Support Your Liver This Season
By Emily Lindholm
Did you know, according to Chinese medicine, that spring is the season where your liver is the most receptive? Whether or not you believe that, giving your liver a boost is never a bad idea. Spring is the season when liver-supportive foods start popping up out of the ground, such as mustard greens and wild onions.
As the major organ of detoxification, the liver is one of the most important organs in the body. Giving your liver a nice recharge could help you feel more energy, boost your mental clarity, and improve your sleep. People with sluggish livers often feel tired, foggy, and moody. If you feel like your liver could use a recharge this spring, try adding the following foods to your diet.
Dandelion
If you're someone who doesn't want these in your yard, go ahead and pull them up, but save the greens and the roots! Both are healthy for your liver. Dandelion helps with the production of bile from the liver and gallbladder, which aids in the removal of toxins and helps with digestion. If you're not so keen on adding the greens and roots of dandelions from your yard straight to your salad, there are many great dandelion supplements and products at the store.
Milk Thistle
Milk thistle is one of the strongest liver-supporting herbs. It helps regenerate liver cells, which makes milk thistle one of the best herbal supplements for anyone feeling like their liver needs some extra support. Start with a small amount and build your doses over time.
Broccoli Sprouts
Broccoli is already a healthy food, and broccoli sprouts are even more so. The sprouts offer 20-30 times more liver-stimulating enzymes than the broccoli itself. Sprinkle these on a salad or add them to your morning smoothie!
Lemons
One way to start your day right is to drink fresh-squeezed lemon in your water first thing in the morning. Lemons help with the release of enzymes and have an alkalizing effect, which is great for altering the American diet's overly-acidic diet. Lemon water first thing in the morning helps to stimulate the liver and get these enzymes moving.
Garlic
Garlic is super powerful for detoxification. As an antiviral, antiseptic, and antibiotic healer food, garlic aids in detoxification by ridding the body of pathogenic microbes.
Beetroot
Beets are packed with the nutrients necessary for the detoxification of the liver and gallbladder. These contain B3, B1, Vitamin C, beta carotene, iron, magnesium, zinc, and calcium. Roasted beets are a great addition to any salad.
Beginning a Liver Cleanse
If you decide to take on a full liver cleanse, try finding some resources that give you good instruction. It's good to cut down on caffeine while cleansing the liver and make sure to cut out high-fat foods. Whether or not you're liver cleansing or just adding some food to your diet for support, follow the guide above to ensure more energy and better sleep this season!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fayetteville, Ark.