Liver Cleansing Program

If you are one those people who has a vein pulsing at your temple and freaks out at the slightest provocation, you may benefit from a liver detox program. Liver types typically have a short fuse; they anger quickly and often have a furrow between their brows. They are constantly irritable; they charge through life like little bulls. Other signs that you’d benefit from a deep liver detox: You drink excessive amounts of coffee or alcohol, smoke cigarettes, use artificial sweeteners or eat lots of processed foods.

Technically, the liver doesn’t need to be detox. It can and does detox very well by itself. What the liver needs is to be supported with phytonutrients and antioxidants. This means the daily consumption of good-for-your-liver foods and herbs. But you can start your lifelong liver detox with a one day juice fast. Gittleman, author of The Fast Track, One-Day Detox Diet

recommends a combination of unsweetened organic cranberry, lemon and lime juices, plus such anti-inflammatory herbs and cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. You can also drink liver-cleansing teas that contain dandelion, burdock and milk thistle.

For a lifelong liver cleanse, it’s crucial that you eliminate toxins and emphasize foods that support liver function. Here are some of the best.

Artichokes contain antioxidants called flavonoids that protect the liver’s cells and tissues from free radical damage, and they are closely related to milk-thistle; steam them, and serve with a mixture of extra virgin olive oil and fresh-squeezed lemon juice for dipping.

Asparagus contains high amounts of vitamin A and potassium, which the liver needs during a detox, serve it lightly steamed and drizzled with olive oil.

Bitter greens, such as endive, chicory, radicchio and dandelion, stimulate liver function; eat them daily, either in salads or lightly braised.

Other good-for-your-liver foods are lightly steamed cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts; whey protein; nutritional yeast; citrus fruits; beets; leafy greens; and such sulphur-rich foods as onions, garlic and eggs. You can also take liver-supporting herbs and supplements: milk thistle, 70 to 200 mg three times a day; SAMe, 200 to 400 mg twice a day; glutathione, 50 mg three times a day; alpha-lipoic acid, 100 mg a day.