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How to Strengthen Your Spleen Function

author image Jeff Herman
How to Strengthen Your Spleen Function
A green kale salad in a bowl. Photo Credit: tvirbickis/iStock/Getty Images

The spleen serves many purposes, from aiding in digestion to producing chemicals that destroy and recycle old blood cells. It’s also your personal blood bank in case of serious blood loss. If not working properly it causes many ailments such as obesity, bloating, muscle weakness, loose stool and constipation.

Immediate removal is necessary if it becomes enlarged or ruptured. There are many ways, however, to strengthen your spleens function.

Step 1

Chew your food thoroughly. It is recommended you shew each bite 30 times, unless you're eating soft foods such as ice cream or soup. Chewing thoroughly softens food, makes it easier for the body to digest and mixes it with saliva--the latter of which alkalizes it, which allows your body to absorb vital nutrients.

Step 2

Stop overeating. Think of digestion like an assembly line. Your body is processing food at a normal pace and then suddenly a huge load is dumped. This causes the digestive system to panic and use increased energy to push the load through quickly.

The extra energy expended leaves you and your digestive organs feeling tired, and digestion is not as thorough. Over time, overeating can weaken the spleen and other vital digestive organs.

Step 3

Eat healthier. For optimal spleen health, you should be eating an equal mix of meat, dairy, fruits and grains, with lots of vegetables. Choose only lean meat, and whole grains. Vegetables such as leafy greens and root veggies like sweet potatoes will nourish your spleen and keep blood sugar levels even.

Step 4

Drink warm liquids. When food or liquid is too cold, the body must heat it. This takes energy away from the digestive system, putting additional strain on it. Drinking warm liquid such as tea before ingesting cold food or drink is a valuable trick because it pre-heats the digestive system, including the spleen.

Step 5

Go natural. Western medicine has long maintained that acupuncture hand herbal medicines can help improve spleen function along with many other benefits. A 2003 study published in The Journal of Medical Acupuncture concluded that subjects of acupuncture lost three times more weight than those who didn't, largely because of increased spleen function.

There are many herbal kits that claim to detoxify and support your spleen. Do your research and make sure the company is reputable. Quality products could cost a bit more, but in the long run it will be worth it.

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