Nutrition Made Simple


July 31 2021



The main functions of the liver include the maintenance of optimal metabolic functions along with the breakdown of environmental toxins which leads to the clogging up of the liver with various by-products thereby rendering it unfit in performing for the best outcomes of the body. The build-up of these by-products causes many health problems like fatigue, joint pain, arthritis, and a series of other associated diseases. Thus it comes essential to cleanse the liver and detoxify it by using various foods and beverages which helps in improved functioning of the body. It is also necessary to decrease the intake of substances that increase toxicity in the liver.

Liver detoxification also leads to an overall improvement in health as in this process the liver purges fats, cholesterol deposits, gallbladder stones, toxins, drug remnants, and other wastes out of the body which in turn also helps in cleaning out other organs such as blood and intestines. Some of the indicators that show that the liver has slowed down in its functioning and the body requires an urgent detox include low energy levels, fatigue, hormonal imbalances, alcohol intolerance, digestive system discrepancies such as constipation or irregular bowel movements, high levels of cholesterol, headaches, skin disorders, nausea, bloated feeling, intolerance of food, premenstrual syndrome, frequent aches, and some other associated critical bodily disorders.

Liver cleansing is especially recommended in individuals with a history of alcohol consumption, drug abuse, and long term prescription drug users. Some of the body conditions which also indicate the likely need for liver detoxification include cigarette smoking, pollution exposure, alcohol addiction, accidental intake of pesticides, and stress. Some of the benefits of liver detoxification and restoration of optimal liver function include:

Weight loss  - Liver detoxification leads to improved liver function which in turn helps in achieving weight loss as the body expels excess of liquid and accumulated fats along with toxins. 

Hormonal health - Conditions such as premenstrual syndrome, estrogen belly, fatigue, and mood swings which are associated with hormonal imbalances occur as a result of the inability of the liver in breaking down these hormones. It may also occur as a result of insufficient production of hormones leading to hormonal imbalance, especially estrogen which should be immediately detoxed if found in excess as it stimulates the unhealthy production of toxic cells in the body.

Improves cardiovascular function - Optimal functioning of the liver is essential for the maintenance of the health of the heart as the liver acts as a bridge between the blood returning from the digestive system and the lower part of the body. Liver detoxification is mainly important in those individuals who have an underlying risk of developing cardiovascular disorders as an impaired and swollen liver may lead to obstruction in the venous blood flow to the heart thereby precipitating heart conditions like myocardial infarction.

Improves libido - Improper liver function may cause decreased energy levels and also leads to loss of libido. 

Avoidance of premature aging - Inefficient liver is unable to properly filter blood as a result of which dirty or heavy blood which is full of waste products and toxins is circulated in the body which causes decreased oxygen-carrying capacity thereby causing premature aging. A malfunctioning liver is also known to promote the development of chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s.

Improved immune function - Liver detoxification improves the body’s immune response and helps in the production of healthy cells which in turn reduces the onset of illnesses thereby increasing the body’s energy levels. 

Improves digestion, gives cleaner blood and skin -  Liver detoxification also helps in the removal of mucous, congestion, and inflammation from the digestive tract thereby causing improvement in intestinal health and provides cleaner blood and clear skin.

Lifestyle improvement - Liver detoxification also leads to lifestyle improvement as it removes the accumulation of toxic substances that result from excessive intake of sugar, salt, foods with high glycemic index, alcohol, nicotine, and other junk foods.

Liver detoxification also causes an improvement in various health conditions like cirrhosis, heavy metal poisoning, gallstones, diabetes, and obesity.

Stages of liver detoxification 

Phase 1 - In this stage, oxidative reduction and hydrolysis catalyzed by P450 take place. This phase involves nutrients such as vitamin B, glutathione, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin A, quercetin, and calcium.

Phase 2 - The metabolites from phase 1 are conjugated by the liver and render them harmless and get excreted from the body. The nutrients involved in this phase include calcium D glucarate, glutamine, cysteine, lysine, glycine, carnitine, and taurine.

The nutrients that are injected as a part of the liver detoxification process include-

  • B12 is a cofactor in fatty acid metabolism and it is essential for maintaining adrenal health, production of neurotransmitters, and continuation of the methylation cycle.
  • Choline which helps in liver repair as high amounts of cell membrane production is essential for hepatic regeneration.
  • Inositol acts in association with choline and helps in liver repair. 

Additional nutritional products that can be used in the process of liver detoxification include glutamine, glutathione, curcumin, and Alvizia milk thistle capsules. A Fibre-rich diet is recommended for promoting liver detoxification as adequate fiber in the diet and hydration promote regular bowel movements thereby improving overall health. Other detox supplements include herbal liver cleansers and conifers. Some bitter herbs help in the secretion of bile and other digestive enzymes in the digestive tract and improve digestion. 

Magnesium is an essential cofactor which in the addition to the detoxification regimen helps in enhancing energy production, improves bone health, strengthens teeth, improves nerve conduction and muscle contraction, stabilizes blood pressure, and activates enzymes that promote absorption and utilization of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in the body. 

Glutathione is the body’s essential antioxidant which plays an important role in the detoxification process as it recycles other antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E and helps during liver detox by rendering toxins, medications, and hormones water-soluble thereby easing their elimination from the body. An anti-inflammatory diet plan is also essential during liver detoxification as foods such as gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, alcohol, corn, and eggs should be eliminated from the diet and including foods such as organic fruits and vegetables, gluten-free grains and essential fatty acids are important in achieving optimal results during the detox process.

This article is the sole opinion of the author and Alvizia Healthcare holds no responsibility for the content. *

Tagged: Detox-Cleanse, Milk-Thistle, Softgels


Leave a comment

All blog comments are checked prior to publishing

Subscribe to our newsletter
