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In our everyday lives, we place an unimaginable amount of stress on our bodies. What with a steady diet of over-processed and junk food, tobacco and alcohol abuse, and exposure to environmental pollutants and chemicals, the liver is especially overworked. A stressed out and over-taxed liver translates into high levels of toxins and fats in the body that cannot be processed as efficiently as necessary. This then leads to a variety of health problems and ailments that can even prove fatal if not treated in time. Keeping this in mind, it is important to detox your body on a regular basis. There are different ways you can cleanse the body to reduce the build up of toxins and provide the body with the nutrients required to boost immunity and fight off infections. Detoxing also allows the organs of the body to rest thereby improving circulation and the proper functioning of the various systems.

A natural liver cleanse should always begin with the elimination of refined sugars and flours, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and saturated fats from your diet. If possible, avoid wheat and dairy products, red meats, fried and oily foods, and all preservatives and food additives for the duration of your detox. In addition to making changes to your diet, you also need to reduce stress and anxiety to create the proper environment for the detox to take place as stress can increase the amount of toxins produced in the body. Try a regular exercise regime or yoga and meditation to help this happen. Drink plenty of water during your detox to stay hydrated and encourage the elimination of toxins from the body. There are different herbs and home remedies you can try to clean your liver and detox your body in a natural way. These include:

• Globe artichoke contains a chemical known as cyranin that increases the production of bile in the liver. Including artichokes in your diet can help strengthen the liver and prevent long-term damage to the liver cells and an increase in cholesterol levels.
• Rosemary is a potent herb that helps flush out toxins built up in the body.
• Turmeric contains oils known as curcuminoids that help reduce the levels of toxins in the body. You can cook with turmeric or mix it with fruit juices or milk to increase your intake of this healthy spice.
• Dandelion is an effective natural remedy to reduce fat deposits in the liver. Sip on a cup of dandelion tea for an easy way to cleanse your liver.
• The allicin and selenium in garlic helps cleanse the liver and activate the necessary enzymes to remove toxins from the body.
• Include leafy green vegetables in your diet, as these are high in plant chlorophylls that can neutralize the effects of toxins, pollutants and chemicals in the liver. Spinach, aragula, chicory leaves and mustard greens can be eaten raw, juiced, or steamed for the best results.
• Other foods that help cleanse the liver naturally and improve its functioning includes fruits such as grapefruit, apples, avocados, lemons and limes, vegetables like beets, carrots, broccoli, and cabbage, nuts such as walnuts, and whole grains like brown rice and pasta. Olive oil and green tea are also potent natural detox agents that assist the cleansing of the liver.

If you want to try a liver detox, always check with your doctor first. If you suffer from diabetes, heart disease or any other chronic illness, a detox diet may not be suitable for you. Detox diets and cleanses are not recommended for breastfeeding or pregnant women, children, teens and senior citizens either. Such cleanses should be done only once or twice a year at the maximum as in the long-term, these diets can cause mineral imbalances, dehydration and digestive problems.