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15 Ways to Boost Your Liver for Great Health, by Michelle Schoffro Cook, 23 February 2012

Your liver must perform over 500 functions, making it potentially one of the most overburdened organs in your body.

Our modern lifestyle + air pollution + food additives + high amounts of stress can cause the liver to become sluggish. The sluggish liver can be a factor in many health conditions,
e.g. allergies, arthritis, asthma, bad breath, chronic fatigue syndrome, cravings for sweets, depression, environmental illness/multiple chemical sensitivities, fatigue, fibromyalgia, headaches and migraines, hepatitis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, hypoglycemia, hormone imbalances, immune system disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, overweight or obesity, poor digestion, recurring nausea and/or vomiting, skin diseases, and ulcerative colitis.

Of course there are other factors involved in these conditions so it is important to see a physician if you suffer from any of them.

Strengthening the liver is one of the ways to boost energy, balance weight, and strengthen overall health. Here are 15 ways to give your liver a boost:

1. VITAMINS and MINERALS- high amounts of vitamins and minerals are required by the liver.

2. FOOD ADDITIVES ARE FILTERED BY THE LIVER- When you eliminate processed foods, artificial food additives, colours and preservatives from your diet you give your liver a break.

3. CARROTS, BEETS, GREEN FOODS- Eat plenty of these powerful liver cleansing and rebuilding foods.

4. GROUND FLAXSEED- Eat two heaping tablespoons sprinkled on cereal, toast, salads, or blended into smoothies. By eating flaxseeds and flax oil you are helping your liver to filter excess hormones more effectively.

5. HERBS that help strengthen the liver: milk thistle, dandelion root, globe artichoke, turmeric, slippery elm, greater celandine, balmony, barberry, black root, blue flag, boldo, fringetree bark, vervain, and wahoo. If you are pregnant, have a serious health condition, or are taking medication, consult a qualified health practitioner before using herbs.

6. REDUCE REFINED SUGAR and AVOID SYNTHETIC SWEETENERS altogether.

7. LECITHIN helps the liver metabolize fats and reduce cholesterol; prevents fatty deposits; reduces high blood pressure. You can get lecithin in organic soyfoods like soy milk, tofu, and miso, as well as organic eggs.

8. AVOID VITAMIN and MINERAL DEFICIENCIES by taking a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement. The liver depends on many nutrients to detoxify properly. Even a single nutrient deficiency can be harmful.

9. TAKE 1000 to 2000 mg of Vitamin C daily, even if there's vitamin C in your multivitamin.

10. GARLIC, ONIONS and BROCCOLI contain sulfur that is required to increase enzyme activity that boosts liver cleansing, so eat plenty of these. Without adequate levels of sulfur, the phase 2 of liver detoxification cannot keep pace with level 1, meaning that many toxins can become MORE dangerous in your body.

11. AVOID LARGE MEALS. Instead, eat small meals made up of easy-to-digest foods.

12. Eat steamed vegetables, raw salad greens, raw fruits, and bitter greens. The bitter greens, especially, help to cleanse the liver.

13. EAT WHOLE RAW UNSALTED NUTS and SEEDS for their essential fatty acids and protein.

14. AVOID HEAVY FATTY FOODS as they just create more work for the liver. Avoid margarine, shortening or commercial oils or any foods made with them.

15. AVOID EATING for at least THREE HOURS before BEDTIME to allow the liver adequate time during the night to perform its many functions, unimpeded by other bodily processes like digestion.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/15-ways-to-boost-your-liver-for-great-health.html#ixzz1nNSiPynA ...

Dr Sandra Cabot's slimming juices
Cleanse your liver, slim your waist! Raw vegetable juices are able to speed up the repair of liver damage. Dr Cabot says these juice recipes help to repair the liver, stimulate the detoxification pathways and improve the fat burning capabilities of the liver.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Morning lemon cleanse
---½ to 1 lemon, freshly squeezed
---250ml warm water
Fresh lemon juice contains the phytochemical limonene, which improves liver function, and is used in Japan to dissolve gallstones. Morning is the best time for lemon juice because it is also a natural liver decongestant
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Liver cleansing juice
---½ lemon with some peel
---2 apples unpeeled
---2 dandelion or 2 rocket or 2 cabbage leaves
---½ cup broccoli florets, chopped
---1 clove of garlic or ¼ red onion (can use less if desired)
---½ cup parsley
This is a strong mixture and may be diluted with
---1 cup water, extra celery or dandelion root tea.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Fatty Liver juice
---½ whole lemon or grapefruit, peeled
---2 carrots peeled
---1 clove garlic or ¼ red onion (optional or use less if it is too strong)
---1cm slice fennel
---¼ beetroot peeled
---2 dandelion or 2 rocket or 2 cabbage leaves
---Apples or celery may be added to improve the taste
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Cholesterol-lowering juice
---2 oranges or tangerines, with some peel and white pith
---1 grapefruit, peeled
---1 tomato
---1 clove garlic or ¼ red onion (reduce amounts if stomach is sensitive)
---2 cabbage leaves or 2 dandelion or 2 rocket or 2 baby spinach leaves
---1 radish, unpeeled with tops
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Low-carbohydrate slimming juice
---1 orange with ¼ peel and pith left on
---2 sticks celery ½ cucumber, peeled
---½ cup green beans
---2 spring parsley
Orange is naturally low in sugar. Cucumber, celery and parsley are natural diuretics and reduce cellulite. Green beans lower insulin and blood sugar levels
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Fat-burning juice
---1 orange, peeled
---1 grapefruit, peeled
---1 carrot, peeled
---2 stalks celery with leaves removed
---1cm slice ginger root
---1 red radish
---pinch cayenne
Dilute 50% with green tea if desired.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Extract taken from Fatty Liver: You can reverse it, a new book from Dr Sandra Cabot and Dr Thomas Eanelli which explains how to reverse fatty liver disease, which Dr Cabot calls "the most common type of liver disease seen in the world today". Health page link 

From Spring Cleanse Your Liver: 6 Foods, Nutrients, and Herbs | Care2 Healthy & Green Living:

THE LIVER: this overworked organ is responsible for over 500 different functions, including: detoxifying environmental chemicals, storing certain vitamins, controlling cholesterol levels, metabolizing fat, and even regulating hormones.  
 Your liver may need cleansing to help it detoxify alcohol, tobacco smoke, environmental pollutants, food additives, pesticides, and hidden chemicals in your personal care products.

1. WATER with LEMON JUICE (fresh juice of one-half to one LEMON) 
 Your body needs water to flush out toxins in your bowel movements and urine. The addition of fresh lemon juice helps to stimulate your liver to produce bile that helps flush out toxins.
.
2. GARLIC and ONIONS
 Garlic and Onions contain important phytonutrients that break down fatty deposits in the body. Also, they kill viruses, bacteria, and fungi and protect against heart disease too.
.
3. MILK THISTLE EXTRACT
 Milk thistle contains a potent substance called silymarin that protects the liver by inhibiting damaging substances that can cause liver cell damage. Silymarin also prevents the depletion of the nutrient glutathione–one of the most critical nutrients for liver detoxification. Both alcohol consumption and exposure to various types of synthetic chemicals can deplete glutathione in the liver. A typical dose for liver cleansing is about 140 mg of silymarin.
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4. VITAMIN C (1000 mg)
 While glutathione supplements are available, the best way to boost this important nutrient is to supplement with vitamin C. Give your liver an extra boost of glutathione by supplementing with vitamin C.
.
5. DANDELION EXTRACT
 The Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism cites research supporting the liver-regenerating properties of dandelion. Due to pesticides and pollutants I don’t recommend picking dandelion root from your lawn.
 Take 1-2 teaspoons of dandelion root extract or supplement with 500-2000 mg daily in capsules for two weeks to help cleanse your liver.
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6. EAT INDIAN CURRIES for TURMERIC
 Turmeric, one of the main spices used in Indian cuisine, adds a yellow-orange colour to curry dishes along with a potent healing boost.
 Turmeric decreases cholesterol levels, lowers inflammation in the body, and protects the liver from free radical damage. 
 Add turmeric powder to soups, stews, and curries or supplement with 50 mg of curcumin (turmeric’s active ingredient) to bolster your liver’s cleansing abilities.
........................................................................................
Always consult a qualified health professional before taking any herbs or nutrients.
Michelle Schoffro Cook, RNCP, ROHP, DAc, DNM, doctor of natural medicine, author of: The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, and The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan.
Learn more at: www.TheLifeForceDiet.com. 

"Think of the liver as a large city with thousands of houses and streets. There are underground pipes for delivering water, oil, and gas. Sewage systems and garbage trucks remove the city's waste products. Power lines deliver energy to the homes and businesses. Factories, transport systems, communication networks, and stores meet the daily requirements of the residents...
"Like a city's infrastructure, the liver has hundreds of different functions and is connected with every part of the body. Every moment of the day, it is involved in manufacturing, processing, and supplying vast amounts of nutrients. These nutrients feed the 60 to 100 trillion inhabitants (cells) of the body. Each cell is, in itself, a microscopic city of immense complexity, with billions of chemical reactions per second. To sustain the incredibly diverse activities of all the cells of the body without disruption, the liver must supply them with a constant stream of nutrients, enzymes, and hormones. With its intricate labyrinth of veins, ducts, and specialized cells, the liver needs to be completely unobstructed in order to maintain a problem-free production line and frictionless distribution system throughout the body.

"If you suffer any of the following symptoms, or similar conditions, you most likely have numerous gallstones in your liver and gallbladder:

Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia.....Chronic fatigue
Menstrual /menopausal disorders.......Stiff neck
A "bilious" or angry personality..........Sciatica
Dull pain on the right side.................Joint diseases
Problems with vision........................Morbid complexion
Any skin disorder............................Headaches, migraines
Dizziness and fainting spells..............Loss of muscle tone
Excessive weight or wasting.............Dark colour under the eyes
Strong shoulder and back pain..........Frozen shoulder
Very greasy hair and hair loss...........Kidney diseases
Tooth and gum problems..................Hot and cold flashes
Yellowness of the eyes and skin........Alzheimer's disease
Difficulty sleeping, insomnia..............Nightmares
Stiffness of joints and muscles..........Cold extremities
Low appetite.......Food cravings........Flatulence
Puffy eyes..........Diarrhea................Digestive disorders
Scoliosis.............Impotence.............Other sexual problems
Constipation........Hernia..................Clay-coloured stool
Gout..................Hemorrhoids...........Difficulty breathing
Liver cirrhosis......Hepatitis...............Most infections
High cholesterol...Pancreatitis...........Heart disease
Brain disorders.....Duodenal ulcers......Nausea and vomiting
Depression..........Prostate diseases...Urinary problems
Knee problems.....Osteoporosis..........Obesity
Asthma..............Cancer..................Hormonal imbalances
Numbness and paralysis of the legs
Tongue that is glossy or coated in white or yellow
Pain of shoulder blade: top and/or between the blades
Liver spots, esp. hands [back of] and facial area
Excessive heat and perspiration in the upper part of the body
Cuts or wounds that keep bleeding and don't want to heal

"The liver is the main organ responsible for distributing and maintaining the body's "fuel" supply. Furthermore, its activities include the breaking down of complex chemicals and the synthesis of protein molecules. The liver acts as a cleansing and filtration device; it also deactivates hormones, alcohol, and medicinal drugs. Its task is to modify these biologically active substances so that they lose their potentially harmful effects -- a process known as detoxification. Specialized cells in the liver's blood vessels (Kupffer cells) mop up harmful elements and infectious organisms reaching the liver from the gut. The liver excretes the waste materials resulting from these actions via its bile duct network.

"A healthy liver receives and filters 3 pints of blood per minute and produces 1 to 1.5 quarts of bile every day. This ensures that all the activities in the liver and in the rest of the body run smoothly and efficiently. Obstructive stones consisting of hardened bile (termed "intrahepatic gallstones" by Johns Hopkins University) greatly undermine the liver's ability to detoxify any externally supplied and internally generated harmful substances in the blood. These stones also prevent the liver from delivering the proper amounts of nutrients and energy to the right places in the body at the right time. This upsets the delicate balance in the body, known as "homeostasis," thus leading to disruption of its systems and undue stress on its organs.

"A clear example for such a disturbed balance is an increased concentration of the endocrine hormones estrogen and aldosterone in the blood. These hormones, produced in both men and women, are responsible for the correct amount of salt and water retention. When stones congest the gallbladder and the liver's bile ducts, these hormones may not be broken down and detoxified sufficiently. Hence, their concentration in the blood rises to abnormal levels, causing tissue swelling and water retention. Most oncologists consider elevated estrogen levels to be the leading cause of breast cancer among women. In men, high levels of this hormone can lead to excessive development of breast tissue and weight gain.

"Over 60 percent of the American population is overweight or obese. Men, women, and children in this condition suffer mainly from fluid retention (with relatively minor fat accumulation). The retained fluids help trap and neutralize noxious substances that the liver can no longer remove from the body. This helps the overweight or obese person to survive a major, possibly fatal, toxicity crisis such as a heart attack, septic poisoning, or massive infection. The side effect of fluid retention in the tissues, however, is that it causes these toxins and other harmful waste matter (metabolic waste and dead cell material) to accumulate in various parts of the body and further congest the pathways of circulation and elimination. Wherever in the body the storage capacity for toxins and waste is exceeded, symptoms of illness begin to occur.

"Cleansing the liver and gallbladder from all accumulated stones helps to restore homeostasis, balances weight, and sets the precondition for the body to heal itself. The liver flush is also one of the best precautionary measures you can take to protect yourself against nearly every kind of illness, known or unknown."

Excerpt from the international bestseller, "The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush," by Andreas Moritz, (www.ener-chi.com) and (www.amazon.com) .