It’s common to hear people say they want to do a liver detox after a night of too much partying or following a bad diet for a while, and there are plenty of products that promise to get you back to a healthy liver in no time. Little time. But how safe and effective are liver detoxes? And should you make one? Eat this, not that! Health spoke with Dr. Ravi Chandiramani, NMD – Naturopathic Physician; soul surgery who shares what you should know about liver detoxes and whether they are beneficial. As always, consult your doctor for medical advice. Read on and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure signs you’ve already had COVID.
Dr. Chandiramani explains: “The liver is the largest internal organ in the body, weighing an average of about 3 pounds in an adult. The human liver performs more than 500 vital functions.
- Bile is produced by the liver to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats consumed. Bile also allows for the absorption of vitamin K from dietary fats.
- The liver is also our main blood filter, allowing the removal of toxins, by-products, and other harmful substances from our blood.
- The liver creates blood clotting factors using the same vitamin K absorbed with the help of bile.
- The liver removes excess glucose from the bloodstream and stores it as glycogen. Glycogen can be broken down again when the body needs glucose.
- The liver stores significant amounts of fat-soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K) and B12 along with iron and copper.
- The liver produces albumin, a protein that prevents fluids in the bloodstream from leaking into surrounding tissues.
- The liver metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates, and fats so your body can use them.”
Dr. Chandiramani says: “Diets high in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, such as processed foods and “fast” foods, are not healthy for your liver and your body in general. You may be a candidate for a detox if you do. it is how he eats most of the time or if he has overindulged in such foods for a shorter period of time.
Lifestyle: Your liver has to process all the toxins you put into your body, so if your lifestyle includes smoking tobacco or anything else, consume alcohol above the established safe guidelines for one drink (12 ounces of beer either 5 ounces of wine either 1 drink of liquor) a day for women and two drinks a day for men, using recreational or illicit drugs, etc., you may be a candidate for a liver detox.
Environment – Again, the liver has to process all the toxins that enter your body, even if they enter your body unintentionally. Think of carbon monoxide exhaust from vehicles, pesticide exposure, paint fumes, solvent off-gassing from new cars, carpets, and furniture. Therefore, both the choice of living environment and the choice of work may carry an increased risk of exposure to environmental toxins. For example, big city dwellers may have higher environmental exposure to carbon monoxide, but non-organic farmers may have higher exposure to pesticides. Both can be good candidates for liver detoxification.
Genetics, hepatitis B and C viral infection, and general health also influence liver function.”
Dr. Chandiramani tells us, “The relative safety of a liver detox depends largely on the nature of the detox itself and the individual’s tolerance of the detox. The safest detoxes are those that improve one or more of the the “controllable” variables of diet, lifestyle, and environment.
Poor diets can be improved by reducing intake of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates in favor of unsaturated fats and complex carbohydrates, respectively. Adding fresh fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, and nuts will take this dietary modification to the next level. Garlic and turmeric are excellent flavoring agents and therapeutic spices that can be easily incorporated into delicious recipes that make your food your medicine. Water is the key to everything. Staying hydrated with plenty of water is paramount in any detox effort and in general. Season with lime or lemon if needed.
Limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking, refraining from recreational or illicit drug use, preventing hepatitis infection, avoiding risky behaviors such as unprotected sex and intravenous drug use are essential components of any detoxification effort. Engaging in any type of movement, whether formal exercise or not, is another key component of lifestyle modification.
While you may not be in a position to drastically change your work or living environment, you can take steps to reduce exposure to harmful environmental toxins by wearing a mask with one or more filters, gloves, long sleeves, protective eyewear, and other gear. of personal protection. as appropriate.
Rather than making these modifications only temporarily or intermittently, the goal should be to incorporate these dietary, lifestyle, and environmental changes permanently. If that means they need to be built in gradually to make them part of the routine, that’s fine too.”
According to Dr. Chandiramani, “Symptoms of an unhealthy or diseased liver can include:
–Jaundice or a yellow tint to the whites of the eyes and skin due to high levels of bilirubin, a waste product from the breakdown of red blood cells.
–Easy bruising due to a problem with the production of blood clotting factors
–Edemas or swelling or fluid retention in the legs and/or ankles due to a problem in the production of albumin.
–Pain in the abdomen, most commonly on the right side of the body towards the bottom of the rib cage where the liver is located in most people.
–Itchy skin due to excess accumulation of bile salts under the skin.
–Urine that is darker in color than normal and/or stool that is paler in color than normal.
–Confusion or loss of orientation due to high levels of ammonia in the blood which then travels to the brain and other organs.
–The more subtle signs of an unhealthy liver can include feeling tired all the time, problems with memory and concentration, variable sleep patterns, feeling bloated, lack of appetite, more aches and pains than normal, and dry mouth and eyes”.
Dr. Chandiramani suggests: “Instead of spending big bucks on the latest and greatest juices, teas, and supplements, not all of which are healthy or safe, focus on gradual changes in diet, lifestyle, and environment.
In addition to the suggestions in #3, there are a few additional “toxins” to be aware of, and while these toxins may not directly affect the liver, they can be triggers for maladaptive behaviors such as alcohol abuse as a survival mechanism.
What causes you stress? The answer generally falls into one or more of three categories; people, places or things. If there are steps that can be taken to mitigate these factors, take them.
Correlated with this is taking an inventory of relationships. Take a sheet of paper and divide it into two columns, relationships that work for you and relationships that don’t work for you. Every relationship in your life should be placed in one of these columns. If you approach this exercise with a truthful lens, you’ll have a better understanding of the toxic relationships in your life, and then you’ll be able to make informed decisions.”
