Liver Cleansing: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide

The Liver’s Location and Design

Inside your body, the liver sits primarily on the right side. It spans across the top of the abdominal cavity, above your stomach and below your diaphragm, leaning down towards the right kidney. This vital organ is soft and rubbery with a reddish-brown color, weighs about three pounds, and contains one pint of blood at any given moment. It is triangular and consists of two primary lobes made up of 1,000 lobules. These tiny lobules contain small tubes that are connected to larger tubes which form the common hepatic duct. This duct is responsible for transporting bile made by the liver to the gallbladder and the first part of the small intestine known as the duodenum.[1]

Metabolism

The liver is the metabolic center of the body. Controlled by the central nervous system, the liver is responsible for the metabolization of macronutrients (fats, carbohydrates, and proteins). This metabolic process also produces free radicals that antioxidants scavenge to maintain the oxidative and antioxidative balance in the liver. Insulin and glucagon hormones are what drive the metabolic function of this organ.[2]

Production

The liver is responsible for the production of bile, proteins for blood plasma, glucose, and cholesterol. The bile your liver produces helps break down fats in the small intestine and take away waste. The proteins needed for blood plasma are also made in the liver and consist of fibrinogen, prothrombin, and albumins. The first two proteins are coagulation components that aid in the blood-clotting process, while albumins maintain the blood’s environment to keep blood cells at an even hydration level. The production of cholesterol and other proteins help transport fats throughout the body.

The liver helps keep your blood sugar levels even. It produces and distributes glucose depending on your body’s needs. When you eat, your liver holds onto sugar, or glucose, to use as fuel for a later time. If there is little to no sugar present in your body but your organs and red blood cells need it, your liver produces another kind of fuel called ketones derived from fats. A low level of insulin in your body is what triggers this process called ketogenesis.[1]

Storage

The liver acts as a storage unit holding your glucose supply, nutrients, minerals such as iron and copper, and vitamins A, D, E, K, and B-12. Many of these components are collected from blood passing through the hepatic duct. This function of the liver ensures that a constant supply of these essential nutrients will be provided to the body’s tissues when they need it.[3]

Immunity

The liver is part of the innate immune system, also known as the nonspecific immune system. This type of immune system provides immediate action against infection but does not generate long-lasting immunity to the organism, which is a trait the adaptive immune system carries. The innate immune system identifies an issue and deploys immune cells to the area in need of defense and repair. The liver’s primary immunity function is to identify and remove harmful toxins in the body. It also helps with the production of cells responsible for the activation of the adaptive immune system.[4, 5]

Digestion

It’s the production of bile that places the liver in yet another category — digestion. The cells responsible for this process, called hepatocytes, are found in the parenchymal tissue of the liver. They make up 70-85% of the liver’s mass.[6] Bile is passed through bile ducts and either stored in the gallbladder or released into the duodenum to help with digestion. It is comprised of cholesterol, water, bile salts, and a pigment called bilirubin. These components that make up bile help break down fats into fatty acids.[7]

Detoxification

The liver and kidneys are the main organs responsible for detoxification. The liver protects the body from toxic chemicals by cleaning blood and filtering out harmful chemicals in red blood cells. This process transforms these chemicals into compounds that can then be safely and efficiently removed from the body through urine.[8]

Signs of a Poorly Performing Liver

You are exposed to toxins every day. These toxins can come in the form of water-borne pollutants, food preservatives, chemicals, pesticides, and electromagnetic radiation, which can greatly affect the liver. There are several signs to look for regarding a troubled liver.[9]

Steps to Cleanse the Liver

To safely and efficiently detox the liver, try to eat healthy organic meals leading up to a cleanse. Avoid meat, fatty foods, and foods high in sodium such as processed foods. Following a liver cleanse diet lasts about five days and has two phases: the preparation for your liver’s flush (the first four days), and the purge itself on day five.

Following a healthy liver cleanse diet is crucial in the first days of your cleanse. Eat fresh, organic foods and drink purified or distilled water.

A week before the cleanse you should rid your home of toxins, and eliminate the use of products that contain chemicals like nail polish, hairspray, or other chemically-produced beauty products. Stay away from alcohol before and after a cleanse, and consider eliminating alcohol from your life altogether. Consult a healthcare professional before undergoing a cleanse.[10]

Days 1-4: Foods to Avoid

There are several foods to avoid during a liver cleanse. Because the liver acts as a filter, only fresh, healthy organic foods are advisable, to avoid added buildup and aid the liver to eradicate residual toxins. Foods to avoid during this time are:[11]

• 1 organic beet
• 2 organic carrots
• 1 cup broccoli
• 10 organic garlic cloves
• ½ organic onion
• ¼ organic lemon
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon Himalayan crystal salt

Wash the vegetables and finely chop the ingredients to your preferred consistency. Pour 32 ounces of distilled or purified water into a soup pot and add all ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and then simmer on low heat for one hour.

Dr. Group’s Liver Cleanse Juice

To alternate meals during your cleanse week, try a blended drink:

• 3 organic carrots (washed and peeled)
• 2 organic apples (washed and cut)
• 1 organic beet (washed and peeled)
• 6 organic kale leaves
• ½ organic lemon (washed and peeled)
• ½ inch ginger root

Blend until the desired consistency is reached.

Days 1-4: Meals

Instead of three large meals, eat five small portions per day (this includes two snacks). Chew your food thoroughly and eat at a slow pace to ensure proper digestion. Drink only distilled water. To enhance flavor and nutrition, you can mix two tablespoons of raw organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) to one gallon of distilled water. Shake and refrigerate. You can prepare this in the morning and enjoy it throughout the day.

• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Walnuts
• Brazil nuts
• Almonds

Natural supplements consisting of herbs and spices like turmeric, milk thistle, dandelion, and cinnamon are a great way to add more nutrients and flavor to meals while maintaining a healthy liver detoxification.[12]

Lunch

Around noon, have the liver cleanse soup or the liver cleanse juice. The soup is ideal for flush day, as the leftovers will be a nourishing lunch for the day after the cleanse.

Dinner

As an afternoon snack or your dinner around 4:00 pm choose either a handful of walnuts, an avocado with lemon and sea salt, or fast through the afternoon with just the ACV/water mix.

The Day After

The day after completing the cleanse, consider doing a natural water enema immediately after waking up to naturally flush the stones that have been released from the liver and gallbladder. If you’re curious as to how many stones you’ve released, buy an inexpensive colander and place it over the toilet to collect these stones. Afterwards, rinse thoroughly in the sink to see how many stones you’ve passed.

Breakfast should consist of fruit, followed by the remaining liver cleanse soup for lunch, and a healthy dinner of salad and a light protein. Make sure to drink distilled or purified water with fresh lemon.[12]