Lack of energy, bloating, dull moods, and sleep problems are affecting people more than usual. Why? From an extra glass (or two!) of wine to comfort food binges to increased exposure to chemical cleaners, the pandemic has affected us all. “Our bodies have taken a hit recently, and pretty much everyone has a liver that isn’t working as well as it should,” notes Dr. Alejandro Junger, a world-renowned authority on detoxification.
The good news: the liver is our most resistant organ. “Take simple steps to support your ability to detoxify and heal, and you can feel dramatically better in the next week,” promises Dr. Junger, whose devotees report using his approach to quickly transform their health and lose a pound or two every day. .
Tucked away under the right side of our rib cage, the football-sized liver “constantly filters blood pumped from the intestines,” says Dr. Junger. Most of what we ingest (fats, sugar, proteins, alcohol, vitamins, minerals, medications, toxins) is sorted and sent or processed by the organ. In fact, it is the center of our metabolism and our main organ for burning fat.
The liver also fuels our stress response, regulates hormones, produces immune cells, and performs more than 500 other functions. So it’s no wonder you’re having a hard time keeping up with demand. With so many roles, symptoms of a lazy liver build up, especially blood sugar issues, high cholesterol, cravings, weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, and low immunity. Fortunately, Dr. Junger’s solution is easy and effective.
What are the benefits of a liver detox?
The famous Dr Junger clean plan 7 It starts by targeting the main liver-destroying culprits: sugar, grains, processed foods, and alcohol. It turns out that these options usually turn into a massive excess of blood sugar that the liver must convert to fat. “When the liver is overwhelmed, fat becomes trapped in the organ itself, which affects function,” explains Dr. Junger. Skipping these problem foods, even for a short time, improves liver health. And according to scientists at Baylor University in Texas, it helps 98 percent of people lose a significant amount of body fat.
What are you going to eat instead? Healthy plant foods rich in protein and antioxidants, especially cocoa, berries, cruciferous vegetables, green leafy vegetables, and seeds. They are packed with nutrients that help the liver repair itself and remove toxins that would otherwise have detrimental side effects on your health.
What is the science behind this?
To take the findings of modern science to a whole new level, Dr. Junger draws on ancient Ayurvedic healing practices as well as spices. He loves holy basil, ginger, cinnamon, and especially turmeric. It is worth noting that these practices now have traditional clinical studies to back them up. Take turmeric — research shows that its compounds break down fatty deposits that clog the liver and also repair liver tissue damaged by exposure to toxins. There is also evidence that the antioxidants in turmeric increase fat burning by up to 560 percent! And a study from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine found that a detox based on Ayurvedic principles improved liver function by 53 percent in just one week.
Dr. Junger, a cardiologist, reveals that Ayurveda helped cure his own treatment-resistant IBS. “Seeing how well it worked humbled me as a doctor who had strictly practiced Western medicine for a long time. I now believe that keeping ancient wisdom in mind makes my approach an unstoppable force! he says, adding that you can repeat the one-week approach as many times as you need to achieve your health goals and feel amazing.
This article originally appeared in our print magazine.
