolytes, and various other substances found in the blood. Not only do the
kidneys pass waste out from the body in the form of urine, but they also help control blood pressure,
remove drugs or toxins, regulate hormones, and maintain a strong skeletal system (strong bones). (1)
Kidney failure, therefore, can be a very serious condition — requiring a high level of intervention,
including dialysis treatments in order to do the filtering work the kidneys are no longer able to.

Waste product and fluid buildup, nausea or feeling sick to your stomach, trouble thinking clearly, and
blood pressure changes are all symptoms of kidney failure. Kidney failure risk factors include having a
history of diabetes and high blood pressure, in addition to consuming an unhealthy diet and having high
levels of inflammation. Steps you can take to lower your odds of developing kidney problems include
consuming plenty of electrolytes (especially potassium and calcium) from whole foods, avoiding
exposure to certain toxins or chemicals, and maintaining a healthy weight.

What Is Kidney Failure?

Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys stop working well enough to keep someone alive. Acute kidney
injury (also called acute renal kidney failure) is the term commonly used to describe patients whose
kidneys suddenly stop functioning as they normally should. (2) This is characterized as “sudden loss of
the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, conserve electrolytes, and maintain fluid
balance.” (3)

There is no permanent treatment for kidney failure, only ways to help manage symptoms caused by
failing kidneys and to keep a person as healthy as possible.

When the kidneys become severely damaged or “fail,” several types of ongoing treatments are used to
clean the blood, prevent dehydration or fluid retention/swelling, remove waste products from the
digestive tract, and ultimately replace the kidneys. Standard treatments for kidney failure usually include
hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Sometimes a complete kidney transplantation is also needed for
certain patients with kidney failure or chosen out of preference in some cases when it’s a possible
option.

Because acute kidney failure is a very serious matter, patients with this condition usually work with a
team of medical professionals to monitor their symptoms, receive ongoing (sometimes lifelong)
treatments and manage their overall health. Typically a patient’s treatment team includes seeing a
combination of doctors who specialize in the kidneys (called nephrologists), nurses who administer
dialysis treatments on average several times weekly, a dietician to help the patient get enough vital
nutrients from the diet, and sometimes technicians or social workers to help improve quality of life in
other ways.

Symptoms of Kidney Failure

Because the kidneys are needed to properly balance ratios of water, salt and other minerals (called
electrolytes) in the blood, kidney failure symptoms are very dangerous and often even life-threatening.
However, it’s not always obvious to patients that kidney damage is contributing to their health problems
— since the underlying reasons that the kidneys fail can cause all sorts of symptoms. For some patients
with unhealthy kidneys, no obvious symptoms are felt at all. Only suddenly “failure” of the kidneys
occurs and then causes an emergency situation.

Kidney failure symptoms normally include:

Kidney pain, which feels like throbbing or tenderness below the rib cage or in the back/abdomen
(sometimes called “flank pain”)

Producing less urine than usual or sometimes not at all. A warning side of kidney disease, however, may
be frequent urination, sometimes with blood or other color changes.

Fluid retention and swelling due to imbalance of electrolytes, especially in the lower extremities, such as
the legs, ankles or feet. The face and eyes may also appear puffy and swollen.

Indigestion, nausea, loss of appetite and sometimes vomiting

High blood pressure

Cognitive and mood changes, mostly due to shifting electrolyte levels and dehydration. These can
include confusion, trouble sleeping, anxiety, fatigue, trouble concentrating, weakness and brain fog.

While kidney failure is very serious, it doesn’t always mean that someone needs to be put on dialysis
forever or they’re necessary at risk of dying. Depending on the state of someone’s overall health — along
with age and how many risk factors the person is up against — it’s possible to live a fulfilling life even
with severely damaged/failed kidneys.

Sometimes severe kidney injuries can be resolved by treating the underlying problem causing the
patient’s symptoms, but other times this unfortunately isn’t the case. Permanent kidney damage and
chronic kidney disease cause a low percentage of patients to need ongoing dialysis treatments for the
reminder of their lives, and with elderly patients this often shortens their life expectancy. For patients
who wind up in the intensive care unit due to emergency kidney failure, it’s estimated that the risk of
mortality is between 50 percent and 80 percent.

Kidney failure symptoms - Dr. Axe

Kidney Failure Risk Factors and Causes

The kidneys can fail for a few different reasons, primarily due to high amounts of blood loss, dehydration
(which affects electrolyte levels), reactions from taking certain medications/ingesting toxins, or due to a
blockage developing in the channels leading to and from the kidneys.
Risk factors for experiencing kidney failure include:

Having a history of diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease or heart failure. These can all
affect blood flow to the kidneys and contribute to inflammation.

Suffering from any other form of kidney damage or disease, including having chronic kidney disease,
kidney stones (which are very common) or sepsis, an infection that slows down blood reaching the
kidneys. Chronic kidney disease is a general term for heterogeneous disorders affecting kidney structure
and function, which when left untreated can contribute to failure. (4)

Consuming an unhealthy diet or being very overweight or obese. A poor diet can result in electrolyte
imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, higher levels of inflammation and changes in blood pressure, just to
name a few of the related negative effects.

Being an older adult. Increasing age raises your risk for various kidney problems.

Having a history of prostate disease (an enlarged prostate), liver damage or liver disease. This affects
how the body dispels waste and processes toxins, drugs, hormones and/or chemicals.

Experiencing trauma or an injury to the kidneys that causes sudden blood loss.

Having low immune function due to another illness, such as a virus that causes changes in electrolyte
levels. High amounts of emotional stress, frequent infections or fatigue can also lower immunity.

Being treated in a hospital or intensive care unit, such as having surgery or undergoing an organ/bone
marrow transplant.

Taking medications that can sometimes lead to kidney problems, such as antibiotics, painkillers, blood
pressure drugs or ACE inhibitors.

Kidney Failure Facts and Figures

Experts report that there are five primary complications associated with chronic kidney diseases and
damage: anemia, hyperlipidemia, poor nutrition, cardiovascular disease risk factors and osteodystrophy
(abnormal growth of bone mass associated with disturbances in calcium and phosphorus metabolism).
(5)

Patients with chronic kidney problems and high risk for kidney failure experience much higher rates of
the diseases mentioned above, especially heart complications and anemia. For example, the overall
prevalence of kidney disease-associated anemia is approximately 50 percent, and cardiovascular disease
mortality rates are 10- to 100-fold higher among dialysis patients than healthy patients of the same age.

Many patients with kidney failure visit a hospital due to sudden symptoms, and this is where their
diagnoses take place. If a patient ends up in intensive care, acute kidney failure is associated with
between 50 percent to 80 percent chance of mortality.

Chronic kidney disease is recognized as a major risk factor for kidney failure, and currently a significant
global health problem. In the U.S., about 13 percent of the adult population has some sort of kidney
disease, and this number is expected to rise with the growing elderly population. (6)

Dialysis is one treatment option for those with kidney failure, which is needed when a patient has only
10 percent to 15 percent of normal kidney function left. (7)

Conventional Treatment for Kidney Failure

While your doctor might suspect you have damaged kidneys or kidney failure based on discussing your
symptoms, medical history and risk factors with you, tests like blood tests and urine sample tests are
used to confirm a diagnosis. Sometimes ultrasounds are also needed to look for signs of swelling and
inflammation in the kidneys and digestive organs. Ultimately, doctors are able to know someone is
experiencing kidney failure by measuring their electrolyte levels, especially levels of sodium/salt,
potassium and calcium.

Management of kidney disease or failed kidneys varies according to stages of disease severity. Once a
diagnosis is made, kidney failure is typically treated in several ways:

Restoring electrolyte levels and treating dehydration. Sometimes intravenous fluids are given to restore
hydration, or diuretics are used if fluid retention and swelling is a problem.

Altering medications that may be causing the problem

If a blockage in the urinary tract is causing symptoms by not allowing the patient to urinate, then
removing the blockage

Treating any infection that’s related to symptoms, such as sepsis or an infection affecting other digestive
organs

Starting a program on dialysis if necessary

Possibly prescribing medications to control levels of potassium, calcium, glucose or sodium. Medications
can include Kayexalate and Kionex, which prevent the accumulation of high levels of potassium in your
blood.

Prevention and Natural Treatments for Kidney Failure, Damage or Disease

1. Consume a Kidney-Healing Diet

Kidney disease alters metabolism of protein, water, salt, potassium and phosphorous, and kidney failure
makes all of this even more complicated. A healthy diet is absolutely key for managing kidney disease or
helping someone with kidney failure to have the best possible outcome. Many patients with kidney
failure visit a dietician to help analyze their current eating habits, nutrient levels and needs in order to
come up with a treatment plan. That’s because there’s now strong evidence to suggest that a poor pre-
dialysis nutritional status increases patient morbidity and mortality, even after initiation of kidney
therapies. A poor diet stresses weak or damaged kidneys and contributes to various complications like
anemia, cholesterol changes, heart damage and bone metabolism dysfunction.

The diet that’s best-suited to help you depends on the current health of your kidneys. Typically, you want
to consume unprocessed foods that are nutrient-dense, such as high-antioxidant foods and foods loaded
with electrolytes. Following this type of kidney cleanse diet is great for anybody with kidney stone
symptoms or other risk factors. Specific foods to focus on include cranberries, blueberries, celery,
burdock, leafy greens, fresh-squeezed vegetable juice, beets, cherries, sea vegetables like seaweed,
spinach, avocado, bananas and citrus fruits like lemon.

It’s also important to prevent dehydration, since not drinking enough fluids can put you at risk for kidney
complications (especially if you exercise a lot, live in a hot climate, drink diuretic beverages and sweat a
lot). Drinking enough water and other hydrating fluids should become a regular habit, including herbal
tea, sparkling water or fruit-infused water.

Experts recommend that anyone with kidney problems strongly monitor and limit certain electrolytes,
including intake of sodium, potassium and phosphorus: (8)

Your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods depending on your current nutrient levels,
especially ones like dairy, processed meats, caffeine or alcohol, too much protein, and foods high in
oxalic acid (spinach, rhubarb, tomatoes, collards, eggplant, beets, celery, summer squash, sweet
potatoes, peanuts, almonds, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, parsley and cocoa).

To monitor intake of potassium, focus on eating whole foods like apples, cabbage, green beans, grapes
and strawberries.

Reduce your intake of high-sodium foods (salt) by avoiding packaged foods, frozen dinners, canned
soups, fried foods, fast foods, and processed meats or cheeses.

You can cut down on your intake of phosphorus by decreasing dairy (milk) consumption, legumes or
beans, and nuts (especially peanuts).

2. Discuss Your Medications with Your Doctor

Certain medications or even vitamin supplements may make your kidney problems worse and may need
to be discontinued altogether if they cause your problems. You can talk to your doctor about the
potential need to change blood pressure, cholesterol, painkiller, calcium or other medications since
these are processed differently once the kidneys stop working properly.

To help prevent kidney damage from occurring in the first place, it’s also recommended that you limit
use of over-the-counter pain medications (like Tylenol, prescription meds, Advil, Motrin IB and others),
alcohol and tobacco products.

Kidney failure facts and figures - Dr. Axe

3. Prevent Kidney Damage with Herbs and Supplements

For anyone who has already suffered from kidney failure, you shouldn’t plan to take any supplements
without consulting with your doctor first. Because herbs and nutrients are metabolized differently once
the kidneys fail, some may actually make matters worse.

However, for those who are looking to prevent further kidney damage, some of the following natural
supplements may be helpful in keeping the kidneys and other digestive organs (like the liver) healthy.
Just remember to get a professional opinion if you’ve already been diagnosed with chronic
damage/disease/failure:

Magnesium: Magnesium helps prevents the formation of kidney stones.

Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 may help reduce calcium-oxalate levels.

Vitamin E: Beneficial for lowering calcium-oxalate levels.

Cranberry extract: May reduce urinary calcium levels.

Aloe vera: Helps reduce urinary crystals.

Lemon essential oil and helichrysum essential oil: May reduce the risk of kidney stones by supporting the
kidneys and liver in detoxification. Put two drops of citrus oils like lemon, lime, wild orange or grapefruit
in your water twice daily. With helichrysum oil, rub topically over lower abdomen twice daily.

4. If Needed, Dialysis or Other Ongoing Treatments

Some patients need to receive dialysis treatments to remove waste, potassium and toxins in their blood.
Temporary hemodialysis is sometimes only needed, but other times it needs to be continued for many
years. Dialysis works by pumping and cleaning blood through a machine that acts just like an artificial
kidney (called a dialyzer). Once cleaned, the blood is then returned into the patient’s body free from
harmful waste. Both types of dialysis use cleansing fluids that either flow through a tube (catheter) into
part of the patient’s abdomen to filter out waste or a system that flushes the patient’s blood through a
special cleansing machine.

The two types of dialysis treatments used by most kidney failure patients are peritoneal dialysis and
hemodialysis. The major difference is that peritoneal dialysis occurs within the patient’s body, not an
external dialyzer machine. Both treatments may be performed at home with proper training from your
physician (from a few weeks to a few months long) after the minor surgery required to insert a catheter
specific to the type of dialysis you’ve chosen. Conventional home hemodialysis is usually done three
times per week for about four hours at a time, while peritoneal dialysis treatment is typically done more
frequently, about four to seven times per week at home.

Your doctor will need to discuss specific dialysis treatments with you so that you can make an informed
decision, particularly because there any several variations within either type of dialysis and the best
option will depend on your specific condition, lifestyle and needs. Some patients prefer peritoneal
dialysis because it makes traveling easier. On the other hand, there are some reports that suggest home
hemodialysis in “short daily” or “nocturnal” schedules may mean less medications for complications of
dialysis, improvements in neuropathy and restless leg syndrome, more energy, better sleep, less hospital
stays, better quality of life and even a larger lifespan. (9)
In some cases, kidney transplants are also chosen as a treatment option, which have a high success rate
in general. The kidney can come from someone who died, a living donor, a relative, friend or anyone who
legally donates a kidney to someone in need. (10)

Precautions Regarding Kidney Failure or Disease

Because chronic kidney disease and kidney failure are potentially life-threatening illnesses, always be
sure to get your doctor’s opinion before treating these conditions. The information in this article is NOT
intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not
intended as personal medical advice.

Final Thoughts on Kidney Failure

Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys aren’t able to filter the blood, leaving behind wastes and excess
fluid.

Risk factors include a history of kidney problems, being obese, eating an unhealthy diet, or having
diabetes, heart disease, anemia and bone metabolism problems.

Prevention and treatments for kidney failure or kidney disease include eating a healthy diet (which varies
from patient to patient but controls electrolyte levels), avoiding exposure to certain drugs or toxins,
limiting heart disease or diabetes risk factors, and using herbs or supplements. In some cases, dialysis is
used to replace the kidneys, since they’re no longer able to remove enough wastes and fluid from the
blood.

full body detox

Turn on the television, flip through a magazine or open your internet browser and you’re bound to hear
about a new detox diet or juice cleanse being peddled, likely accompanied by an outrageous price tag
and even more outlandish health claims.

It’s true that most of us are exposed to a plethora of toxins, heavy metals and chemicals on a daily basis,
found in everything from the air we breathe to the food on our plates. However, your body is equipped
with a natural detox system that can help remove these dangerous compounds, and switching up your
diet and lifestyle is the best way to maximize your body’s toxin-removing potential. Fortunately, you
don’t need to shell out wads of cash or start munching on lettuce for weeks on end to see results.

Curious how to cleanse your body and optimize your health without having to drain your savings account
or empty out your fridge? Here’s why you may want to consider a natural detox diet, plus how you can
get started.

What Is a Detox? Why Is It Needed?

Depending on who you ask, the detox diet meaning can vary pretty widely. For some, it may be
considered an intense cleansing diet that consists of drinking strange concoctions for weeks on end to
clear out toxins and achieve weight loss. For others, the term “detox cleanse” is little more than a
marketing ploy used to shill expensive and overpriced products to health-conscious consumers.

In reality, a detox diet can be a healthy way to get back on track and help your body do exactly what it’s
designed to do: clear out toxins and keep you in tip-top shape.

See, your body has a complex detox system built right in, and all of your organs work together to keep
you feeling healthy. Your skin pushes out bacteria through the sweat, your kidneys filter through liters of
blood and produce urine, your lungs expel carbon dioxide, your intestines extract nutrients from food to
excrete waste products, and your liver clears out toxins from the body.

Factors like chronic stress, unhealthy habits, physical inactivity and a diet high in ultra-processed foods
can totally tank your body’s natural detox system, making it even harder to remove toxins from the
bloodstream efficiently.

A body cleanse or detox diet that involves cutting out junk foods and increasing your intake of nutritious
whole foods along with a few powerful detox foods can be an easy way to help your body detox and hit
the reset button. Best of all, unlike on other detox diets, this kind of natural cleanse won’t drain your
energy levels or leave you feeling worn down. Instead, it can boost energy, restore motivation and help
you feel your best.

Detox Diet Plan: How to Detox

There are lots of different definitions of what defines the best detox diet or the best cleanse for weight
loss. However, a good detox diet should supply all of the important nutrients that your body needs while
also cutting out the chemicals, junk and added ingredients that it doesn’t.
Following a few easy guidelines and incorporating some detox foods into your diet is the best way to
optimize your built-in detox system and supply your liver with the tools it needs to clear out toxins
efficiently.

Wondering how to detox your body without spending a fortune on expensive programs and products?
Luckily, following a detox diet for weight loss and better health can be as simple as making a few simple
swaps in your diet. Here are some of the basic rules to follow on a healthy detox diet:

Switch out sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and sports drinks for water, unsweetened tea or detox
drinks, and be sure to stay well-hydrated.

Nix added sugars from your diet from foods like candies, cakes, cookies and sweets, and aim for a sugar-
free diet instead.

Cut out all heavily processed and refined foods, such as convenience meals, pre-packaged snacks, and
store-bought cakes and cookies.

Up your intake of whole ingredients and raw foods, including fruits, veggies, healthy protein foods and
whole grains.

Swap processed meats like bacon, hot dogs and sausages for better options, such as grass-fed beef, wild-
caught salmon and organic chicken. If you’re following a vegetarian or vegan diet, there are also plenty
of plant-based protein foods available, including nuts, seeds and legumes.

Include more natural detox foods in your diet, such as grapefruit, bone broth, Brussels sprouts, berries,
beets, chia seeds and nuts.

Trade in your salt shaker for some healing herbs and spices instead. Seasonings like cumin, basil, parsley
and paprika can bump up the flavor of your foods while also providing a host of powerful health
benefits.

Adjust your sleep schedule to ensure you’re squeezing in at least eight hours per night, which allows
your body to heal and restore.

Get in some daily exercise, and stay active with your favorite workouts, such as walking, jogging or
biking.

Minimize your stress levels and incorporate some natural stress relievers into your routine, such as yoga,
meditation, journaling and essential oils.

Seven-Day Cleanse Protocol

Whether you decide to do a three-day detox diet, a five-day detox diet plan or a full seven-day cleanse
diet, you have plenty of options for delicious and healthy foods to enjoy. Use the meal pattern below to
get some ideas, and feel free to follow the plan as long as you’d like to jump-start your detox.

Day One

Breakfast: Egg white omelette with tomatoes, garlic, onions and peppers + 1 banana

Snack: Omega blueberry smoothie

Lunch: Baked chicken with broccoli and brown rice

Snack: Walnuts and dried fruit

Dinner: Chickpea and veggie stew + roasted Brussels sprouts

Day Two

Breakfast: Raw yogurt with chia seeds and fresh fruit + grainless granola

Snack: Carrots with hummus

Lunch: Roasted salmon with zucchini and baked sweet potato

Snack: Cottage cheese with celery and tomatoes

Dinner: Portobello mushroom pizza with arugula salad

Day Three

Breakfast: 2 hard-boiled eggs + whole wheat toast with avocado

Snack: Apple slices topped with cinnamon and raw honey

Lunch: Quinoa and veggie stuffed bell peppers

Snack: Almond butter banana protein bar

Dinner: Grilled chicken, avocado and grapefruit salad

Day Four

Breakfast: Paleo protein pancakes + fresh fruit

Snack: Dark chocolate with sliced strawberries

Lunch: Turkey burger in lettuce wrap with sautéed veggies

Snack: Chia seed pudding with strawberries and rhubarb

Dinner: Sweet potato hash with black beans and spinach

Day Five

Breakfast: Overnight oatmeal with berries, nuts and cinnamon

Snack: Baked apple chips

Lunch: Steak and Brussels sprouts stir-fry

Snack: Energy balls

Dinner: Marinated tempeh with herbed garlic lentils

Day Six

Breakfast: Broiled grapefruit with raw honey and bananas + kale and feta egg bake

Snack: Gut-healing smoothie

Lunch: Greek meatballs with orzo pilaf

Snack: Garlic roasted chickpeas

Dinner: Pulled beef sliders with carrot chips

Day Seven

Breakfast: Sweet potato toast topped with avocado and fried egg

Snack: Air-popped popcorn

Lunch: Mediterranean grilled lamb chops with cauliflower tabbouleh

Snack: Almonds with blueberries

Dinner: Lemon chicken with roasted Brussels sprouts

Detox diet plan - Dr. Axe

Best Detox Foods

Grapefruit

Brussels Sprouts

Berries

Beets

Chia Seeds

Nuts

Bone Broth

1. Grapefruit

This tasty citrus fruit is well-known for its multitude of health-promoting properties, especially when it
comes to detoxification. According to a 2005 animal model out of Israel, grapefruit juice was found to be
incredibly effective in bumping up the levels of liver enzymes involved in detoxification. (1) Including a
serving or two of grapefruit or grapefruit juice in your diet each day can be a simple way to keep your
liver healthy and support its natural detox abilities.

2. Brussels Sprouts

Hearty, flavorful and full of fiber, Brussels sprouts make an awesome addition to a healthy detox diet.
Not only can they promote regularity to get things moving, but Brussels sprouts have also been shown to
boost liver health and enhance detoxification. In fact, one study published in Carcinogenesis showed that
eating just 300 grams of Brussels sprouts daily was able to amp up the levels of detox enzymes by a
whopping 30 percent. (2)

3. Berries

Besides being delicious and incredibly versatile, berries are a great source of both fiber and antioxidants,
two important components of a well-balanced detox diet. Fiber moves slowly through the
gastrointestinal tract and helps bulk up the stool to support regularity and excrete waste more efficiently.
(3) Antioxidants, on the other hand, have been shown in animal models to protect the liver against
oxidative stress while simultaneously preserving immune cell function. (4) Berries like blueberries and
strawberries also have a high water content and can promote hydration as well as proper elimination.

4. Beets

There are plenty of reasons to consider adding beets to your diet. Not only are they vibrant and full of
color, but they’re also high in an array of vitamins, minerals and micronutrients that can boost
detoxification. One animal study found that drinking beetroot juice regularly helped increase the levels
of several key enzymes involved in detoxification. (5) Similarly, another animal study published in the
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that beetroot juice decreased lipid peroxidation, a
marker used to measure cell damage, in the liver by 38 percent. (6)

5. Chia Seeds

Frequently touted as a superfood, chia seed benefits range from enhanced digestion to better blood
sugar control. Not surprisingly, chia seeds may also aid in detoxification as well. They pack in tons of
fiber, which can help keep things moving through the digestive system, allowing waste products to be
excreted efficiently. Plus, they’re high in antioxidants to fight off free radicals and protect your liver
against damage and disease. (7)

6. Nuts

It’s no secret that nuts are great for your health. They’re high in fiber, antioxidants, protein, heart-
healthy fats as well as an assortment of the key vitamins and minerals that your body needs to stay
healthy. In addition to keeping you regular due to their high fiber content, including healthy nuts in your
diet can also help optimize liver function as well. Studies show that eating more nuts is linked to a lower
risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as well as enhanced liver enzyme levels to maximize your body’s
detoxifying potential. (8, 9)

7. Bone Broth

Bone broth, a liquid made from the water left over after simmering bones for up to a day at a time, has
been associated with a number of incredible benefits. Perhaps most impressive, however, is its potent
effects on detoxification. Studies suggest that bone broth may help improve immune health by reducing
inflammation, allowing your body to work more effectively at removing harmful toxins, bacteria and
pathogens from the body. (10) Because it’s rich in collagen and an assortment of amino acids, it’s also
believed to help seal the gut and protect against leaky gut syndrome, a condition that allows toxins and
particles to seep from the gut into the bloodstream.
Detox diet foods - Dr. Axe

Detox Diet Recipes

In addition to the recipes listed above, here are a few more healthy snacks and meals that you can add to
your cleanse diet menu to get you started:

Roasted Beets with Balsamic Rosemary Glaze

Ginger Grapefruit Morning Juice

Coconut Yogurt Chia Seed Smoothie Bowl

Pink Detox Salad with Beets and Green Apple

Antioxidant Trail Mix

Precautions

Keep in mind that not all detox diets are created equally. While some can help promote better health by
making a few nutritious swaps in your diet, others can actually deprive your body of the important
nutrients you need, zapping your energy levels and plummeting motivation.

Steer clear of products or unhealthy regimens promoted for detoxification, which are often little more
than marketing ploys by companies that prioritize profit over health. Following a nutrient-rich diet and
cutting out unhealthy foods can help maximize the health of your body’s natural detox system and keep
you feeling your best.

Additionally, the basic principles of a detox diet can be applied long term to help you sustain a healthy
diet beyond a few days or a week. Stick to these basic rules of thumb, and include a few detox-boosting
foods in your diet regularly to stay on track with your health goals.

Final Thoughts

Following a detox diet can help provide your body with the nutrients that it needs to be able to clear out
toxins effectively.
Although there are plenty of regimens and detox programs out there, the best detox cleanse is one that
gives your body what it needs rather than depriving it of valuable vitamins and minerals.

Several foods have also been shown to help detox your body and enhance the function of your built-in
detox system to keep you healthy.

Cutting out junk, upping your intake of whole foods and following a healthy lifestyle can help your body
detoxify more efficiently.

Related: Are Organ Meats and Offal Healthy to Eat?

If you can’t stomach eating liver, you can take beef liver pills. Seek a supplement that guarantees no
hormones, pesticides or antibiotics are used in the feeding and care of the cattle.

Liver cleanse - Dr. Axe

A Quick-Start 24-Hour Liver Cleanse

In addition to the healthy foods and supplements mentioned above, you can give your liver a boost by
starting with a quick, 24-hour liver cleanse. In the seven days prior to this short cleanse, eat kale,
cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, citrus fruits, asparagus, beets and celery. Avoid
any processed foods, and eat free-range organic meats, refined carbohydrates and gluten sparingly. This
preparation will help facilitate the cleanse.

During the week you are preparing your body, try my Secret Detox Drink. It boosts your energy and helps
you to detox and cleanse the liver. This recipe calls for apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, cayenne pepper,
cinnamon and water.

Then, during the week of your cleanse try this liver detox drink. This recipe will help support your body
while cleansing:

Liver Detox Drink

Dilute cranberry juice with a ratio of 3 parts water to 1 part cranberry juice.

Add 1/4 teaspoon each of nutmeg and ginger and a 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon into a tea infuser and let
steep in simmering water for 20 minutes.

Allow to cool to room temperature.

Add the juice of 3 oranges and 3 lemons and stir. If the mixture is too tart, sweeten with your favorite all-
natural sweetener.

Sip throughout the day.

You should consume a minimum of 72 ounces of this mixture and 72 ounces of water. After one day of
the cranberry juice blend, reintroduce the foods you ate in preparation for the liver cleanse.

Final Thoughts

Cleansing and detoxing the liver and colon helps to clear pesticides, medications, heavy metals and the
remnants of cancer therapy out of your system, resulting in a healthy liver.

To keep your liver healthy through the years, periodically do a 24-hour liver cleanse.

Maintain a healthy diet void of processed foods and high in vegetables, legumes and whole grains on a
liver cleanse or not.

The 6-Step Liver Cleanse

Remove toxic foods from your diet.

Drink raw vegetable juice.

Load up on potassium-rich foods.

Do a coffee enema.

Take milk thistle, dandelion and turmeric supplements.

Eat liver or take beef liver tablets.