Detox, cleanse, reset...

Detoxing.

Definition:

Offering nutrient support to your liver to help it package up and eliminate toxins.

A liver detox is not:

A long term diet

A weight loss gimmick

A way to restrict the diet long term

A solution for every human (some people can’t detox, it’s in their genes!)

An excuse to feel hungry all day

What it means for you:

A liver detox is a 21 day commitment at least once per year, up to four times per year. In my practice, typically, you drink two protein-rich smoothies each day, one meal and healthy snacks in between. There is no portion control. Weight loss is not the intention, but often happens due to the change in diet, lack of sugar and liver support that helps your body let go of accumulated fat, water, and toxins.

Example:

Sylvia came into the clinic with multiple environmental allergies, hormone imbalances, warn out adrenals, and frequent body rashes. I recommended we start with a liver detox because it helps reset the body in a way other treatments cannot. She reported improvement in fatigue and the rash on her face after one week. Her bloating had gone down and she felt better overall. Did it “fix” her adrenal fatigue and hormone imbalances? No, did it help her liver package up some of the excess estrogen and ship it out, absolutely. Sometimes a liver detox can help a person feel just a little bit better and ready to incorporate some additional lifestyle changes.

The radical nugget:

YOU CAN HEAL YOUR LIVER.

Did you hear that?! Did it sink in? You have a huge organ in your body that takes care of all of your dirty work processing food, hormones, waste, toxins and it gets so full of sludge and back up that it can make you sick. AND you can actually heal it. In a very short time, drinking delicious smoothies and eating whole foods (among other things).

Sounds too good to be true, but it isn’t.

Your liver is a powerhouse. It cleans up in two phases.

In phase one, your blood delivers nutrients, hormones, toxins, heavy metals, pesticides, etc. to the liver and the cytochrome P450 group of enzymes convert the toxins into a less harmful substance (and ready for further detox).

In phase two, the liver uses glutathione, sulphate, and glycine to make the toxins water soluble for easier excretion.

The number one goal of the liver’s natural detoxification process is to rid your body of toxins. And it does this by pooping.

You read that right.

So, if you’re not pooping at least once per day, you are building up, and in some cases, recirculating toxins your liver wasn’t able to fully excrete. Read the blog post about pooping for tips on how to get regular!

If you are going to embark on the journey that is liver cleansing to give your liver a boost, you have to work backwards.

#1 Make sure you’re pooping every day

#2 Boost phase two liver detoxification

#3 Boost phase one liver detoxification

Why do a cleanse, it sounds like the liver does it all on its own already?

Let’s think about your car. If you drive your car and take it to regular maintenance appointments, oil changes, wash it, make sure it’s not caked in dirt and cheerios, it will last forever. If you drive your car and never get it worked on, the oil starts to fill with dirt and turn to sludge, the windshield has so much dirt on it you can’t see out of it anymore and the bits and bobs are falling out the bottom of it – it’s not gonna last long!

Same with your liver.

As you live life, you are constantly inundated with a toxic soup in the air we breathe, in the water we drink, in the relationships we have, and if you regularly help your liver detox some of those toxins, it’s going to make you feel so much better. It will also help your body handle the daily onslaught of toxins. If you do nothing, the toxic sludge builds up in your liver, and then add whatever genetic liver detox impairment you might have and it’s a recipe for liver disease.

But I eat clean and filter my water!

There’s no escape from toxins! I don’t want to freak you out, our bodies were made to handle some levels of toxins (that’s why we have a liver!), and we can help a liver out!

So how do I detox safely?

This can be different for every individual, which is a good reason to make an appointment to find out the best route for you. You can also join the 21 Day Liver Cleanse course for a step-by-step guide to safely detoxing your liver. 

And, P.S. there are other organs involved in detox, such as the kidneys, and secondarily the lungs, your lymphatic system, digestive tract and skin!

Let’s radically shift the way we think about health.

In Wellness,

Alani

Ready to detox your liver? Check out the 21 Day Liver Detox Course on the Courses page for a step by step guide to detoxing at home.

Sources:

https://www.jillcarnahan.com/2018/04/08/4-detox-methods-that-actually-work/

https://askthescientists.com/qa/liver-detoxification-pathways/

Modulation of Metabolic Detoxification Pathways Using Foods and Food-Derived Components: A Scientific Review with Clinical Application

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4488002/#:~:text=Initially%2C%20the%20%E2%80%9Cphases%E2%80%9D%20of,site%20%5B14%2C%2015%5D.

The content provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. AK Wellness, LLC and Alani Kalfayan, NP-C are not liable for any loss, injury, or damage incurred as a consequence of the use or reliance upon the information provided herein. Reliance on any information provided by this blog is solely at your own risk.