Enjoy Drinking Alcohol? Juice To Cleanse Your Liver.

While I was at college, getting drunk was an everyday part of life. Being a lightweight, I could never sustain extended drinking sessions.

My friend frequently would though, and he’d complain of liver pains.

To be honest, I have no way of knowing whether it was actually his liver or if he just had indigestion or something. Regardless, it highlights a consequence of casually putting such an important organ through the wringer every few days.

Yes, your liver is resilient and self-healing^[1], but it’s not immune to damage and disease. Once it’s done, you’re done. Here’s how you can give your liver a helping hand by juicing to cleanse your liver.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, this is not medical advice, and this absolutely should not be taken as an excuse to drink more, or as a way to rationalize alcohol abuse. Want to protect your liver? Stop drinking.

Nutrition

Lemon

Lemon juice has an atomic structure similar to that of your own digestive enzymes, meaning it can provide relief by helping your liver in its toxin-purifying efforts.

According to A.F. Beddoe, author of ‘Biological Ionization in Human Nutrition‘, it does this by efficiently helping your liver make more enzymes.^[2]

Additionally, it’s an antioxidant which neutralizes the effect of free radicals released during digestion.

Beets

Beets are a rich source of betalain, a liver-detoxifying phytonutrient.^[3] It’s also rich in betaine, which could possibly be useful in preventing ethanol-induced fatty liver.^[4]

It additionally contains useful antioxidants and iron.

No juicer? Our juicer buying guide will help you find the right one for you.

Tumeric

Tumeric contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant and supporter of the liver. Similar to beets, it may also be useful in preventing fatty liver.^[5]

Garlic

Garlic has sulfur-containing compounds which activate liver enzymes. It’s also rich in allicin and selenium, which protect the liver from damage.^[6]

Avocado

Studies have shown avocados to have “extraordinarily potent liver injury suppressing activity.”^[7]

Please note that Avocados can’t be juiced, but they can be blended.

Leafy Greens

Leafy greens (like kale, spinach, chard, collard greens) are high in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, which all help in enzyme production.^[8]

If you juice lots of leafy greens, these juicers yield twice as much green juice, saving you money daily.

Apple

Apples contain pectin which reduce the load on the liver by binding to heavy metals in the body and aiding excretion.^[9]

Juicing Recipe to Cleanse Your Liver

1 Apple
1 Beet + Tops
5 large Kale leaves
2 handfuls Spinach
5 large Collard Green leaves
1/2 Lemon (more if you enjoy the taste)
1 clove Garlic (more if you enjoy the taste. Juice with your apple and follow with the lemon)
1/2 Avocado (if blended, dependent on taste. Eat 1 avocado separately otherwise)

Drink this liver cleansing juice once a day. If you want more than one, don’t use any more beets.

If you’re serious about your liver health, cut out the alcohol and use this liver cleansing juice recipe as part of a detox.

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References

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver#Regeneration_and_transplantation

[2] http://www.livestrong.com/article/286438-the-effect-of-lemon-juice-on-liver-function/

[3] http://www.chatelaine.com/health/detox-health/want-to-detox-eat-more-beets/

[4] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1530-0277.1993.tb00798.x/abstract

[5] http://jn.nutrition.org/content/131/11/2932.short

[6] http://www.trueactivist.com/4-natural-liver-cleansing-foods/

[7] http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf0015120

[8] http://healthfree.com/how-to-cleanse-your-liver-3.html