Every single day, dozens of different toxins enter every person’s body. They come in many forms and shapes: processed foods, air and water pollutants, conventional medications, incidental alcoholic drinks, traffic fumes, detergents, farm fertilizers made from shady chemical components… You get the idea.

The only reason we’re still alive is that our bodies are equipped with 2 powerful weapons against toxins:

• The liver metabolizes the toxins, making them relatively safe and water-soluble.
• The kidneys excrete the dissolved toxins out of the body in form of urine.

However, the toxins that the liver has to deal with on a 24/7 basis gradually damage the organ, putting its health at risk and impairing its vital functions, such as:

• Protein and hormone synthesis
• Digestive enzymes synthesis
• Production of blood-clotting factors
• Storage of iron, vitamin A, and glycogen.

That’s the exact reason why everyone should do a quality liver detox from time to time: by regularly cleansing your liver, you will be ensuring its optimal performance for years to come. But what’s the right way to do it?

Below you’ll find a list of fabulous liver detox tips and some of the most powerful (and scientifically confirmed) liver cleansing, healing, and protecting foods in existence!

First and foremost: the forbidden stuff

For an effective liver cleanse, you should stay clear of all things that could destabilize your liver’s function for at least the whole period of your detox program plus 1 week before and after it. Specifically, avoid any kind of alcohol, processed foods, refined sugar & sweets.

If possible, don’t take any conventional medications besides those that are crucial for your health (e.g. insulin for diabetics, hypotensive drugs for elevated blood pressure, etc.).

Also, avoid eating too much protein. Excessive amounts of proteins could lead to the buildup of ammonia in your body, which is one more kind of organic toxin. Opt for raw foods instead – organic fruit, vegetables, juices.

Lastly, limit your intake of fried and fatty food that requires huge amounts of bile to be properly digested. If you want your liver to regenerate and cleanse effectively, avoid forcing it to produce more bile than absolutely necessary.

The best liver detox herbs

In terms of active liver detoxification, it’s essential to take a few specific herbs and foods to guarantee the best results. These natural wonders are powerful antioxidants, hepatoprotectors, and even diuretics – making them perfect to speed up liver recovery and elimination of any residual toxins. 

Turmeric

The main active component of turmeric is known as curcumin, a flavonoid with potent antioxidant properties. Studies indicate that it attenuates toxin-derived damage of the liver and alleviates drug-related hepatotoxicity.

There are no universal recommendations as to how much turmeric you should take to effectively cleanse your liver, but this spice is considered fairly safe to consume even at quite high doses so make sure to add it to your meals as often as possible: this should do the trick.

Licorice root

Licorice root has been used for centuries as a powerful and all-natural anti-inflammatory treatment. Studies highlight that it’s effective in attenuating liver inflammation as well as preventing toxin-induced liver damage.

The best way to take this plant is to prepare home decoctions of dried licorice root and take about 1-2 cups of the brew per day.

Milk Thistle

Scientifically referred to as Silybum marianum, this plant is one of the most well-known and widely researched natural hepatoprotectors. It shows significant antioxidant and antifibrotic (anti-scarring) properties, attenuating local damage and gradually improving the liver’s function.

There is no universally recommended daily dose of milk thistle, but most of the credible sources suggest taking close to 70 mg of this plant’s extract for two weeks to improve liver function and cleansing it from toxins. 

Holy Basil

Widely used in traditional Ayurvedic doctrines, Holy Basil is yet another herb with confirmed liver-supporting properties. Being a powerful hepatoprotector, basil is also able to prevent the formation of scars on the organ, thus potentially slowing down cirrhosis.

Another great thing about holy basil is that it’s extremely convenient to take according to your preferences: fresh, dried, powdered, brewed – it’s up to you.

Burdock Root

This one is a fabulous natural diuretic, significantly helping to eliminate toxins from your body by stimulating the kidneys to produce more urine. As a result, your liver will have to deal with a smaller amount of toxins itself, allowing the organ to regenerate properly. However, make sure to stay hydrated at all times, taking no less than 2 litres (68 ounces) of water per day while you take burdock root.

Additionally, burdock root is a wonderful free radical scavenger, meaning that it shows significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.