A periodic cleansing does a lifetime of wonders (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

You must have seen those ads in the morning paper, or maybe you heard about it from a friend – but by now EVERYONE has heard of “liver detox”.  The term liver detox is now part of today’s health vocabulary.  But how safe are these detoxification programs and how exactly do they work to make your body squeaky clean? Here’s a simple lowdown of things you should know before you choose to jump onto the detox bandwagon.

The liver functions to process and eliminate our body of toxins;  found in the food we eat, medications we take, substances we add to our food and drink, and even from the air we breathe. Alcohol, tobacco smoke, smog, pesticides and growth chemicals applied to grow fruits and vegetables, artificial sweeteners, and contaminated water are just some of the common sources of toxins that easily make its way into our bodies, thus compelling our liver to face the grueling job of detoxifying.

Going on a cleansing program can therefore give our liver a well-deserved break – a chance to rejuvenate itself from all those years of hard work.  Detox diets are specifically designed to help the body purge itself of unwanted chemicals.  The premise is that  by observing a diet comprised strictly of healthy foods known to support liver health,  we can allow our livers to rest.  It is commonly suggested to remain on the detox diet program for  two weeks.  These programs are  typically safe for most people.   It is always important to check with your doctor before participating in ANY new health regimen.  Pregnant and nursing women are not advised to do a liver detox program.

Liver detox programs require you to give up certain foods — a small sacrifice to enable a healthier liver. They entail fasting or abstaining from certain food and drinks, including processed goods, red meat, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and drugs.

Detox diets include organically grown fruits and vegetables, brown rice, and herbs such as milk thistle, a tested and proven antioxidant that helps remove old blood cells and bacteria from the body. Good detox programs also include a lot of fiber which scours the digestive system of bad cholesterol and chemicals for easy excretion. Other detox superfoods are avocados, blueberries, cranberries, beets and almonds.

However, doing a detox is more than following a prepared daily menu. For many people, it is the beginning of a new lifestyle. Cleansing the body of harmful toxins requires patience and discipline. Watching what you eat is one significant part of the healthy detox lifestyle. Regular exercise is an important compliment to the diet.   Physical activity that overloads the muscular or cardiovascular system increases the body’s amount of perspiration.   Sweating is an effective way for the body to expel certain substances. Of course caring for the liver is more than a two-week agenda but investing two weeks in a liver detox may be a great way to jump start a whole new healthy lifestyle.