Everyday detox
5 top liver lovers
Look for some or all of these herbs in prepackaged liver formulas available at natural products stores, says Brenda Watson, CNC, a digestive-health expert in Dunedin, Florida, and author of The Detox Strategy (Free Press, 2008).
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| Artichoke leaf | Stimulates production of bile, the liver's main carrier to expel toxins; helps strengthen liver cell membranes so they can resist toxin absorption. |
| Dandelion root | Increases bile flow from the liver. |
| Green tea | Protects the liver from toxin damage, especially that of alcohol; may also help prevent liver tumors. |
| Milk- thistle seed | Strengthens liver cell membranes; stimulates bile production; promotes glutathione production. |
| Turmeric root | Anti-inflammatory herb that elevates detox enzymes in the liver. |
Target symptoms
| SYMPTOM :: Constipation | |
| Colon hydrotherapy | Infusions of filtered, warm water into the colon quickly reduce toxic load, according to Walter Crinnion, ND. Get a professional colonic once a week until you feel better. |
| Fiber | Fiber helps move out fat-soluble toxins. Mix flax meal into smoothies, and eat fiber-rich foods like pears, lentils, and peas. Aim for 35 grams of fiber per day. |
| Magnesium | Chemical overload often coincides with magnesium deficiency, resulting in dry, hard stools, says Crinnion. Take 300 mg daily. If you get loose stools, lessen the dose. |
| SYMPTOM :: Dry skin, rashes | |
| Sweat | Sweating releases toxins and helps lessen the liver's and kidneys' workloads. Sit for about 20 minutes a few times a week in a conventional sauna. If you don't have access to a sauna, taking a hot bath twice a week will also help your body release toxins through sweat. |
| Brush skin | Helps circulation and lymph flow. Lymph fluid helps deliver nutrients to cells and collects cellular waste for elimination through the circulatory system. Before showering, brush your entire body with a skin brush (available at natural products stores), stroking toward your heart where lymph fluid joins the circulatory system. |
| SYMPTOM :: Shortness of breath, asthma | |
| Glutathione-s-transferases (GST) | This enzyme, which cruciferous vegetables (brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage) and asparagus help to produce, aids in fighting lung inflammation and wards off damage from air pollution or smoking. Because excess toxins can use up GST reserves, take 1,500 mg a day of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which the body metabolizes to GST. |
| Breathe | Breathing stimulates lymph flow — and the deeper you inhale and exhale, the better the effect. Sit straight, inhale through the nose for a four count, hold for a second, and exhale through the mouth for another four count. Repeat 5 to 10 times. |
| Vitamins C and E | A combination of vitamin C and vitamin E seems to protect the lungs against damage from ozone, a pollutant in smog, although these antioxidants don't fix damage already done. Take at least 3,000 mg vitamin C and at least 500 IU vitamin E per day to protect lungs from further harm. |
| Frequent contributor Pamela Bond makes sure to work up a sweat every day as part of her detox routine. | |
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