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Autumn is a great time to make new resolutions, change habits, and also do detox cleansing rituals. It’s a time of transition for the weather, with colder days and less light so why not make it a transition for you too? 

With this anti-inflammatory ritual, the body resets itself, releases all the toxins, and becomes strong in the face of this change.

The Liver

Cleansing the liver is very interesting because the liver is an essential organ in the cleansing of our body: it filters the blood and stores toxic substances that enter the body through the digestive tract, skin, and breathing…

Did you know that the liver is involved in more than 500 vital body functions?

When the liver is overwhelmed due to excessive consumption of toxins or stress, it becomes unbalanced, inflamed and the person is highly exposed to all kinds of diseases. 

The liver is also in charge of producing bile, that substance that breaks down and assimilates fats and proteins. Therefore, if the liver fails, our body cannot digest the food we eat.   

The liver is in fact where most of the enzymes for our organs are produced, such as the heart, brain, kidneys… Everything seems to depend on this organ.

What damages the Liver? 

• Alcohol
• Medications 
• Refined Sugars and Fructose 
• Sweeteners 
• Pesticides 
• Processed foods 
• Fried foods 
• GMO’s 
• Food preservatives, colorings, flavorings 

When we abuse or overconsume the above substances, the liver weakens and becomes damaged which makes it less efficient in eliminating waste and bacteria. This leads to a weakening of the immune system almost as if we were intoxicated.

In extreme cases, hepatitis (extreme inflammation of the liver) or cirrhosis occurs and the liver can stop working.

The liver is the largest solid organ in the human body, weighing about 1,500 grams in an adult male

So if you’d like to try this detox, cut out the abovementioned foods for 10 days and see what happens.

Benefits of detoxing your liver 

• Debloat: very visible in the face, abdomen, legs, and arms. You can notice a significant reduction in volume.
• Less fluid retention: by helping our liver to expel more toxins we naturally debloat. 
• Better digestion. 
• Stabilizes levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood pressure.
• Improved Liver function: it becomes more efficient in its waste elimination.
• Reduces cellulite: often associated with fluid retention and bloating, this is a natural domino effect. 
• Weight loss: as a consequence, many people lose weight because the fat that built up to protect us from accumulated toxins is also eliminated. 
• Better sleep. 
• Better looking skin and hair. 
• Increased energy.

Detox Suggestions:

• Overnight fasting: Let your stomach rest for 12 hours at night. This allows the cells to regenerate. Inflammation decreases when we fast because the body secretes beta-hydroxybutyrate, a ketone body that blocks the inflammatory process and reduces cellular oxidative stress. In fact, there are many experts who point to overeating as the cause of inflammation for many people.

If you want to learn more about fasting and the many ways to do so, check out this post.

• Avoid antibiotics: don’t abuse medications. 
• Green Smoothies: include lots of green leaves and apples in your smoothies. Apples are packed with antioxidants that neutralize free radicals that form in the first phase of detoxification. In addition, it has the highest proportion of pectin, a soluble fiber that improves intestinal transit. Take a look at these smoothie recipes to get you started.  
• Turmeric: is a spice with hepatoprotective effects. Try this Golden Milk and check out this post to learn all there is about Turmeric. 
• Have Oatmeal for breakfast: oatmeal is a superfood and is great for inflammation. Why? It’s great for digestion, fights fluid retention, is very filling, and has soluble fiber that helps balance cholesterol, relaxes the nervous system and fights anxiety and stress and many studies, such as the one recently conducted by the University of Turín, support its incredible anti-inflmmatory properties. 
• Chew your food well and eat slowly: This will ensure that the food will be easier to digest before it reaches your stomach, which will help with gas, inflammation, heartburn, and the feeling of heaviness… 
• Dry exfloation: In addition to providing the body with lots of energy, it stimulates the lymphatic system helping to eliminate toxins and keeps your immune system working properly.